General Partner, Andreessen Horowitz
Chris Lyons: Biography at a Glance
- Chris Lyons is a General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz — the Silicon Valley VC powerhouse behind Airbnb, Lyft, OpenAI, Instagram, Postmates, Facebook, and countless other prolific tech companies.
- With unprecedented access to the next multi-billion dollar companies that are shaping the future, Chris offers unparalleled insights into the coming wave of advancements and their impact on your industry.
- In his role as President of Web3 Media at a16z crypto, Chris is at the forefront of emerging technologies — particularly artificial intelligence and Web3 — actively investing in and nurturing the next generation of tech giants.
- As co-founder of the Cultural Leadership Fund, Silicon Valley’s first VC fund consisting of 100% African American Limited Partners, Chris bridges the gap between cultural influencers and cutting-edge technology to foster a more diverse and inclusive future.
- Chris possesses a unique ability to identify and support companies poised for exponential growth, having been with a16z since 2013 and witnessing the rise of numerous unicorns.
- Known for his ability to decode complex technological trends as well as the ebb & flow of modern culture, Chris is a sought-after speaker on innovation, entrepreneurship, and the future of technology.
Biography
Christopher Lyons is President, Web3 Media at a16z crypto. Prior to joining the team at a16z crypto, he cofounded the firm’s Cultural Leadership Fund (CLF) and was instrumental in launching the first Seed Fund. Lyons joined Andreesen Horowitz in 2013, first as chief of staff to co-founder Ben Horowitz.
The Cultural Leadership Fund launched in 2018 with the mission to connect the world’s greatest cultural leaders to the best new technology companies and engage, empower, and elevate Black builders and creators on their journey towards excellence in the technology industry. CLF Fund I was Silicon Valley’s first venture capital fund consisting of 100% African American Limited Partners. Since, the firm has closed CLF II, donated over $1.5M in CLF management fees and carry to non-profit partners, and facilitated hundreds of introductions between cultural leaders, including seasoned athletes, entertainers, musicians and corporate executives, and a16z portfolio companies.
Lyons started his career in the music industry working for Grammy-Award-winning producer Jermaine Dupri as a sound engineer. He then launched his first startup, a mobile app and digital menu offering called PictureMenu. Lyons moved to Silicon Valley in 2012 to participate in NewME Accelerator, an accelerator for minority-led startups.
He is a champion of access and advancement for underrepresented backgrounds. Lyons is on the advisory boards of The Black Economic Alliance and New Story Charity as well as a member of the Verizon Media Global Advisory board. Lyons is the founder of Italian wine brand Lyons Wine, Kauffman Fellow graduate (Class ‘19), and member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated (KT Spring ‘07). Lyons received a Bachelor of Science degree in Entertainment Business from Full Sail University in 2010.
Topics
Decoding the Future: Insights from One of Silicon Valley's Most Well-Connected Insiders
Chris Lyons is no armchair futurist. As a General Partner at a16z — the Silicon Valley VC powerhouse behind Airbnb, Lyft, OpenAI, Instagram, Postmates, Facebook, and countless more — Chris doesn’t just predict the future, he actively funds and shapes it.
Drawing from unparalleled access to tomorrow's multi-billion dollar companies and the visionaries behind them, Chris provides a roadmap to the future that’s already unfolding.
Audiences will leave with:
- Exclusive insights into emerging technologies set to disrupt industries within the next 3-5 years
- A deep dive into what truly drives innovation and sets apart winning companies
- Actionable strategies for businesses to prepare and capitalize on upcoming technological shifts
- Firsthand accounts of how today's startups are becoming tomorrow's unicorns
But this keynote is more than just a crystal ball. It's a call to action. Chris challenges audiences to think bigger, move faster, and dare to create the future they want to see.
Whether you're an entrepreneur seeking your big break, an executive navigating digital transformation, or simply curious about the technologies that will shape our lives — you will learn how to decode the next revolution from one of tech’s most well-connected insiders.
