2026 Scheming

What I'm working on at the moment

I’ve been pretty heads down the last few months, but I’d like to share what I’m thinking about in 2026.

The a16z update: Almost a year in, I’m loving the work that I do and the people that I do it with. I never thought I’d enjoy being in a big company so much but I’ve always been interested in building the product that is a venture firm and this is the best place to do it. Looking back at my 2024 post, it feels obvious in retrospect.

We’re hiring for nearly everything, even roles not listed here (and including a CoS and EA/PA). We have an incredible team — Danco, Brent, Henry, David, Elena, Katie, Theo are just a sample of folks you might recognize from the internet, though we also work closely with most of the firm. We’re excited to launch more projects in 2026. The sky’s the limit in terms of ambition — Reach out if there’s something interesting that a16z should consider.

We recently launched a fellowship for new media talent — folks skilled in editorial, design, video, and new media and marketing/comms. We’re extending the deadline to at mid Jan.

We also launched a rolling dinner series for top talent looking to start or join their next company.

The podcast continues to be fulfilling. Here are some of my favorite interviews from the past year.

I want to be more intellectually rigorous this year, and use the podcast, the blog, and my X as vessels to do just that. I’m also excited to bring back Turpentine in a real way and also group chats.

Outside of work, I’ve started to prioritize my health more and am now getting more sophisticated about it after having some sleep issues.

I finally wrote about my Art of Accomplishment retreat earlier this year. I continue to be all in on AOA and Hoffman and programs like it and want to financially help one come into existence.

Last year I also did a matchmaking experiment and two long-term couples emerged from it. I don’t have time to do this but I’d like to invest in a matchmaker building a business here.

I haven’t continued the Modern Relationships podcast, but I’d like to once I come across more amazing couples who’d like to be interviewed.

My brother runs a great recreational basketball league called SF Hoops that I play in and highly recommend. I went to a great basketball event hosted by Terrain in NYC and I’d like to help host one on the west coast this year.

The best (and only) movies I saw this year were Friendship, The Materialist, and Marty Supreme. The best TV show was Nobody Wants This (I know, I know). The best fiction book was Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and I’m looking for more books like it. I welcome recommendations across the board.

Cheers to an epic 2026,

Erik

P.S. Some highlights from 2025: