When Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz first went out on their own in 1999, it was to start Loudcloud, a software company that automated data-center tasks.
With a $15 million check from none other than Andy Rachleff—partner of the storied firm now seen as one of a16z’s largest rivals, Benchmark—Loudcloud began hiring like mad, bringing on 200 employees in only 12 months' time.
