Porter Smith

Aug 8, 2024 | a16zcrypto.com | Mason Hall |Porter Smith |Miles Jennings |Ross Shuel

For infrastructure tokens — which correspond to a Layer 1 network (or an adjacent part of the computing stack like Layer 2) — economic models are well-developed and understood, rooted in the supply and demand for blockspace. But for application tokens — smart contract protocols deploying services on top of  blockchains that relay rights in “distributed businesses” — economic models are still being solved.  App token business models should be as expressive as their underlying software.

Jan 2, 2024 | a16z.com | Ryan McEntush |David Ulevitch |Porter Smith

Aerodome MISSION Deploying automated, video-equipped drones for faster emergency response FOUNDERS Rahul Sidhu (CEO) and Kenaniah Cerny (Chief Architect) HEADQUARTERS New York, NY JOBS CREATED Former police officer Rahul Sidhu developed the concept for Aerodome during the pandemic, when labor shortages and increased demand hampered consistent emergency response.

Nov 1, 2023 | a16z.com | David Ulevitch |Katherine Boyle |Porter Smith |Vijay Pande

911 call centers – also known as public safety answering points (PSAPs) – are one of the most actively used public-safety infrastructure systems in the United States, fielding an estimated 240 million calls per year. That’s more than 650,000 per day. These centers act as the first point of engagement between a citizen and the public safety system, and PSAPs are often the conduit between the citizen and the eventual field responders (e.g., police, fire, emergency medicine) who go on-site to help.

Apr 28, 2023 | a16z.com | Porter Smith |David Ulevitch

We are in the early stages of a generational defense cycle that requires unconventional thinking and tools. The invasion of Ukraine highlights this evolution: comparatively low-cost weapons, from drones to precision artillery, are leveraging cutting-edge networks, like SpaceX’s Starlink, to redefine battlefields. Meanwhile, a new variable — attritable tech — is emerging. The implications are upending how militaries fight.