Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) is a Menlo Park venture capital firm investing across software, fintech, crypto, biotech, and AI, with over $100B in assets under management.
Kleiner Perkins is a Menlo Park venture capital firm investing in early-stage technology and life sciences startups.
The Verdict: Andreessen Horowitz vs Kleiner Perkins
a16z is roughly five times Kleiner Perkins' size. a16z reports over $100 billion under management as of April 30, 2026; Kleiner manages about $21 billion, per Bloomberg. In 2026 a16z raised over $15 billion in January and Kleiner raised $3.5 billion in March. Both are betting on AI. a16z splits capital into sector funds; Kleiner, founded in 1972, runs an early-stage fund (KP22) and growth funds.
The practical difference for a founder is structure. a16z puts dedicated money behind named strategies such as Apps, Infrastructure, Bio + Health, American Dynamism, and Growth. Kleiner keeps a smaller partnership with two pools: a $1 billion early-stage fund and $2.5 billion for growth.
Where they compete
AI companies at every stage. Kleiner's representative portfolio lists Anthropic (2025) and Waymo (2026), alongside Harvey (2023), Glean (2019), Applied Intuition (2018), and Rippling (2019). a16z goes after the same kinds of companies through its $1.7 billion Apps fund and $1.7 billion Infrastructure fund, and can follow on from a $6.75 billion Growth fund.
Kleiner's current team rebooted the firm in January 2019 under Mamoon Hamid and Ilya Fushman, and since then it has competed for the software and AI deals a16z also chases.
Where they differ
Scale. a16z's single 2026 raise of over $15 billion is about 4.3 times Kleiner's $3.5 billion raise and roughly 70% of Kleiner's entire asset base. a16z says it raised over 18% of all venture capital dollars allocated in the United States in 2025. Its Growth fund alone ($6.75 billion) is almost twice Kleiner's whole 2026 raise.
Structure. a16z's January 2026 funds were American Dynamism ($1.176 billion), Apps ($1.7 billion), Bio + Health ($700 million), Infrastructure ($1.7 billion), Growth ($6.75 billion), and other venture strategies ($3 billion). Kleiner covers similar ground inside two general pools: KP22, its 22nd venture fund at $1 billion, and $2.5 billion in growth funds.
History. Kleiner's portfolio reaches back to Genentech (1976), Amazon (1996), and Google (1999). a16z launched in July 2009 with a $300 million first fund, per CNN Money, and one of its first big wins was Skype, which Microsoft bought for $8.5 billion in 2011, per the Wall Street Journal.
Which founders should pick which
Pick Kleiner if you want a smaller partnership where each early check matters to a $1 billion fund, with a growth pool behind it to follow on.
Pick a16z if your company fits one of its dedicated strategies, such as Bio + Health, American Dynamism, or Infrastructure, or if you want one firm that can fund you from an early round through a very large growth round.
What changed in 2026
Both firms raised fresh capital aimed at AI, and the gap widened. a16z announced over $15 billion on January 9, 2026. Kleiner's $3.5 billion followed in March, per Bloomberg. At the stage founders feel first, the difference is smaller than the headline numbers suggest: KP22 is $1 billion, against $1.7 billion each for a16z's Apps and Infrastructure funds.
Frequently asked questions
Is Andreessen Horowitz bigger than Kleiner Perkins?
Yes, by about five times. a16z reports over $100 billion under management as of April 30, 2026. Kleiner Perkins manages about $21 billion, according to Bloomberg's March 2026 report on its latest raise.
How much did Kleiner Perkins raise in 2026?
$3.5 billion, reported by Bloomberg in March 2026: KP22, a $1 billion fund for early-stage companies, and $2.5 billion in growth funds.
How much did a16z raise in 2026?
Over $15 billion, announced January 9, 2026, split across American Dynamism ($1.176 billion), Apps ($1.7 billion), Bio + Health ($700 million), Infrastructure ($1.7 billion), Growth ($6.75 billion), and other venture strategies ($3 billion).
Which firm is older, a16z or Kleiner Perkins?
Kleiner Perkins. It was formed in 1972, 37 years before Andreessen Horowitz launched its first $300 million fund in July 2009.
Sources
- a16z: About (over $100B under management, as of Apr 30, 2026)
- a16z: Why did we raise $15B? (Jan 9, 2026; fund breakdown, 18% of 2025 US VC)
- Wikipedia: Andreessen Horowitz (2009 launch and $300M first fund, citing CNN Money; Skype, citing WSJ)
- Wikipedia: Kleiner Perkins ($3.5B 2026 raise and ~$21B AUM, citing Bloomberg, Mar 24, 2026; 1972 founding, citing NYT)
- Kleiner Perkins: representative portfolio with partnership years
Data from Value Add Pulse coverage and company research — see the full threads for Andreessen Horowitz and Kleiner Perkins.