25 Things About Ben Horowitz

We've learned about the connection between Michael Ovitz and Marc Andreessen of VC firm Andreessen Horowitz (see Kara Swisher of All Things D, When Marc Met Mike: Andreessen Interviews Ovitz).  But how about getting to know a bit more about Andreessen Horowitz's other co-founder, Ben Horowitz?  All Things D' Beth Callaghan has compiled '25 Things About Ben Horowitz'; click here to read the article or enjoy the Q&A reprinted below:

What was your favorite TV show as a kid?
“Good Times.”

What qualities do you like in a person?
Courage, humor, original thinking, loyalty.

What qualities do you dislike?
Insecurity, narrow thinking, prejudices, bitch-assness.

Name one thing you will regret never having done (if you never do it).
Ending the oppression of women worldwide.

What’s the single most important issue in the world today?
Global women’s rights.

Do you still buy CDs or rent DVDs?
Yes.

What would you be doing if you were not in your current job?
CEO of a technology company.

What is your greatest achievement to date?
Professional: Helping turn LoudCloud into Opsware and making Opsware successful.
Personal: Marrying up.

iPhone, Android or BlackBerry?
iPhone.

If you could meet any historical or fictional person, who would it be?
Thomas Clarkson.

What site/app do you check first when you wake up?
Twitter.

What was the last thing you fixed?
My mom’s MacBook.

What was your first computer?
TRS-80.

What was your biggest mistake?
Signing a $30,000,000 letter of credit on a building lease for company expansion in early 2000.

Do you have a dog or cat or other pet?
Nope.

What’s your favorite mode of transportation?
Adidas.

What was the last book you read?
“The Tanning of America” by Steve Stoute.

If you could have any superpower, what would you choose?
Speed like The Flash.

Name your favorite guilty pleasure.
Drinking Hine Cognac, listing to old Lil Weezy mixtapes.

What was your biggest most recent purchase?
Professional insulated neoprene BBQ gloves from Ole Hickory Pits.

Whom do you idolize?
Andy Grove, Michael Ovitz, Kanye West.

What do you drive/ride?
BMW b7 Alpina.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
My singing voice.

Who was your biggest influence growing up?
My mom.

Describe an ideal day.
Wake up early, but not too early.
Breakfast at Lois the Pie Queen.
Meet with an entrepreneur who has a great new idea.
Help a CEO figure out an impossible problem.
Write a good blog post.
Dinner with my family.
Read something good.
Watch Manny Pacquiao fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. while drinking yak with my fight buddies Sebastian, Jagoda, Joey, Cartheu and Michel, then listen to Prince, Kanyeezy and Weezy on my Krells.
No throwing up.

Michael Ovitz at Sun Valley

Michael Ovitz attended the 30th edition of the renowned Allen and Co Media Conference held this past weekend in Sun Valley, Idaho.  The Sun Valley Conference is a gathering of moguls and top executives of media and technology companies, meeting to discuss the issues of the day as well as some good old-fashioned dealmaking.

This year the talk mostly surrounded politics as well as concerns over the economy, deficits, and debt.  According to the New York Post, 'Hollywood leaders focused on the chilling effects of industry change brought on by labor strife, fragmentation and new technology."

The conference features some heavy hitters, including Oprah Winfrey, Warren Buffet, Michael Bloomberg, Ron Meyer, Barry Diller, Harvey Weinstein, Howard Stringer, Tom Brokaw and many more.

Click here to see a few photos featured on the New York post.

The Opsware Connection

Michael Ovitz was featured in Forbes Magazine's recent analysis of Opsware's wide-reaching network of ex-employees who have gone on to foster new companies, new ideas, and new firms.  The article includes a great diagram, pictured here, mapping the various Silicon Valley and tech interconnections - fascinating stuff.

We've written a lot here about the connection between Michael Ovitz and Andreessen Horowitz; this article helps explain how that connection came to be, as all three are Opsware alums:

"First, former board members stayed connected, including Michael Ovitz, who is now on the Board of Advisors for Andreessen Horowitz (the VC firm cofounded by two Opsware alums previously mentioned, Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz). Ovitz has also launched his own angel VC fund called Broad Beach Ventures."

Click here to read the entire Forbes Magazine article.