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Jeff Jordan

General Partner, Andreessen Horowitz · 2 appearances on the record.

computed by AI from the episodes · how this works → · full disclaimer →

investorexecutiveoperator@jeff_jordan ↗a16z.com/author/jeff-jordan ↗Wikipedia ↗

At Andreessen Horowitz, Jordan led landmark early investments in top consumer and marketplace companies, including Airbnb, Pinterest, and Instacart. Earlier in his career, he served as CEO of OpenTable, President of PayPal, and Senior VP and General Manager of eBay North America.

55statements → 16claims → 12claims resolved → 75%fully supported → 4/5average certainty → 2.16/5average debate potential → 4.1/5argument clarity · the sources → 30said about them ↓

9 supported 2 partly supported 1 contradicted 4 not checkable as stated how the 16 claims stand · each chip opens the sources

1 prediction · 15 assertions · 23 insights · 15 disclosures · 1 what if · every statement was checked. The prediction and assertions are the 16 claims: statements the public record can support or contradict. 12 are resolved, and 4 name no date, number or outcome precise enough to check. Everything else (opinions, insights, what ifs, disclosures) can never be settled by the record, so it carries no assessment.

The record, in short

What the tape says about how Jeff argues and how the claims held up. Everything they said, and everything said about them, is in the tabs below.

Their most notable supported claim

Assertion Supported
Jordan: TikTok Buys Users at Scale Unlike Early Google or Facebook
“That's not a categorical rule, because TikTok buys users at monstrous scale. But, you know, Google really didn't buy many users, Facebook didn't buy many users, you know, tick, tick, tick, tick.”
Jeff Jordan Jan 24, 2023 ▶ 9:28 The Ultimate Guide for Building a Two-Sided Marketplace | a16z's Jeff Jordan · 20VC with Harry Stebbings

Their most notable contradicted claim

Assertion Contradicted
Jordan: Amazon was the only profitable e-commerce business due to low defensibility
“Early on, I was a big proponent of that e-commerce was going to clean the clock of the department stores. I got the thesis half right. Share did shift. No one could make money other than Amazon because of there's just no defensibility, no barriers to entry.”
Jeff Jordan Jan 16, 2023 ▶ 15:52 a16z GP Jeff Jordan: The Ultimate Guide to Two-Sided Marketplaces | 20VC #966 · 20VC with Harry Stebbings

Expressed certainty vs assessment result

none yet certainty 1
none yet certainty 2
100% certainty 3
78% certainty 4
100% certainty 5

weighted support: a fully supported claim counts one, a partly supported claim counts half. Each filled bar is clickable and opens exactly those claims; "none yet" means nothing said at that certainty level has resolved yet

Argument clarity: do they answer the question? how? →

4.1 / 5 directness 4.2 · coherence 4.3 · precision 4 · compression 3.6

redirected or did not address 4 of 48 assessed questions (8%). Watch them ▸

This is a score against a rubric. It is not a rank. Every host question → answer exchange is scored with names hidden on directness, coherence, precision and compression, 1–5 each, on meaning alone: disfluencies are ignored, and only raw unedited episodes count. This is the score that measures thought. Every scored exchange, scores shown → · The rubric and its checks →

How they sound: speaking style how? →

236 words/min while actually speaking · 31.7 um and uh per 1k words · 33.5 false starts per 1k · 30.7% of pauses land inside a clause

Measured by listening to the audio itself: 12,724 words across 2 episodes of raw-level tape, transcribed verbatim with every um and uh kept, each one attributed only where the alignment onto our timed stream is unambiguous. These are measurements of speaking style. We do not rank them: across this corpus, fluency and argument quality are nearly uncorrelated (ρ≈0.2), and smooth talking does not signal clear thinking. How it's measured →

How the interview went all their pushback → series average →

Across 2 rated episodes:

host pushback ▾ 3.5/10
pushed back at the host ▾ 2.5/10
setup questions received 38%

Everything Jeff Jordan said on 20VC that made the record, most notable first. Filter by type, assessment or year in the ledger →

Assertion Contradicted
Jordan: Amazon was the only profitable e-commerce business due to low defensibility
“Early on, I was a big proponent of that e-commerce was going to clean the clock of the department stores. I got the thesis half right. Share did shift. No one could make money other than Amazon because of there's just no defensibility, no barriers to entry.”
Jeff Jordan Jan 16, 2023 ▶ 15:52 a16z GP Jeff Jordan: The Ultimate Guide to Two-Sided Marketplaces | 20VC #966 · 20VC with Harry Stebbings
Disclosure
Jordan: a16z Avoids Investing in Startups Reliant on Paid Marketing
“I am reluctant to invest in companies that, that require heavy paid marketing to build their audience.”
Jeff Jordan Jan 24, 2023 ▶ 9:12 The Ultimate Guide for Building a Two-Sided Marketplace | a16z's Jeff Jordan · 20VC with Harry Stebbings
Assertion Supported
Jordan: TikTok Buys Users at Scale Unlike Early Google or Facebook
“That's not a categorical rule, because TikTok buys users at monstrous scale. But, you know, Google really didn't buy many users, Facebook didn't buy many users, you know, tick, tick, tick, tick.”
Jeff Jordan Jan 24, 2023 ▶ 9:28 The Ultimate Guide for Building a Two-Sided Marketplace | a16z's Jeff Jordan · 20VC with Harry Stebbings
Disclosure
Jordan: a16z Avoided Fast Commerce, Viewing It as a Kozmo Redo
“We didn't make a bet in in fast commerce. That's one word that some of us internet veterans remember Cosmo and, you know, our concern was it's Cosmo redo redo without anything really new. On top of it. So we did not place a bet in that in that sector.”
Jeff Jordan Jan 24, 2023 ▶ 26:37 The Ultimate Guide for Building a Two-Sided Marketplace | a16z's Jeff Jordan · 20VC with Harry Stebbings
Insight
Jordan: Demand Is the Primary Strategic Side in Two-Sided Marketplaces
“I have a belief that the demand side is, you know, kind of the, is the more, more strategic side because suppliers typically will go wherever the demand is. And so for me, keeping a healthy demand Bucket, you know, is what your suppliers are looking for.”
Jeff Jordan Jan 24, 2023 ▶ 33:38 The Ultimate Guide for Building a Two-Sided Marketplace | a16z's Jeff Jordan · 20VC with Harry Stebbings
Insight
Jordan: Home Service Marketplaces Fail Due to Low Frequency and Leakage
“I think there is a real issue with leakage. The other is a issue with frequency except for lawn care and home cleaning. Almost all services are very, very infrequent and it's, it was very hard to build a brand.”
Jeff Jordan Jan 24, 2023 ▶ 35:32 The Ultimate Guide for Building a Two-Sided Marketplace | a16z's Jeff Jordan · 20VC with Harry Stebbings
Disclosure
Jordan: Reluctant to invest in startups relying on paid marketing
“So I am reluctant to invest in companies that, that require heavy paid marketing to build their audience. You know, the best Concepts typically don't need, you know, they're so compelling, they don't need to buy users.”
Jeff Jordan Jan 16, 2023 ▶ 15:10 a16z GP Jeff Jordan: The Ultimate Guide to Two-Sided Marketplaces | 20VC #966 · 20VC with Harry Stebbings
What-if
Jordan: Incredible Health could have gone from Series A to IPO
“Iman at Incredible had the just had this dream of, she called it A to IPO. She arguably could have never raised a B round and gone public. The business has that kind of momentum. And because she was quote unquote accidentally profitable, the bookings came in w…”
Jeff Jordan Jan 16, 2023 ▶ 20:37 a16z GP Jeff Jordan: The Ultimate Guide to Two-Sided Marketplaces | 20VC #966 · 20VC with Harry Stebbings
Disclosure
a16z does not base investment decisions on current market size
“We strive as a firm not to base investment decisions on current market size, because a lot of the best businesses created new markets to create new markets.”
Jeff Jordan Jan 16, 2023 ▶ 24:04 a16z GP Jeff Jordan: The Ultimate Guide to Two-Sided Marketplaces | 20VC #966 · 20VC with Harry Stebbings
Disclosure
Jeff Jordan: Top e-commerce investments like Fanatics generated uninspiring returns
“And I actually got two of the best e-commerce companies out there, fanatics and Zulu and it still is an uninspiring outcome.”
Jeff Jordan Jan 16, 2023 ▶ 28:20 a16z GP Jeff Jordan: The Ultimate Guide to Two-Sided Marketplaces | 20VC #966 · 20VC with Harry Stebbings
Disclosure
Jordan: a16z passed on fast commerce, viewing it as Kozmo.com 2.0
“We didn't make a bet in in fast Fast commerce. That's one word. Some of us internet veterans remember Cosmo and... Our concern was it's Cosmo redo, redo without anything really new on top of it. So we did not place a bet in that in that sector.”
Jeff Jordan Jan 16, 2023 ▶ 32:35 a16z GP Jeff Jordan: The Ultimate Guide to Two-Sided Marketplaces | 20VC #966 · 20VC with Harry Stebbings
Assertion Supported
Jordan: Instacart lost $20-$25 per order when a16z first invested
“From recollection, they were billing something like 10 or 12 dollars per order when we invested, and they were losing 20, 25 dollars per order on each one”
Jeff Jordan Jan 16, 2023 ▶ 33:32 a16z GP Jeff Jordan: The Ultimate Guide to Two-Sided Marketplaces | 20VC #966 · 20VC with Harry Stebbings
Insight
Jordan: A Month-Long Venture Fundraising Window Signals Startup Struggle
“And if it's a month, it's often an adverse signal. So it's, you know, that they can't raise.”
Jeff Jordan Jan 16, 2023 ▶ 45:57 a16z GP Jeff Jordan: The Ultimate Guide to Two-Sided Marketplaces | 20VC #966 · 20VC with Harry Stebbings
Insight
Jordan: VC-Founder Misalignment Stems from VC Portfolio Risk Dynamics
“I think the biggest one is VCs have a portfolio and the founders have N of one. And so, yeah, I try to be very explicit on that. You know, the founder says, okay, I have a fork in the road. You know, what, which, what's your point of view on where I should go?…”
Jeff Jordan Jan 16, 2023 ▶ 46:10 a16z GP Jeff Jordan: The Ultimate Guide to Two-Sided Marketplaces | 20VC #966 · 20VC with Harry Stebbings
Insight
Jordan: Aggregated Fragmented Marketplaces Are Brutally Hard to Compete With
“And so it was brutally hard to aggregate, but once you're aggregated, you know, it's brutally hard to compete with it. And no supplier has supplier power.”
Jeff Jordan Jan 24, 2023 ▶ 0:58 The Ultimate Guide for Building a Two-Sided Marketplace | a16z's Jeff Jordan · 20VC with Harry Stebbings
Insight
Jordan: Local Marketplaces Reach a Tipping Point at 10% Supply
“There was a tipping point in each market. It's something like 10% of the target market supply where diners finally said, okay, this is so much more convenient than calling a restaurant one at a time, getting put on hold, getting voicemail, getting all this and…”
Jeff Jordan Jan 24, 2023 ▶ 2:54 The Ultimate Guide for Building a Two-Sided Marketplace | a16z's Jeff Jordan · 20VC with Harry Stebbings
Insight
Jordan: Most Successful Marketplaces Are Permanently Supply-Constrained
“Most markets, even successful marketplaces typically are supply constrained. You know, Airbnb always is looking for new supply to enhance the user experience.”
Jeff Jordan Jan 24, 2023 ▶ 4:18 The Ultimate Guide for Building a Two-Sided Marketplace | a16z's Jeff Jordan · 20VC with Harry Stebbings
Insight
Jordan: Owning Supply in Two-Sided Marketplaces Creates Channel Conflict
“You know, I think it's pretty hard to do that on, you know, on, on two-sided marketplaces, just because of channel conflict.”
Jeff Jordan Jan 24, 2023 ▶ 5:16 The Ultimate Guide for Building a Two-Sided Marketplace | a16z's Jeff Jordan · 20VC with Harry Stebbings
Prediction Held up
Jordan: Instacart Avoids Owning Grocery Inventory to Preserve Partner Trust
“That channel conflict is something that Instacart has no desire to do. They want to be the go to partner for the for the gross, the physical grocer.”
Jeff Jordan Jan 24, 2023 ▶ 5:42 The Ultimate Guide for Building a Two-Sided Marketplace | a16z's Jeff Jordan · 20VC with Harry Stebbings
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Jordan: Amazon Was the Only Profitable Direct E-Commerce Company
“No one could make money other than Amazon because of there's just no defensibility, no barriers to entry.”
Jeff Jordan Jan 24, 2023 ▶ 10:04 The Ultimate Guide for Building a Two-Sided Marketplace | a16z's Jeff Jordan · 20VC with Harry Stebbings
Disclosure
Jordan: a16z Advises Portfolio Startups to Delay Fundraising as Long as Possible
“You know, we're today counseling our businesses, try to be try not to need to go to market for as long as you sustainably can without hurting the business.”
Jeff Jordan Jan 24, 2023 ▶ 11:24 The Ultimate Guide for Building a Two-Sided Marketplace | a16z's Jeff Jordan · 20VC with Harry Stebbings
Assertion Supported
Jordan: Airbnb Was Cashflow Positive Early Due to Upfront Payments
“Airbnb raised way less money than, you know, the other leading marketplaces at the time. It's got a couple of characteristics and that are very nice. One of which is they get paid in advance. And so, you know, when you make your summer vacation over the holida…”
Jeff Jordan Jan 24, 2023 ▶ 12:31 The Ultimate Guide for Building a Two-Sided Marketplace | a16z's Jeff Jordan · 20VC with Harry Stebbings
Disclosure
Jordan: Incredible Health Had More Cash Pre-Series B Than Post-Series A
“Incredible health went you know, we did the a, they went three years without raising while the business was going very well. And when Iman finally did raise earlier this year. She had more cash in the bank when she raised than she did when after we funded her.”
Jeff Jordan Jan 24, 2023 ▶ 13:16 The Ultimate Guide for Building a Two-Sided Marketplace | a16z's Jeff Jordan · 20VC with Harry Stebbings
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Jordan: Instacart Lost 75% of Early Users but Held 100% Revenue Retention
“A year out, you know, the number of users declined something like three quarters But the users that stayed spent you know, three or four times more money. So their cohorts were actually on revenue basis were, you know, close to staying at 100%.”
Jeff Jordan Jan 24, 2023 ▶ 25:00 The Ultimate Guide for Building a Two-Sided Marketplace | a16z's Jeff Jordan · 20VC with Harry Stebbings

Show 24statements(31 left)

The other half of the tape: Jeff Jordan's own voice is left out of every number here. Other people bring the name up 29 times in 14 episodes on 20VC. 1 statement on the record names them. every mention, with the transcript →

Who brings them up most Harry Stebbings 15Anu Hariharan 4Iman Abuzeid 3Sam Corcos 2Alex Schultz 2Ryan Caldbeck 1Logan Bartlett 1Ariel Cohen 1

Statements about Jeff Jordan, by other people (1)

Assertion Supported
Corcos: Sequoia's Vernal and Andreessen's Jordan Read Every Pre-Meeting Document
“The people who were most engaged was Mike Vernal at Sequoia and Jeff Jordan and Andreessen. They read every document. Jeff actually even fixed some typos like deep in like a 50 page document.”
Sam Corcos Dec 11, 2023 ▶ 42:45 Sam Corcos: Why Founders Should Take as Many VC Meetings as Possible | E1093 · 20VC with Harry Stebbings

Every mention by year

tap a year for its mentions
00521042016201720182019202020212022202320242025episodesmentions
0242016201720182019202020212022202320242025episodes it came up in
0022442016201720182019202020212022202320242025episodesmentions per episode
2025 2 mentions in 1 episode
2023 10 mentions in 4 episodes 3 per episode
2022 3 mentions in 2 episodes 2 per episode
2021 1 mention in 1 episode
2020 3 mentions in 1 episode
2019 1 mention in 1 episode
2018 4 mentions in 1 episode
2017 2 mentions in 1 episode
2016 3 mentions in 2 episodes 2 per episode

Appearances (2)

EpisodeDateSpeaking time
The Ultimate Guide for Building a Two-Sided Marketplace | a16z's Jeff Jordan · 20VC with H Jan 24, 2023 25m
a16z GP Jeff Jordan: The Ultimate Guide to Two-Sided Marketplaces | 20VC #966 · 20VC with Jan 16, 2023 36m
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