Jan 2, 2019 · 23m · a16z
a16z Podcast | On Government as Software Builder, Not Just Buyer
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In this episode of the a16z podcast, U.S. Digital Service (USDS) leaders Mikey and Haley discuss how embedding Silicon Valley technologists in federal agencies modernizes government software, streamlines internal workflows, and creates a culture of civic tech service.
How this conversation actually went
Every chapter scored 0–10 on four independent dynamics. Hover any point for the reasoning behind the score. The host holds 27.5% of the talking time here. How this is scored →
speaking balance: gold is the host, purple is the guest (3 minute bins)
Mikey gently rejects Sonal's assertion that user-centered research is second nature to tech startups, pointing out the Silicon Valley myth of the all-knowing hero visionary.
Hardest push from the host ▶ 13:39 Questioning the Government Builder PremiseSonal challenges the guests on why an internal government startup is needed at all rather than just outsourcing work to outside startup contractors.
Biggest teaching moment ▶ 21:03 Historical Bureaucracy and Urgency LessonsMikey educates the host on public sector dynamics by citing a 1965 Rand report on the Manhattan and Apollo projects, contrasting real existential urgency with modern management platitudes.
The host holds their own ▶ 10:14 Debunking the Henry Ford QuoteSonal demonstrates her knowledge by pointing out that an HBR article debunked the famous Henry Ford faster horses quote cited by Mikey.
the scores for every segment, with the reasoning behind each
| Chapter | Topic | The host as informed peer | Guest teaching | Guest disagreement | The host pushing back | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Startup Agility vs. Government Bureaucracy | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | Sonal asks how the team operates like a startup despite multi-stakeholder bureaucracy. Mikey clarifies that government doesn't move fast and break things like Facebook, but can move surprisingly quickly when projects are mission-critical. | |
| User-Centered Design and Direct Observation | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | When Sonal suggests user testing feels obvious to Silicon Valley startups, Mikey reframes the premise by pointing out the prevailing Silicon Valley myth of the hero product visionary like Steve Jobs. Sonal later shows expertise by noting an HBR article that debunked the Henry Ford quote cited by Mikey. | |
| Transforming Internal Government Workflows and Systems | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | Haley and Mikey explain how USDS improved VA services not just externally but by revamping unglamorous internal adjudicator workflow tools like Caseflow. Sonal primarily listens and validates their impact. | |
| Government as Buyer vs. Builder and Procurement Reform | 6 | 5 | 2 | 5 | Sonal pushes back with a tough question asking why government doesn't simply outsource tech projects to external contractors. Mikey explains that USDS acts as a boundary-traversing internal team and clarifies when government should buy off-the-shelf software versus build custom systems. | |
| Wartime vs. Peacetime Strategy in Public Service | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | Sonal introduces Ben Horowitz's wartime versus peacetime CEO framework. Mikey expands on this by contrasting modern management empty platitudes with historical insights from a 1965 Rand Corporation report on government urgency. |
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