In the era of AI where you spend $2 to earn $1, founders who do not create IP are exiting
In 2026, a16z began systematically training founders in content dissemination. Customer acquisition costs spiraled out of control, AI accelerated product homogenization, and consumers demanded a "human touch"—these three lines converge on the same conclusion: founder IP is the most efficient growth lever in the AI era and also the hardest barrier to replicate.