Former North Carolina congressman Patrick McHenry has secured a new role as a senior advisor at venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z). McHenry, who announced his appointment on X, shared that he will be advocating for startups—what a16z refers to as “little tech”—in policymaking circles. The firm has not yet provided additional details on his specific responsibilities.
McHenry retired in January after a 20-year tenure in Congress, where he served as chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. He gained prominence for his outspoken stance against the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), particularly under the leadership of Chairman Gary Gensler. During a congressional hearing in September, McHenry accused Gensler of enforcing regulations through litigation, calling the SEC a “rogue agency.”
His new employer, a16z, has been deeply involved in shaping policies around crypto and Web3. By 2022, the firm had raised $7.6 billion dedicated to these sectors. Recently, it has expanded its government and policy influence, appointing several key figures to prominent roles. Brian Quintenz, head of a16z’s crypto policy, was named head of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), while former general partner Sriram Krishnan now serves as a senior policy advisor at the White House. Additionally, managing partner Scott Kupor was appointed to lead the Office of Personnel Management.
The firm’s American Dynamism practice, which backs startups in defense and government technology, has also been expanding its team. Most recently, former Marine Daniel Penny joined as an investor.
McHenry’s new role signals a continued push by a16z to bridge the gap between technology startups and government policymakers, particularly in the evolving regulatory landscape surrounding financial and emerging technologies.
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