In part, a16z’s increased activity in DC reflects its long-running conception of itself at the vanguard of tech thought leadership. With many of the companies the firm backs chasing government contracts, it’s also a good way to increase the value of its investments by shaping federal policy and helping its startups get in good with people who wield control over massive federal agency budgets. “A lot of VCs say they add value,” , the founder of an a16z-backed drone company called Aerodome, after the party, but the firm’s partners “put our logo on espresso martinis and handed them out to congressional staffers in DC all night.”