# Why Software Is Eating the World  ## About - Author: Marc Andreessen - Title: Why Software Is Eating the World - Tags: #articles - URL: https://a16z.com/why-software-is-eating-the-world/ ## Highlights On the back end, software programming tools and Internet-based services make it easy to launch new global software-powered start-ups in many industries—without the need to invest in new infrastructure and train new employees. In 2000, when my partner Ben Horowitz was CEO of the first cloud computing company, Loudcloud, the cost of a customer running a basic Internet application was approximately $150,000 a month. Running that same application today in Amazon’s cloud costs about $1,500 a month. - Note: What a dramatic shift since 2011 even. --- It’s not an accident that many of the biggest recent technology companies—including Google, Amazon, eBay and more—are American companies. Our combination of great research universities, a pro-risk business culture, deep pools of innovation-seeking equity capital and reliable business and contract law is unprecedented and unparalleled in the world. - Note: It seems that Australia is missing the pro-risk business culture among other things. ---