Christopher Lyons

General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz

Christopher Lyons is a prominent figure in both the culinary and technology sectors. He currently serves as a Member of the Board of Trustees at the James Beard Foundation, a position he has held since January 2023.1 2

Professional Background

Christopher is a General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), where he co-founded the firm's Cultural Leadership Fund (CLF) in 2018. This initiative aims to connect cultural leaders with emerging technology companies, particularly focusing on supporting Black builders and creators in the tech industry. He joined a16z in 2013 as the chief of staff to co-founder Ben Horowitz and has since advanced to a general partner role.1 2

In addition to his work at Andreessen Horowitz, Lyons is involved with several organizations:

Founder of Lyons Wine, an Italian wine brand.
Board Member at Yuga Labs since March 2022.
Advisory roles with The Black Economic Alliance and New Story Charity.
Former member of the Verizon Media Global Advisory Board.1 2 3

Education and Early Career

Lyons holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Full Sail University and is a graduate of the Kauffman Fellows Program. His early career included work in the music industry as a sound engineer for notable artists, and he founded a startup called PictureMenu, which offered digital menu solutions for restaurants.1 2

Personal Interests

Christopher Lyons is also known for his commitment to community engagement and economic empowerment, reflecting his broader interests in cultural leadership and innovation within the food and technology sectors.1

Highlights

Jan 24 · jamesbeard.org

The 2024 James Beard Awards Semifinalists

Nov 3 · PRNewswire

Investors And Cultural Leaders Contribute To Valora's Fundraise - PRNewswire

Nov 3 · PR Newswire

Investors And Cultural Leaders Contribute To Valora's Fundraise - PR Newswire

Experience

General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz (May 2021 - Present)

Member Board of Trustees at The James Beard Foundation (Jan 2023 - Present), Board Member at Yuga Labs (Mar 2022 - Present), Advisor at New Story Charity (Apr 2017 - Present), Chief of Staff at Andreessen Horowitz (Apr 2013 - Aug 2018), Chief Technical Officer at Apps & Dreams Mobile Development Company (Oct 2010 - Jan 2012)

Education

Bachelors of Science in Entertainment Business from Full Sail University, Associates of Science in Recording Arts from Full Sail University, Certification in Wealth Management and Budget Counseling from Financial Peace University, Associates Degree in Business Management from Georgia State University