On January 28, Shaw Walters, founder of Eliza Labs, announced that ai16z had changed its name to ElizaOS.
The decision was made to clear up confusion between the decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) and the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, often referred to as a16z.
ElizaOS continues to function as a decentralized venture capital DAO, using artificial intelligence (AI) to manage investments with minimal human involvement.
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Walters explained that as the project grew across different regions and improved its technology, a rebrand became necessary. He stated on X:
As we continue to expand across multiple countries, develop our core technology, and foster an incredible community of builders, we are implementing a comprehensive rebranding initiative to ElizaOS.
The project started in October 2024 as a small initiative to raise $75,000 to create an autonomous investment system. Walters described it as a “playful reference” at first, but it quickly gained traction.
However, the similarities in name with Andreessen Horowitz led to some mix-ups. Chris Dixon, a managing partner at a16z, confirmed they had asked ai16z to consider changing its name.
Walters emphasized that the rebrand would help open new opportunities. He said, “Rebranding as ElizaOS opens exciting doors to collaboration with established players eager to leverage our groundbreaking tech”.
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