a16z(@a16z ):As system of record incumbents shift to headless agents, they are making an implicit bet that the data layer will remain the source of value. Startups will compete on a new set of factors, like proprietary data, owning the action layer, real-world execution, and selling to technical buyers. The next generation of systems of record is already starting to look agentic such that they capture the context, initiate the work, and record the data exhaust. Full piece from a16z's Seema Amble:

a16z

@a16z

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a16z@a16z

2026.05.13 22:09

As system of record incumbents shift to headless agents, they are making an implicit bet that the data layer will remain the source of value. Startups will compete on a new set of factors, like proprietary data, owning the action layer, real-world execution, and selling to technical buyers. The next generation of systems of record is already starting to look agentic such that they capture the context, initiate the work, and record the data exhaust. Full piece from a16z's Seema Amble: