a16z has raised $1.1 billion for its new Machine Age Fund, targeting hardware and infrastructure that support AI operations. The fund will invest across chips, memory, networking, storage, and full systems including data centers, robotics, and home AI devices. The firm said rising AI demand and compute density are pushing existing supply chains and physical and computing architectures toward their limits. Rack power is increasing from 5-10kW to 100-250kW and could reach 1MW within three years, while data center footprints are expanding to campuses measured in hundreds of MW or even GW. The fund will prioritize higher compute density, lower-cost high-bandwidth memory, faster interconnects, low-power edge devices, and related cooling, power, and real estate infrastructure to support a new generation of AI hardware startups.