Akamai vs Apptopia

a16z Leads Series A in Private Network Startup doxxnet

Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) announced it is leading a Series A investment in doxxnet, a startup building a private, parallel internet infrastructure for individuals and AI agents. doxxnet offers a software-defined global network with non-Internet domains, encrypted peer-to-peer communication, and DNS-level threat protection, all without requiring personal information like email or phone. The company is founded by Barrett Lyon, known for Prolexic (acquired by Akamai), BitGravity, and Defense.net. The funding will support the development of its 'Agentic Defined Networking' concept, which allows users and their agents to configure and control the network. The announcement highlights growing privacy needs driven by AI agents that operate with access to user data.

• a16z is leading a Series A investment in doxxnet.
• doxxnet provides a private, parallel internet infrastructure for users and AI agents.
• doxxnet was founded by Barrett Lyon, who previously founded Prolexic, BitGravity, and Defense.net.

Akamai Announces $11.6 Billion Multi-year Agreement with Anthropic to Support Growing Demand

Akamai today announced a significantly expanded relationship with Anthropic for $11.6 billion of contractual commitment over seven years.

AI companies adopt risky 'take-or-pay' contracts for compute

The AI industry is increasingly relying on take-or-pay contracts to secure computing power, a model borrowed from the energy sector. These agreements require AI companies to pay for GPUs, server time, and other inputs regardless of usage, creating significant financial risks. The payments are backed by expected future revenue, but there are concerns about whether AI revenues will materialize in time to meet payment schedules. Off-balance-sheet commitments are growing, with estimates ranging from $1.65 trillion to $3 trillion. Major players like Anthropic and OpenAI have committed billions, while companies like CoreWeave and Alphabet rely heavily on such contracts. Financial analysts and regulators warn that the entire system could collapse if companies fail to secure enough capital. The Bank of International Settlements has highlighted potential systemic risks, particularly through special purpose vehicles. The article notes that major banks and investors are closely monitoring this trend, with experts predicting a 'wave of disputes' as the sector matures.

• Take-or-pay contracts obligate AI companies to pay for compute regardless of usage, similar to energy sector agreements.
• Anthropic committed $750 billion for compute through 2030; OpenAI could spend over $500 billion in the next 10 years.
• Off-balance-sheet commitments in tech sector estimated at $1.65 trillion to $3 trillion.

The Apptopia MCP Server Is Here

Apptopia has launched a new MCP Server product, as indicated by the addition of 'Apptopia MCP Server NEW' to the Products menu and a featured article titled 'The Apptopia MCP Server Is Here'.

Tech Hiring Prioritizes Experience Over Skills; Shift Toward AI Data Roles

A16z's newsletter 'Chart of the Week' analyzes several tech trends based on recent data. It reports that tech job postings since January 2025 show an increased preference for experienced workers and a corresponding decrease in the number of skills required, suggesting an AI-driven shift. This trend is most pronounced in data and systems roles. The newsletter also observes that social media usage is rising, particularly among younger users, but its share of mobile screen time is declining, partially due to increased time on YouTube. Netflix's US users and viewing time have declined over three years, with a 20% drop in YouTube users who also use Netflix. Cybersecurity threats are escalating: the zero-day rate has quadrupled since 2020, and data center construction spending has surged, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs.

• Tech job postings show a 5-10% increase in preferred years of experience and a corresponding drop in preferred skills since January 2025.
• Data and systems jobs show the largest premium for experience.
• Netflix weekly users and time spent in the US have dropped ~15% and 30% respectively over the past 3+ years.