The march to a billion users: Jeff Desjardins of the Visual Capitalist highlights the 12 apps that have 1 billion monthly users – all of which belong to Microsoft, Google and Facebook. Om Malik of True Ventures breaks down the graph: It took Microsoft 25+ years, Facebook 8.7 years, WhatsApp 6.8 years, and Android 5.8 years to get to a billion users, which demonstrates the importance of mobile for the billion user club. When $1B isn’t enough… According to a recent TechCrunch report, Sand Hill Road venture firm Andreessen Horowitz is talking with investors about a fresh $1.5B fund, almost exactly two years after the firm closed its fourth, multi-stage Fund IV of the same size. The Fund V speculation comes on the heels of the $200M AH Bio Fund that Andreessen announced in November of last year to invest in early-stage startups at the intersection of computer science and life sciences. Trouble in SXSW paradise: Is Austin’s venture scene stuck in the dark ages? Richard Bandanas discusses the challenges of raising capital in Austin, beginning with the limited number of investors who can invest $500,000. According to CrunchBase, however, Texas is the 4th biggest state for venture investing after California, New York and Massachusetts. Introducing new ways to access CrunchBase Data: Uncover new opportunities, discover industry trends, and build powerful apps using the Daily Excel Export or API. | 
