^* A9 is a numeronym, a common trope in Valley naming aesthetics. It stood for “Algorithms” (The letter “A” plus nine other letters), since sophisticated computer instructions were how Amazon was to succeed in this new world of quantitative marketing. The top-tier venture capital firm a16z, for “A(ndreessen Horowit)z,” followed similar logic. Such wonky abbreviation must scratch some deep OCD itch in the geek psyche.