a16z speedrun
a16z speedrun is an early-stage startup accelerator program run by the venture capital firm Andreessen HorowitzAndreessen HorowitzAndreessen Horowitz (a16z) is a venture capital firm founded in 2009 by Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz. It invests from the seed stage through the growth stage and provides operational support to its portfolio companies.Open the full entry (a16z); selected teams take part in a 12-week residency in San Francisco and receive up to $1 million in investment.
Contents5 sections
Key facts
2024Fourth Cohort and Early-Stage Focus
In a September 2024 post, Andrew Chen of Andreessen Horowitz described speedrun, the firm’s accelerator for seed-stage startups, and its fourth cohort, saying each team received about $750,000. By his account, the program was tied to the early-stage strategy of a16z’s second games fund, and its investments spanned 3D, artificial intelligence, extended reality and gamified apps.[1]
August 2026Seventh Cohort Begins
According to speedrun’s official newsletter, its seventh cohort (SR007) selected just over 80 startups from more than 30,000 applicant teams and held its kickoff week in Los Angeles.[2]
As of October 2026: Program Format and Investment Terms
The program runs twice a year, both times in San Francisco, for 12 weeks, and requires founding teams to take part in person and full-time. The website says selected companies can receive up to $1 million in investment plus more than $10 million in credits.[3][4][5]
Its standard deal is $500,000 up front for 10% on a SAFE (simple agreement for future equity), with a further $500,000 possible if the company completes a qualifying round of at least $2 million within 18 months; the standard deal does not include a board seat.[4]
The a16z website shows the eighth cohort (SR008) scheduled to begin in February 2027, with applications closing on November 1, 2026; the program says its founder community exceeds 1,000 people.[5]
Related Organizations, Websites, and Public Accounts
a16z speedrun: Official website: https://speedrun.a16z.com/ (opens in a new window)[3]
Andreessen Horowitz: Official website: https://a16z.com/ (opens in a new window)[5]
X: Official account: https://x.com/speedrun (opens in a new window)[3]
LinkedInLinkedInLinkedIn is a social networking platform for professionals. It was founded in 2002 by Reid Hoffman and others, launched in 2003, and listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2011; after Microsoft acquired it for approximately $26.2 billion in 2016, it became a wholly owned Microsoft subsidiary. Its revenue comes from membership subscriptions, advertising, and recruitment solutions.Open the full entry: Official account: https://www.linkedin.com/school/a16zspeedrun/ (opens in a new window)[3]
Substack: Official account: https://speedrun.substack.com/ (opens in a new window)[3]