Accelerating Frontiers

A16Z SPEEDRUN

The premier accelerator for exceptional founders building the future of tech and games.

$180M+

Capital Deployed

150+

Startups Funded

The Accelerator Offer

Capital at the Speed of Light

$1M Investment

Source: a16z.com, techcrunch.com

$500K for 10% equity upfront via SAFE, plus $500K in subsequent round within 18 months.

Immediate Action

Instant Funding

"Wiring occurs immediately upon acceptance to allow for instant building."

Credits & Perks

$5M+

Cloud · AI Compute · Software · Infrastructure

OpenAI & AWS Preferred Access

SAFE Framework

No Board Seats

Founder Controlled

The Stacked Team

Unmatched
Operational
Support

Joining Speedrun gives you access to a 'stacked team' of 600+ a16z operators. We help cover your gaps without adding headcount.

Talent

Early hires & option pools

GTM

Brand & media strategy

Technical

Model & store access

Specialized

Legal & Visa support

Move Fast.
Build Generational.

Global Founders

Visa Support Included

12-Week Sprint

The Intensive
Journey

A rigorous San Francisco-based program engineered to stress-test vision and accelerate founders into the tech social epicenter.

San Francisco HQ

The definitive hub of the tech social scene.

Progress Day

Mid-program stress tests with Andrew Chen & Robin Guo.

1,000+ Top-Tier Investors

Demo Day

The Grand Finale • SF

Live Pitch Environment

Partner Mentors

Cohort Status

INTENSE 12-WEEK CYCLE

SF

Selection Process & Rigor

A Highly Competitive Landscape

Speedrun is among the most selective programs in the world, identifying and accelerating the next generation of founders at the intersection of technology and entertainment.

19,000+

Startups Pitched

50–70

Founders per Cohort

Two Cycles Annually: Winter/Spring & Summer/Fall

Acceptance Rate

0.4%

Global Selectivity

"One of the hottest new startup accelerators in tech right now."

Founder DNA

What Speedrun Looks For

“

Speedrun isn’t looking for perfect companies; they’re looking for founders who can reason clearly about complex problems and build with conviction.

— Joshua Lu, a16z Games

Clarity of Thought

Founders who can strip away noise and reason from first principles about complex problems.

Conviction

Builders who move with velocity, validating hypotheses quickly through rapid iteration.

Technical Vision

Specifically seeking co-founders tackling frontier AI and ambitious gaming applications.

Market Validation

While early, we value AI-driven product validation or early signs of market traction.

Post-Program Ecosystem

The Power of the Alumni Network

600+ Active Founders

A hyper-engaged community providing instant customer introductions and critical product feedback from fellow builders who have been in your shoes.

Multi-stage Partnership

Speedrun is just the start. a16z maintains a long-term outlook, frequently investing in subsequent financing rounds as your company scales.

You Run the Show

Founder-friendly terms: No board seats taken. We believe you should control your board while building the future at high velocity.

Join the Elite Ecosystem

A16Z SPEEDRUN

World-Class Network

Meet the
Leadership

Work directly with world-class investors and operators focused on helping you build a generational company.

General Manager

Joshua Lu

Program Leadership

General Partners

Andrew Chen

General Partner

Jonathan Lai

General Partner

Dedicated Domain Experts

Samira Behrouzan Operations

Katia Ameri Marketing

Lester Chen GTM

+ 600+ Founders Network

Go-To-Market

Talent & HR

Visa Support

The Application Gateway

How to Apply:
SR006 and Beyond

Upcoming Cohort (SR006)

January 26 – April 12, 2026

San Francisco • 12-Week Intensive

AI Integration

Founders are encouraged to use AI to 'clean up' and refine applications. We value clarity of reasoning over raw prose.

Visa Support

Full assistance for international founders. We ensure the best global talent can build in San Francisco.

Rolling Basis

01 Application Process

Early applications are prioritized
Open to founders globally
Seeking market validation/traction

Application Status

SR006 Active Limited Slots Remaining

SR006

Conclusion

Your Path to a Generational Company

Speedrun is more than an accelerator; it's "gasoline on a spark."

$1M Investment

$5M In Credits

a16z Machine Access

"What you get out of Speedrun is what you put into it."

Joshua Lu, a16z Games

Apply for the Next Cohort

Join the cutting edge of tech & entertainment.

speedrun.a16z.com

A16Z SPEEDRUN

Capital at the Speed of Light

Instant Funding

$5M+

Unmatched Operational Support

Talent

GTM

Technical

Specialized

12-Week Sprint

The Intensive Journey

San Francisco HQ

Progress Day

Demo Day

SF

A Highly Competitive Landscape

What Speedrun Looks For

Clarity of Thought

Conviction

Technical Vision

Market Validation

The Power of the Alumni Network

600+ Active Founders

Multi-stage Partnership

You Run the Show

Meet the Leadership

General Manager

Joshua Lu

General Partners

Dedicated Domain Experts

How to Apply:SR006 and Beyond

Upcoming Cohort (SR006)

AI Integration

Visa Support

01 Application Process

Your Path to a Generational Company

Apply for the Next Cohort

Unmatched
Operational
Support

The Intensive
Journey

Meet the
Leadership

How to Apply:
SR006 and Beyond