a16z Speedrun

Overview

a16z Speedrun is an accelerator program by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) that invests up to $1 million in early-stage gaming startups worldwide. The program offers a 12-week intensive curriculum, providing hands-on mentorship, strategic guidance, and access to a global network to help startups scale rapidly. Each accepted company receives an initial investment of $500,000 for 10% equity via a SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity), with an additional $500,000 available in their next funding round within 18 months. The program also offers over $5 million in credits from partners and support in areas such as talent acquisition, business development, marketing, and visa assistance. Since its launch in 2023, a16z Speedrun has funded over 150 startups, deploying more than $180 million. The upcoming SR006 cohort is set to commence in late January 2026 in San Francisco, culminating in a Demo Day in April 2026. Applications for SR006 closed on September 28, 2025. The program is open to founders globally, with previous cohorts featuring participants from countries including the United States, Canada, Spain, France, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Israel, Germany, Norway, Ukraine, Japan, South Africa, Ireland, Switzerland, Lebanon, Hong Kong, Mexico, Italy, the Philippines, Brazil, Portugal, South Korea, Russia, Singapore, the Netherlands, Sweden, Bangladesh, Finland, Georgia, Australia, and Tunisia. The program focuses on sectors such as technology, entertainment, AI, gaming, 3D tools, streaming, XR, Web3, and VR. Notable companies that have participated in the program include Waveful, a social platform that achieved over 3 million downloads and secured a $2.1 million seed investment round with participation from a16z Speedrun. Other portfolio companies include Hedra, Fundamental Research Labs, and k-ID, each benefiting from the program's resources and mentorship to accelerate their growth and achieve product-market fit. The program emphasizes a hands-on approach, with a team of battle-tested operators providing support without adding headcount, enabling founders to move fast and build generational companies. The community of over 600 founders actively supports each other, serving as a powerful source of customer introductions and product feedback. Applications for future cohorts are typically announced on the program's official website, with deadlines and program details provided accordingly. For the most current information, interested founders should refer to the official a16z Speedrun website or contact the program directly.

Investment Focus

• Pre-Seed
• Seed
• Early Stage
• Gaming Startups
• Global Founders

Portfolio Companies