a16z Speedrun: funding, terms & how to apply
Andreessen Horowitz's own accelerator — up to $1M for games, AI and consumer-tech startups, 12 weeks in San Francisco, and a sub-0.4% acceptance rate.
Investment
Up to $1M ($500K SAFE for 10% + $500K in your next round)
Equity
10% for the upfront $500K; no board seat
Program length
12 weeks
Format
In person
Deadlines
2 cohorts/year; rolling applications ahead of each
Acceptance rate
<0.4% (a16z-reported)
Facts last checked 2026-08-26. Deals and dates change — the official site is always the source of truth for the current application window.
What a16z Speedrun actually is
Speedrun started as a16z's games accelerator and widened into 'tech x entertainment' — games, AI, consumer and creative tools. The deal is the largest standard package in its class: a $500K SAFE for 10% upfront, plus a committed $500K into your next qualifying round within 18 months, and $10M+ in partner credits. Cohorts run 12 weeks in San Francisco with a16z partners as the mentor bench.
The reported acceptance rate (under 0.4%) makes it more selective than YC. Its center of gravity is founders building at the entertainment-technology frontier — if that's not you, the generalist accelerators are better-calibrated doors.
What they look for
The bar you need to clear before the application is worth sending.
Games, AI, consumer or entertainment-tech DNA — the thesis is explicit.
Teams that can exploit a16z's partner network and credits immediately.
Ambitious consumer products with breakout potential over steady B2B motion.
Speed — the name is the culture; shipped velocity is evidence.
Before you apply
Most rejections happen before the interview — in the application itself
Every question a16z Speedrun asks — problem, traction, business model, team, market size — maps to work you can finish first. Build your startup profile in StartupKit, run the readiness score, and walk into the application with real answers instead of blank fields. Free, no card.
Build your startup profile freeApplication FAQ
What is Speedrun's deal?
Up to $1M: a $500K SAFE for 10% at acceptance, plus $500K committed into your next qualifying round within 18 months, with no board seat, alongside $10M+ in partner credits.
Is Speedrun only for game studios?
No — it began in games but now backs AI, consumer and broader 'tech x entertainment' startups. Pure enterprise SaaS is outside the thesis.
How selective is it?
a16z reports under 0.4% of applicants get in — tighter than YC. Strong prior shipping history in games/consumer helps more than credentials.
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