A16z Speedrun Opens Applications for New Cohort with Up to $1 Million Investment Per Startup

San Francisco – Josh Lu, a Principal at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), announced the opening of applications for the new cohort of the a16z Speedrun accelerator program, which will invest up to $1 million in each accepted company. The announcement, made on his three-year anniversary with the venture capital firm, highlighted the program's commitment to supporting early-stage founders. Lu stated in his social media post, "Today is my 3 year anniversary at @a16z. I'm very grateful the team here took a chance on me... and I feel very lucky to support an amazing group of founders via @a16zGames and @speedrun."

The a16z Speedrun program, a 12-week intensive accelerator, is designed to back exceptional founders building in technology, entertainment, and AI, including areas like gaming, 3D tools, streaming, and XR. The upcoming Winter/Spring 2026 cohort (SR006) is set to commence in late January 2026 at a16z's San Francisco office, with applications closing on September 28, 2025. The program culminates in a Demo Day in April.

Each accepted startup will receive an investment of $500,000 upfront for 10% in a SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity), with an additional $500,000 available in their next funding round within 18 months. Beyond capital, the program provides an industry-leading package of over $5 million in credits from partners, along with direct access to the Speedrun team's expertise in areas such as fundraising, business development, recruiting, and marketing. Lu emphasized the comprehensive support, stating, "You will have the support of the awesome speedrun team. They are all world-class at what they do and we collectively work our butts off to continually earn our seats on your company's journey."

Launched in 2023, a16z Speedrun has rapidly grown, deploying over $180 million to fund more than 150 startups to date. The program aims to provide early-stage companies with the resources and community needed to achieve product-market fit quickly. Participants also gain access to a tight-knit community of ambitious founders and ongoing support, positioning the accelerator as a significant player in pre-seed investing.