a16z Speedrun Issues Final Call for SR006, Offering Up to $1 Million Investment and $5M+ in Credits

Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) has issued a final call for applications to its highly selective Speedrun SR006 accelerator program, with a deadline of Sunday, September 28, 2025, at 11:59 PM PT. The program, which offers up to $1 million in investment and over $5 million in credits, targets early-stage founders globally who are building in the tech, entertainment, and AI sectors. General Partner Andrew Chen emphasized the unique opportunity, stating, "quit whatever it is you're doing, build the startup you've wanted to build, work with me and the a16z team 1:1."

The 12-week intensive program is set to kick off in late January 2026 and will be hosted in-person at a16z's headquarters in San Francisco's SOMA district. Accepted startups receive an initial $500,000 for 10% equity via a SAFE, with an additional $500,000 wired in their next funding round within 18 months. This structure aims to provide robust financial backing while allowing founders to retain control, as a16z does not take board seats.

Speedrun distinguishes itself through its affiliation with a multi-stage venture capital firm, offering unparalleled access to a vast network and deep operational expertise. Participants benefit from private dinners and Q&A sessions with a16z co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, alongside live events featuring founders from prominent companies like Carta, Zynga, DoorDash, and Figma. Andrew Chen, who personally coaches founders, highlighted this differentiation, stating, "Speedrun is unique in that it's backed by a multi-stage firm (a16z) with a huge network, deep operating team, and a long track record."

Since its launch in 2023, a16z Speedrun has rapidly become a significant launchpad in the tech ecosystem, deploying over $180 million to fund more than 150 startups. The program maintains a highly selective acceptance rate, with SR005 seeing over 14,000 applications for just over 60 spots, resulting in an acceptance rate below 0.5%. Speedrun welcomes diverse founders, including international applicants (with visa support), solo founders, and those who are non-technical but demonstrate strong initiative and early traction.