a16z Speedrun Alpha Fellowship – Alpha 002

The Alpha Fellowship is designed for highly technical students and recent graduates who want to start building immediately. Fellows can either join a fast-growing a16z portfolio company in a full-time engineering role or pursue the Founder Track and receive funding to build their own startup.

• • Highly technical students and recent graduates
• • Must generally be within 3 years of graduation
• • Founder Track applicants can apply individually, even before having a team, company, or idea
• • Applicants pursuing the Founder Track should be prepared to build full-time
• • Startup Track candidates join a matched a16z portfolio company as full-time employees
• Focus Areas:
• • Artificial Intelligence
• • Software
• • Engineering / Developer Technology
• • Emerging Technology
• • Other technology-driven startup opportunities

• • **$20,000 equity-free grant** for Founder Track participants
• • **Up to $250,000 investment** to build the startup
• • Automatic final interview consideration for a16z speedrun
• • Potential access to **up to $1M speedrun investment**
• • 8-week in-person fellowship
• • Kickoff retreat
• • Founder AMAs
• • Small-group dinners with founders, engineers, operators and investors
• • Access to a16z speedrun and EO Ventures communities and events
• • Founder-to-founder and investor networking
• • Priority consideration for a16z speedrun after completing the fellowship
• Program Tracks:
• **Startup Track**
• • Full-time engineering role at a fast-growing a16z portfolio company
• • Salary and equity
• • 8-week in-person fellowship experience
• • Role continues after the fellowship
• **Founder Track**
• • Apply as an individual, even before forming a company or team
• • $20K equity-free upfront grant
• • Up to $250K investment
• • Automatic final interview for a16z speedrun
• • Potential for up to $1M investment through speedrun
• Application / Selection Process:
• 1. Submit application
• 2. Technical assessment and live interviews
• 3. Startup Track candidates are matched with portfolio companies based on mutual fit
• 4. Founder Track candidates receive initial funding and begin building
• 5. 8-week in-person fellowship
• 6. Capstone presentation and completion
• 7. Continued access to the ecosystem and priority consideration for speedrun
• Important Dates:
• Cohort 1: Applications closed
• Cohort 2: **Expected to open in September 2026**
• Fellowship: 8 weeks, in person
• Application status: **Not yet open for Alpha 002**
• Important funding note: The **$20K is an equity-free grant**, while the additional **up to $250K is investment**, not a grant. The Founder Track also provides an automatic final interview opportunity for a16z speedrun, where startups may receive up to **$1M investment**.

Selection process details are being verified.