a16z Announces SPEEDRUN 2024 to Invest up to $75 Million in Gaming & Tech Startups
SPEEDRUN 2024 is a 10-week program through which a16z aims to invest up to a total of $75 million in gaming and tech startups, with applications set to close on September 30.
a16z has recently announced that they have launched a financing & coaching program called SPEEDRUN 2024, through which they will invest up to $75 million in pre-seed gaming and tech startups.
The start of this 2nd edition comes after initially launching the SPEEDRUN program earlier this year, which acted as a 6-week startup school for gaming companies. According to the investment firm, that 1st cohort was successful, investing in all 32 companies that were accepted in the program, with over 80% of them getting even more funding after the Demo Day took place in June. Companies that took part in the Demo Day featured not only startups in the gaming industry but also companies working in the field of Web3, AI, mental health, and more.
As a result of that successful start, the venture capital firm has decided to continue on with the idea, providing accepted applicants with not only significant capital but also valuable coaching “by some of the games industry’s most seasoned talent.” As with the previous program, this one will too end with a Demo Day, where the “best early stage investors in the industry” will get to meet “some of the best entrepreneurs across Games x Tech.”
Interested startups have until September 30 to apply for the new program, which, according to the official page, seems to provide investment capital of $500k per accepted applicant, with the program set to take place in the San Francisco Bay Area and feature activities such as live speakers and panels, dinners, an invite-only Demo Day, and more. Since applications are reviewed “on a rolling basis,” it is encouraged that companies apply as soon as possible, as “early submission yields faster feedback and next steps.”
This time around, it will be a 10-week program starting in January and ending on March 29. Full details and the option to apply can be found in the link embedded in the tweet down below.
