A16z Unveils SPEEDRUN Program, A Startup School for Gaming Firms
Inspired by the speedrunning community, the new program will serve as a shortcut for gaming founders to supercharge their lead in the games industry.
Here's all about the a16z SPEEDRUN
Venture capital giant Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) has announced the launch of SPEEDRUN, a 6-week startup school for gaming firms.
According to the statement, the new program is like a hack for developing successful games, providing access to deep insights and help from industry experts. The initiative, inspired by the speedrunning community, will serve as a shortcut for gaming founders to supercharge their lead in the industry.
SPEEDRUN, in particular, is now open for applications. The program, according to a16z, will take off in May with an in-person event, followed by online/local meetups, and end in a private demo day with a16z's network of partners and investors at LA Tech Week in June.
Selected founders will learn the shortcuts and cutting-edge insights to start and run a successful gaming firm. This covers understanding the business of a gaming startup, how to create and launch profitable games, how to hire the right talent, fundraising, live operations, and incorporating the latest tech like AI, UGC, Web3, and AR/VR.
Successful applicants will also receive mentorship from industry veterans, be given the opportunity to speak with gaming industry heavyweights, and receive ongoing feedback and advice via office hours.
It should be noted that teams are not required to have a real product or company before applying. The investment giant intends to foster a community of games founders, whether they want to launch a company or are already working on one. Even if applicants have previously raised funds, they'll still benefit from the program.
"To speedrun a game is an ambitious endeavor, and we're looking for ambitious founders of any age, demographic, or specialty. We're interested in hearing from cutting-edge gaming studios and novel technology companies that serve games. We're not just here to help you ship your game or games infrastructure company; we want to help you become a leader in the games industry," wrote a16z.
Per the official statement, a16z Games: SPEEDRUN is designed for teams (not solo founders) with proven ability to create or deliver a game. The 6-week program is now open for registrations. Interested firms and developers can check out the official post here.
