Alpha by a16z speedrun — The Alpha Fellowship
By a16z
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Quick Answer
The Alpha Fellowship places top early-career engineers into full-time roles at fast-growing a16z portfolio companies or provides capital for future founders to start their own ventures.
- Funding amount
- ₹19 Lakhs – ₹2.38 Cr
- Funding type
- Fellowship
- Provider
- a16z
- Application deadline
- Rolling
- Eligible stage
- Idea
- Location
- International
About this grant
The Alpha by a16z speedrun Fellowship is designed for highly technical students and recent graduates eager to build or join fast-growing companies. This unique program offers two distinct tracks: the Startup Track, which places fellows into full-time engineering roles with salary and equity at breakout a16z portfolio companies, and the Founder Track, which provides upfront, equity-free capital for individuals to launch their own ventures. Both tracks commence with an intensive two-month in-person fellowship experience. Participants gain unparalleled access to the extensive a16z speedrun and EO Ventures communities, benefiting from curated networking events, founder AMAs, and mentorship from leading figures in the tech and venture capital landscape, including partners from Andreessen Horowitz. The program is specifically tailored for individuals with a strong software engineering background who are within three years of graduation, fostering a dynamic environment for talent development and new company creation. Fellows in the Founder Track receive an initial US$20,000 equity-free grant to develop their ideas, with potential for up to US$250,000 in further investment, and priority consideration for the flagship a16z speedrun program, which offers up to US$1 million in investment.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Grant providers
Andreessen Horowitz, widely known as a16z, is a venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, California. Founded in 2009 by Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, the firm has grown into one of the largest and most influential venture investors globally. As of 2025, a16z manages over…
Learn moreEO Ventures supports founders creating businesses to expand economic mobility in America. The organization partners with founders from day one, investing in sectors such as Public Sector & Safety, AI & Data Infrastructure, Health, Education & Workforce, and Fintech & Financial…
Learn moreBenefits & Funding
- Amount
- ₹19 Lakhs – ₹2.38 Cr
- Fund type
- Fellowship
- Equity
- Equity-free
- Repayment
- Non-repayable
What You Get
The Founder Track offers an initial US$20,000 (approx. ₹16.6 lakh) equity-free grant to kickstart company building, followed by potential for up to US$250,000 (approx. ₹2.07 crore) in investment. Fellows also receive priority consideration for the a16z speedrun, which provides up to US$1 million in investment. The program includes an intensive two-month, in-person fellowship with structured programming, curated dinners, and small-group conversations with experienced engineers, operators, and investors. This provides unparalleled mentorship, networking opportunities, and direct access to the a16z speedrun and EO Ventures communities.
- Disbursement
- Tranched
- Duration
- 2 months
- Cohort size
- 20 startups
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Applications
Rolling basis
Selection Process
Applications are reviewed for early consideration for Cohort 2. Selected applicants will proceed to a technical assessment and live interviews. For candidates opting for the Startup Track, after evaluation, they are introduced to participating portfolio companies. Both candidates and companies rank their preferences, and matches are made based on mutual fit. The candidate then decides whether to accept the employment offer. For the Founder Track, accepted founders receive their initial grant.
Application Process
- 1
Apply
Submit your online application for early consideration for Cohort 2.
You - 2
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How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
- 2
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 3
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who's this for?
You're deeply curious, highly technical, and have a track record of building. Fellows are typically exceptional students or recent graduates up to three years out of school.
Do I need to have US work authorization?
Yes. You must have valid authorization to work full time in the United States.
Can I apply if I'm a student?
Yes. However, if you're applying to join a startup, you must be prepared to leave school and take on a full-time role if matched. If you're applying to the Founder track, you're expected to work on your idea full-time during the fellowship period. Continued full-time commitment is required to be considered for additional investment.
Am I going to be working for a16z?
Fellows pursuing the company placement path are employed directly by the portfolio companies, not by a16z.
Is Alpha only for software engineers?
Yes. Alpha is exclusively for software engineers. For the Join a Startup path, fellows are placed into full-time software engineering roles at portfolio companies. For the Founder Track, participants must also be technical builders with a software background. We are not recruiting for other technical disciplines at this time.
Is the program in person?
Yes. The fellowship is in person. If accepted, you'll need to relocate to be near the a16z office for the duration of the program.
How many fellows will you admit?
While we don't have a set number, we estimate up to 10 for each track.
Can I apply to both tracks?
Yes. Feel free to apply to both, and we'll help determine the right path.
Can I apply to the founder track with a team?
You apply as an individual. If you're building with others, we encourage each member of your team to apply separately and note in your application who you're building with. We'll take that context into account during review.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
