a16z Talent x Opportunity

Fall '24 Founder #fitcheck 👀✨ A look at the swag this cohort brought to the stage🔥👟 cc: Fashivly Timbucktoo Virch Merch GamerXSociety | The Future Of Gaming Feedplan

A transformational 16 weeks. A special thanks to all who helped us along the way. Each week we were equipped with the tools to take our business to the next level. There’s no program quite like a16z Talent x Opportunity!

a16z Talent x Opportunity is an experience like none other and is an accelerator program in a league of its own in my personal opinion. I moved to LA to pursue my dream of creating one of the most innovative gaming companies in history, and have made more progress towards that mission during the 16 weeks of the Andreessen Horowitz TxO program than I had in all the years prior! I am forever grateful for the chance to prove what happens when the right entrepreneurs are matched with the right opportunity.

The TxO team couldn’t be prouder of our Fall ‘24 cohort companies: Fashivly, Feedplan, GamerXSociety | The Future Of Gaming, Virch Merch & Timbucktoo. From day one, kicking off in San Francisco this June, this group showed straight-up GOAT behavior. 🐐🔥 They came in as confident founders with the humility and hunger to learn, grow, and see things from fresh perspectives.For 16 weeks, they laughed, learned, and leveled up with each other and the TxO team. We built tight bonds virtually every week and all over the Golden State, culminating at LA Tech Week, where they showed the world how they’re about to make waves. 🌊 This cohort is ready to change the game—watch out, world! 🌎💫 None of the above should be taken as investment advice or an advertisement for investment services; some of the companies mentioned are portfolio companies of a16z. Please see https://bit.ly/41SQ001 for more information.

Thank you for joining us at Fall ‘24 Demo Day Meta Elevate team!!! 💥🎉📣💪🏽

🌟 Meet the TxO Mentors w/ Paul Holliman 🎥 A former Walt Disney Studios exec turned Angel Investor, Paul boasts a stellar portfolio with powerhouses like Gitlab, Deel, and Flexport. Through his work with TxO, 500 Global and more, he’s mentored in over 400 sessions in the past four years. 💥 Living in Williamsburg, Virginia, with his wife Teresa, Paul is a family man with two children and grandchildren who continues to impact the startup world by guiding tomorrow's leaders. 🌱 📣 Dive into our Q&A with Paul as he shares gems from his vast experience: 📣 Q: What is one of your most memorable career breakthroughs, highlights, or learning moments? A: "Revolutionizing the distribution formats for motion pictures, bringing IMAX, Digital 3D, and ScreenX into the mainstream. It taught me that going beyond the status quo can yield extraordinary results." 🎬 Q: What is the most common advice you give founders on their pitch decks? A: "Investors are trying to understand the opportunity. Make it easy by clearly communicating your business. By timing each slide in your presentation deck, the one with the longest duration signals the need for the most refinement." 🕒 Q: Any advice for founders raising money in a tough market? A: "In challenging market conditions, it's crucial to expand and prioritize your investor prospects. It's essentially a numbers game. When you receive fewer affirmative responses, you'll need a larger pool of potential leads to successfully secure funding." 💡 Q: How do you know someone is a good fit to hire to help your company achieve its goals at the earliest stages? A: "If it is possible to provide a bespoke timed test, it can help you filter for problem-solving and time-management skills. I have done this for positions ranging from engineer to vice president, and the results often make the decision between two great candidates obvious." 🧠

Over the last 16 weeks, Feedplan was a part of a16z Talent x Opportunity, and I'm thrilled to share some results: KPI Growth during a16z TxO: • 𝗚𝗠𝗩: +32% (MoM) • 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗖𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀: +43% (MoM) • 𝗖𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵: +8% (MoM) • 𝗖𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: 10 meals/mo (~$105) 🏞️ As a founder from Montana, the idea of a startup ecosystem was a foreign concept. I launched my first business at 14 and built and sold two companies by 20, profitably generating hundreds of thousands in ARR and shipping 10K+ orders worldwide. Yet, the venture capital and fundraising world was utterly unfamiliar to me. 🌉 TxO wasn't just a program—it was a bridge. It connected me to people, knowledge, and resources previously out of reach. The a16z team and my fellow founders shared invaluable insights that have accelerated Feedplan's growth in a matter of weeks. For under-networked founders like me, TxO isn't just a game-changer; it's life-changing. I'm grateful to be part of a community that truly believes in diverse founders from all walks of life and experience and backs that belief with action. I want to thank Kofi Ampadu, Traron L. Edwards, Ashlee Halpin, Caitlin Glazebrook, Stacia M., Kierston Gittens and the rest of the TxO team for an incredible experience that I will never forget. Additionally, a big shout out to Tijuana Ricks and Allison McGuire for helping me develop my stage presence and voice. To my fellow founders and good friends: Ashlyn Greer, Mamadou Ndiaye Jr, Derek Gauthier, Mel David, Jeff Ivory... it's time to take flight 🚀💫 I'm so proud to have worked alongside you guys and excited to have a front-row seat to everything you all accomplish in the future. #startups #founder #entrepreneurship #preseed

🌟 Celebrating Our 2024 TxO Mentors for National Mentoring Day!🌟 Ahead of National Mentoring Day this Sunday (10/27), we're shouting out the fantastic mentors in our TxO network. Thank you for guiding our founders through crucial growth phases with your wisdom, experience, and relentless support! 💪🏽 Whether you're an entrepreneur, operator, or investor, your dedication to paying it forward enriches our community and paves the way for the next wave of innovative leaders. 🌱 Interested in making a lasting impact? Join our mentor network and share your expertise with our talented founders. Reach out at txo@a16z.com. Here's to our mentors, who inspire and elevate every step of the journey! 💫

Press Start! It’s Glossbird — where bold meets sustainable in the gaming industry! 🎮🌿 They’re passionate about creating games that resonate with the massive yet often overlooked 85% of gamers: women, seniors, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ communities. They’re innovative player-centric development process is setting a standard, focusing on wellbeing and inclusivity. 🌈👵 At Glossbird, they’re not just playing games; they’re pioneering a movement to make the gaming world more inclusive and reflective of diverse communities. They believe life isn’t a game, but through games, we can make life better. 💖 🌟 None of the information discussed should be taken as investment advice; please see a16z disclosures for more information.

We’re excited to welcome T.E.A. (Teach, Empower, Achieve) 🎓, Unlocked Labs 🔑, and VetsinTech 🇺🇸 to the TxO community as our 2024 grantees! 🥳 🎉 Our aim in supporting these organizations is to connect more talent of all backgrounds who have insightful ideas and the drive to advance in technology or business with opportunities to realize their ambitions.