Andreessen Horowitz Scout Program
Scout Program
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Andreessen Horowitz Scout Program
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Scout Program
Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) quietly launched its U.S. scout effort in 2017 to extend the firm’s reach into nascent founder circles that traditional partners rarely see. Today it has evolved into a global “network of eyes and ears”, spanning dozens of operators across North America, Latin America, Africa and, most visibly, Europe, where the roster surpassed 20 scouts in 2025 alone.
Each scout receives a discretionary budget, typically around $200 000 in the U.S. and six‑figure euro equivalents abroad, to deploy over two to three years . Individual cheques are small by institutional standards ($10k‑$25k) but give the firm low‑friction entry into promising pre‑seed rounds . Scouts submit a brief memo to their “sponsor” GP; once green‑lit, a16z signs an uncapped SAFE or joins the priced round, while the scout earns carried‑interest upside on any eventual exit.
Unlike formal fellowships, the program has no syllabus or cohorts. Scouts operate autonomously, meeting quarterly with partners for portfolio reviews and thematically focused teach‑ins on topics such as AI infrastructure or fintech regulation. They gain privileged access to a16z founder events, job‑board channels and a private Slack for rapid feedback. The network has sourced 200+ companies to date, including early cheques into European AI breakouts Mistral and ElevenLabs, both later funded by core a16z vehicles.
While the firm does not publish a public application, partners regularly nominate new scouts encountered at conferences like Slush or via portfolio‑founder referrals . The arrangement remains deliberately lean: no fees, no guaranteed follow‑on, minimal reporting—just aligned incentives and lightning‑fast capital at the startup idea stage.
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Founded in 2009 by Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, Andreessen Horowitz (known as "a16z") is a venture capital firm in Silicon Valley, California, that backs bold entrepreneurs building the future through technology. We are stage agnostic: We invest in seed to late-stage technology companies, across the consumer, enterprise, bio/healthcare, crypto, and fintech spaces. a16z has $19.2B in assets under management across multiple funds, including the $1.4B Bio funds, the $3.1B Crypto funds, and the Cultural Leadership Fund.
a16z is defined by respect for the entrepreneur and the entrepreneurial company building process; we know what it’s like to be in the founder’s shoes. The firm is led by general partners, many of whom are former founders/operators, CEOs, or CTOs of successful technology companies, and who have domain expertise ranging from biology to crypto to distributed systems to security to marketplaces to financial services.
We aim to connect entrepreneurs, investors, executives, engineers, academics, industry experts, and others in the technology ecosystem. We have built a network of experts including technical and executive talent; top media and marketing resources; Fortune 500/Global 2000 companies; as well as other technology decision makers, influencers, and key opinion leaders. a16z uses this network as part of our commitment to help our portfolio companies grow their business, so our operating teams provide entrepreneurs with access to expertise and insights across the entire spectrum of company building.
Partners and existing scouts identify high‑signal operators—often repeat founders, engineering leaders or community builders—who have privileged deal access. A shortlist undergoes a single 30‑minute call with the GP sponsor to vet network reach, ethical compliance and sector focus.
Approved individuals sign a participation agreement and receive wire instructions within two weeks. There is no public intake cycle; nominations happen year‑round, with onboarding batches mainly aligned to the firm’s quarterly partner off‑sites.
Scouts invest through special‑purpose vehicles or uncapped SAFEs. They pay no fees and receive a share of carried interest on any eventual upside from their deals—creating long‑term economic alignment without salary or retainer. There is no claw‑back if a deal fails, and scouts may earn pro‑rata carry on follow‑on capital a16z deploys into the same company.
There is no cost to join; scouts deploy firm capital and only share upside.
Scouts onboard individually rather than by cohort.
The role is designed to fit around full‑time jobs. Expect a flexible 5–10 hours per week for sourcing, founder calls and brief memo preparation, plus optional in‑person gatherings a few times per year.
Scouts operate from their home cities worldwide; occasional dinners, demo days and the annual scout summit are held in major hubs (Menlo Park, New York, London, Berlin, Singapore).
Sifted’s 2025 exposé dubbed the network “an exclusive shadow force writing $10k cheques across Europe” .
TechCrunch highlighted that scouts “can be found in Sweden, France, Germany, Estonia and beyond, doing up to eight deals a year” .
A follow‑up Sifted piece noted nine new scouts joined after the London crypto office closure, proving the firm’s commitment to pan‑European coverage.
TechCrunch’s May 2023 analysis placed the program alongside a16z’s new $400 million seed fund as key early‑stage funnels .
How big is a scout’s budget?
Around $200 000 total, deployed in $10k‑$25k cheques over two‑three years.
Can I apply publicly?
No. Participation is by GP invitation and existing‑scout referral only.
Do scouts need to be accredited investors?
Personal accreditation isn’t required unless the scout chooses to co‑invest personal capital.
What carry percentage do scouts earn?
They receive roughly 10 % of the GP’s carry on each originated deal.
Are there sector restrictions?
Yes—scouts cannot invest directly in NFTs or tokens and focus on tech equity rounds.
How long does onboarding take?
Roughly two weeks from nomination to wired funds.
Does a16z guarantee follow‑on?
No guarantee, but every scout deal is automatically evaluated by the core funds.
Can scouts collaborate?
While there is no formal cohort, scouts connect through a private Slack and an annual summit.
Is the program global?
Yes—dozens of scouts operate across six continents, with a growing European focus.
What happens if a deal fails?
There is no downside claw‑back; scouts simply lose unrealised carry.
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