a16z Build Talent Engineering Fellowship
An eight-week cohort for engineers who recruit, talent leaders who build, and anyone rewriting how exceptional people get found.
Overview
The a16z Build Talent Engineering Fellowship is one of a16z Build's peer-led fellowships for exceptional builders and operators in emerging disciplines. a16z describes it as an eight-week cohort for engineers who recruit, talent leaders who build, and anyone rewriting how exceptional people get found. It is part of a16z Build, Andreessen Horowitz's dinner series and community for founders and operators, which runs fellowships for crafts that the job market has not fully named yet.
The fellowship runs for 8 weeks with about 40 fellows, with primary hubs in San Francisco and New York. The latest cohort started in late August 2026. Fellows meet through dinners and events with peers doing the same work at leading AI companies and startups. Founding fellows and cohort members named on the official page include Viet Nguyen (Talent Collective), Dan McCarthy (Zapier), Jared Long (Cursor), Jeffrey Li (Paraform), Madison Morales (Anthropic), Amit Matani (Wellfound), Johnny Sanchez (Airbnb).
Applications for the latest cohort are closed; an interest list is open for the next cohort, and no dates are published.
Program details
Designed for Operators. The program is in person. Participation is generally part time.
Who it is for
Engineering leaders, sourcers, recruiters, people-analytics builders and talent-infrastructure founders building agentic systems for modern hiring. The domain is new, so titles are still unsettled. There are no formal degree or title requirements on the official page. The fellowship runs in person, primarily in San Francisco and New York.
Check if you are eligible
Check your eligibility for a16z Build Talent Engineering FellowshipAdmissions and application
Join the interest list on the fellowship page to hear when the next cohort opens. a16z Build does not publish selection criteria beyond the profile of who the fellowship is for, and no acceptance rate is stated. The fellows named on the page are senior practitioners at well-known AI companies and startups, which suggests a selective process.
Benefits
- A curated cohort of peers doing the same emerging job at leading companies.
- A dinner series and in-person events, primarily in San Francisco and New York.
- Access to the wider a16z Build community: dinners, hiring nights, early roles and the newsletter.
Timeline
Length: 8 weeks. Latest cohort: late August 2026. About 40 fellows. Hubs: San Francisco and New York. Applications for the latest cohort are closed; an interest list is open for the next cohort, and no dates are published.
How to go about it
- Read what it asks for
Who can apply, how people get in and whether it is open right now.
- Have something to show
Programs pick people whose work they can already point to. Put yours where it can be found.
- Apply the way the program asks
The program has not published how to apply. Terms and dates change. Check the official page before you act.
What it pays
The official page does not mention a stipend, investment or participation fee. The fellowship is a peer community, not a paid role.
Questions about this program
What is the a16z Build Talent Engineering Fellowship?
A peer-led fellowship run by a16z Build, a16z's community for founders and operators. An eight-week cohort for engineers who recruit, talent leaders who build, and anyone rewriting how exceptional people get found.
Who is it for?
Engineering leaders, sourcers, recruiters, people-analytics builders and talent-infrastructure founders building agentic systems for modern hiring. The domain is new, so titles are still unsettled.
How long is it and where does it run?
The fellowship runs for 8 weeks with about 40 fellows, with primary hubs in San Francisco and New York. The latest cohort started in late August 2026.
Is it open now?
Applications for the latest cohort are closed; an interest list is open for the next cohort, and no dates are published.
How do I apply?
Use the Join the interest list button on https://build.a16z.com/fellowships/talent-engineer. Separately, you can apply to the wider a16z Build community at build.a16z.com/build/join.
Is it paid, and does a16z invest?
The official page does not mention a stipend, an investment or a fee. It is a peer community, not a job or an investment program.
How much time does it take?
The page describes participation as flexible and opt-in, built around dinners and events rather than a fixed curriculum.
Who has been part of it?
Founding fellows and cohort members listed on the official page include Viet Nguyen (Talent Collective), Dan McCarthy (Zapier), Jared Long (Cursor), Jeffrey Li (Paraform), Madison Morales (Anthropic).
About Andreessen Horowitz
Andreessen Horowitz
Venture Capital
Investing in the future of technology.
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From public sources
What the sources say about a16z Build Talent Engineering Fellowship
The official page says this cohort is closed to applications and its interest list is open, as checked October 1, 2026.
Source: a16z Build Talent Engineering Fellowship pagea16z Build says the fellowship is for engineers who recruit and talent leaders who build.
Source: a16z Build Talent Engineering Fellowship pagea16z says the fellowship combines an opt-in schedule with dinners, live working sessions, and feedback on participants' work.
Source: Introducing the a16z Talent Engineer FellowshipThe a16z announcement says it seeks applicants with hands-on recruiting workflow experience, AI-first practices, and care for trust and candidate experience.
Source: Introducing the a16z Talent Engineer FellowshipThe page lists San Francisco and New York City as the fellowship's primary hubs.
Source: a16z Build Talent Engineering Fellowship pagea16z Build lists an expected community of about 40 fellows.
Source: a16z Build Talent Engineering Fellowship page
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