Partner 18, Talent, Speedrun

We’ve established a team that is defined by respect for the entrepreneur and the company-building process; we know what it’s like to be in the founder’s shoes. Speedrun is a16z’s program for very early-stage startups, where we invest in founders pushing the limits in Tech, Entertainment, & AI.

Our team offers hands-on help with product, go-to-market, growth, fundraising, and hiring. It’s early days for Speedrun, which means you’ll play a central role in building and scaling the talent infrastructure behind the program as it's being built. 

Through Speedrun, we’ve invested in over 120 startups like k-ID, Hedra, Favorited, Altera, Lil Snack, Human Computer, Nunu, Genway, and SweatPals. Our team is at the forefront of new technology, helping founders and their companies impact and change the world.

Your focus will be sourcing. You’ll help build and maintain strong candidate pipelines across our active portfolio, spanning engineering, product, design, GTM, and operations. You'll source across functions, levels, and domains to support the early hiring needs of fast-moving founders. You’ll also use social media and content to drive awareness of open roles and bring top talent into the Speedrun orbit.

This is not a passive, reactive, or purely advisory role. We’re looking for someone who wants to be in the trenches, finding great people, sparking conversations, and connecting them with the right opportunities.

This role is based in Los Angeles and requires regular in-office presence.

• Build top-of-funnel pipelines for early-stage Speedrun startups across technical and non-technical roles
• Partner directly with Speedrun founders to understand hiring needs and deliver high-quality candidate leads
• Proactively create and share content on LinkedIn, X, or other channels that promotes our startups, highlights open roles, and grows interest in the Speedrun talent network
• Manage and nurture relationships within the Speedrun talent pool, including past candidates, potential future hires, and high-signal community members
• Maintain structured, organized systems for tracking outreach, interest, and referrals
• Collaborate closely with the broader Speedrun team, including investing and other operating functions

• 3 - 7 years of experience in recruiting or sourcing roles - ideally with a mix of agency and in-house experience
• Startup DNA - you’ve either worked in or recruited for early-stage startups and understand the pace, ambiguity, and scrappiness required
• Strong sourcing skills across multiple functions, including engineering, product, and GTM - with recent / active experience working with AI tools for sourcing efforts
• A sharp writer and clear communicator, especially in outbound messaging and public content
• Active on LinkedIn, X, or other platforms where founders and talent hang out. Bonus points if you already have a visible following or track record of engaging content
• Organized, resourceful, and self-directed: you don’t wait for instructions, you build systems that scale
• Ability to prioritize and manage work and trade-offs against critical project timelines in a fast-paced, dynamic and sometimes ambiguous environment
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills, with a focus on detail and executive presence
• You are an analytical thinker, using data to build a strategy
• Low ego, high empathy, and the capacity to collaborate effectively with diverse teams

The anticipated salary range for this role is between $167,000 - $195,000, actual starting pay may vary based on a range of factors which can include experience, skills, and scope.

This role is eligible to participate in the a16z carry program and various discretionary bonus programs as well as benefit and perquisite plans including health, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, 401K plan, vacation, and sick leave.