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The a16z Show

The a16z Show

What It Takes to Build a Startup | Andrew Chen & Matt Perault

Sep 11, 2026 · 38m

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About this episode

a16z’s Matt Perault sits down with General Partner and Speedrun lead Andrew Chen on the a16z AI Policy Brief to explore what “Little Tech” actually looks like at the earliest stages, and why the realities of building a two- or three-person startup are often missing from policy debates. Andrew takes us inside Speedrun, where founders are often starting companies from kitchen tables, working with tiny teams, and trying to determine in a matter of months whether their idea can become a viable business. He explains why these founders rarely have the time or resources to engage with policymakers, even as regulation can have an outsized impact on whether and where they build. Matt and Andrew also…