Investor Spotlight: How a16z Decides in 3 Minutes

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Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) is one of the most powerful VCs on the planet.

But here’s what most founders don’t realize:
You don’t get an hour to convince them.
You get 3 minutes — max.

This post breaks down exactly how a16z makes ultra-fast decisions, what they look for, and how you can reverse-engineer your pitch to get through their filters.

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1. Why 3 Minutes Matters

You think you’re pitching for 30 minutes.
They’re deciding in the first 180 seconds.

What’s happening?

• They're skimming your deck or memo
• They're checking for pattern match
• They’re asking: “Is this worth our time?”

If you don’t win those 3 minutes — you don’t get the hour.

2. a16z Filters 10,000+ Deals a Year

Most a16z partners review hundreds of deals per quarter.

The filtering process looks like this:

1. Cold or warm inbound → associate screens
2. Fast read of memo or deck → gut check
3. Short discussion with partner → pass or meeting

If you don’t trigger the right signals fast, you’re gone.

3. The a16z 3-Minute Checklist

Here’s what they’re scanning for immediately:

✅ Massive Market (Not “big” — massive)
✅ Contrarian Insight (“What do you know that the market doesn’t?”)
✅ Founder-Market Fit (Why you?)
✅ Traction Proxy (Even if it’s not revenue)
✅ Timing (“Why now?”)
✅ Clear Ask (How much, what for, why it matters)

If you don’t hit these in 3 minutes, the odds of advancing drop to near zero.

4. How to Nail the First 180 Seconds

To make a16z lean in:

• Start with the problem — not the product
• Use one sharp insight that reframes the market
• Show proof, not fluff (waitlist, users, GTM)
• Finish with a bold, clear ask

👉 Related: How to Write a Strong, Convincing Investor Memo

5. Why a16z Backs Narratives, Not Just Numbers

They don’t just look at metrics.
They look at momentum and movement.

Ask yourself:

• Do I sound inevitable?
• Do I sound obsessed?
• Do I sound like I’ve already started a wave?

a16z doesn’t just fund tech — they fund stories.

6. They Love “Category Creators” and “Platform Plays”

If your pitch sounds like:

• “It’s like Uber for X” — 👎
• “We’re building the next big platform layer in AI for vertical Y” — 👍

a16z wants:

• Defensible moats
• Massive TAMs
• Platform potential

7. The One-Liner Rule

Every winning a16z pitch can be summarized in one tweet-length sentence:

“We help [X] solve [Y] with [Z], and we’re growing fast.”

If your pitch can’t be compressed into a one-liner with teeth, you're not ready.

👉 Example:
“We help hospitals predict staffing shortages 7 days in advance using AI trained on 1.4B patient data points — already live in 38 states.”

8. What Makes a16z Say Yes (Fast)

📈 Traction with Velocity
🎯 Clear ICP + GTM motion
🚀 Massive upside with platform optionality
🧠 Founder with domain obsession and insight
📦 Clean data room, polished memo, concise pitch

9. What Makes a16z Say No (Faster)

🚫 Small or unclear market
🚫 Vague problem statement
🚫 Generic B2B SaaS with no moat
🚫 No clear GTM plan
🚫 No traction proxy (waitlist, LOIs, early revenue)

10. Can You Cold Pitch a16z? Yes — If You Do It Right

Cold emails can work if:

• You write a subject line that screams insight
• You include a tight memo with signal
• You follow up with precision (not spam)

👉 Templates: 15 Cold Email Templates That Work

11. Why Founder-Market Fit Matters More Than Ever

a16z wants to know:

• Why YOU?
• What about your past makes you the person to build this?
• How long have you lived this problem?

Weak founder-market fit = fast pass.

12. The Role of Hype vs Substance

a16z is great at marketing — but they fund substance.

Your hype should match your execution.

If you pitch like Elon but ship like Enron, you're out.

13. They Invest in Networks, Not Just Startups

The a16z team often looks at:

• Founder audience (Twitter, LinkedIn, newsletter)
• Community effects
• Ecosystem leverage

Audience = distribution. Distribution = alpha.

👉 See: How to Build an Online Network That Attracts Investors

14. Timing is the X-Factor

You could have the best pitch — but wrong timing kills it.

Ask:

• Is the market hungry for this right now?
• Is AI shifting this category?
• Is regulation opening a new lane?

If timing is off, even a16z will say “come back later.”

15. Your Deck Needs to Be Built for Skimming

Build decks that answer:

• “Why now?”
• “Why this?”
• “Why you?”
• “Why this market?”

In 7–10 slides. With visuals. Fast.

👉 Guide: The Ultimate Founder-Friendly Pitch Deck Template

FAQs: a16z Fundraising in 2025

1. Do I need a warm intro?
Helpful, not required. Cold + compelling still works.

2. Can I pitch without a product?
Yes — if your story and traction proxy are strong enough.

3. How long does a16z take to decide?
Initial interest in 3–5 mins. Full process: ~2–4 weeks.

4. What stage do they invest in?
Pre-seed to late stage. They have multiple funds.

5. Should I follow up if I don’t hear back?
Yes. 2–3 follow-ups max. Keep it respectful and relevant.

6. Is audience size a factor?
Yes — especially for consumer or platform startups.

7. Do they care about profitability?
Not in early-stage. But unit economics must make sense eventually.

8. Can solo founders get funded?
Yes — if they show obsession and clarity.

9. How do I stand out?
Show traction, unique insight, clear GTM, and be coachable.

10. What’s the #1 mistake founders make?
Rambling. Lack of clarity kills deals faster than any metric.

Conclusion

a16z doesn’t need 30 minutes to say yes.
They need 3 minutes of clarity, conviction, and narrative power.

You don’t need to fake hype.
You need to show sharp insight, real movement, and founder-market fit.

Build your pitch for their filters — and flip the script.

Subscribe to Capitaly.vc Substack (https://capitaly.substack.com/) to raise capital at the speed of AI.

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