Program · Accelerator
a16z CSX (Crypto Startup Accelerator)
a16z CSX is Andreessen Horowitz's accelerator offering $500K investment for early-stage web3 and crypto startups.
- Application state
- Accepting
Overview
What a16z CSX (Crypto Startup Accelerator) offers
What a16z CSX (Crypto Startup Accelerator) is
a16z CSX (formerly Crypto Startup School) is an intensive, in-person accelerator program for early-stage web3 and crypto startups, operated by a16z crypto, the dedicated crypto investment arm of Andreessen Horowitz. Originally launched in 2020 as a free 7-week educational program in Menlo Park, CSX has evolved into a full accelerator with investment terms, running two cohorts per year in rotating global cities. Each participating startup receives a $500,000 investment from a16z crypto in exchange for 7% equity, along with standard investor rights. Cohorts are selected through a competitive application process and spend approximately 12 weeks in an intensive, in-person environment focused on expertise, mentorship, and support for building ambitious products across the crypto stack. The program has scaled steadily since its 2020 launch. The Spring 2024 cohort in London selected 25 startups. The Fall 2024 cohort in New York City included 21 startups working across artificial intelligence, decentralized finance (DeFi), infrastructure, and consumer applications including photo sharing and mapping. The Spring 2025 cohort is hosted in San Francisco. CSX companies span a wide range of crypto verticals: DeFi protocols (Cork Protocol, Term Labs), zero-knowledge infrastructure (zkSpin, Fermah, Blocksense), AI-blockchain convergence (Cambrian Network), and consumer applications (MeshMap). Notable early outcomes include Cork Protocol securing partnerships with Orange DAO and IDEO VC during the Fall 2024 acceleration period and completing a multi-million dollar financing round. Cambrian Network, a Spring 2025 participant focusing on AI and blockchain for decentralized financial intelligence, reached a $59 million valuation during the CSX program. a16z crypto manages over $7.6 billion in dedicated crypto and web3 investments. The broader a16z platform provides CSX companies access to legal, regulatory, marketing, and go-to-market support through the firm's extensive operational team. CSX sits alongside a16z's other investment vehicles, giving portfolio companies a path to follow-on funding from the firm's later-stage crypto funds.
Operational profile
Program status and context
Program status describes the program itself. Application availability and deadlines remain separate.
- Operational status
- Active
- Program type
- Accelerator
- Host organization
- Andreessen Horowitz
- Last reviewed
- May 26, 2026
What Accelerator means
An accelerator is a structured, short-term program designed to speed up a startup's progress toward product-market fit, traction, fundraising, or scale.
Open the glossary entryTerms and economics
Published program terms
- Investment
- $500,000
- Equity
- 7%
- Price
- Free
- Compensation
- Micro Fund
Focus and fit
Who the program is for
Eligibility
Early-stage startups building with blockchain technologies. Applications are open to teams globally, though participants must commit to the in-person program in the host city for the duration. Technical founders with a clear web3 product vision are preferred. The program accepts startups across the full crypto stack: DeFi, infrastructure, consumer, AI-blockchain convergence, and more.
- Stages
- Pre-seed
- Regions
- Global
Format and cadence
How participation works
- Presence
- In Person
- Main location
- Rotating cities, Global
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Cohort size
- 25
- Cohorts per year
- 2
- Engagement
- Full Time
Availability and engagement
Application timing and route
- Application state
- Accepting
- Admissions
- Open
Value and support
What participation may provide
Publicly described support is context, not a guarantee of current delivery or future benefit.
What participants may receive
$500,000 investment for 7% equity. Benefits include 12 weeks of intensive in-person acceleration, access to a16z crypto's $7.6B+ investment platform, mentorship from a16z crypto partners and industry experts, peer cohort of 20-25 leading web3 teams, legal, regulatory, and go-to-market operational support, access to a16z's broader portfolio network, and potential path to follow-on funding from a16z's later-stage crypto funds.
Common questions
Program details at a glance
a16z CSX (Crypto Startup Accelerator) is published in Upseed as a accelerator program hosted by Andreessen Horowitz. Upseed treats the Program and its host Organization as separate records so each can have its own status and sources.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
May 26, 2026
Known limits
Terms, deadlines, and application states can change. Confirm current details at the published destination before acting. Upseed does not yet classify every Program destination as official.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or the official representative of this program or its host.