Andreessen Horowitz Partner Departs Following Pause of Flagship Diversity Initiative

Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) has seen the departure of partner Kofi Ampadu, who spearheaded the firm's Talent x Opportunity (TxO) initiative, according to an internal email obtained by TechCrunch. His exit follows the high-profile suspension of the TxO program last November, which resulted in significant staff layoffs, and raises questions about the venture giant's long-term commitment to funding founders from underrepresented backgrounds.

"During my time at the firm, I was deeply grateful for the opportunity and the trust to lead this work," Ampadu wrote in the Friday afternoon email titled "Closing My a16z Chapter." He described identifying and supporting "out-of-network" entrepreneurs as "one of the most meaningful experiences of my career."

Ampadu had led TxO since 2020, taking over from founding lead Nait Jones, and oversaw its operations for over four years until its pause. He subsequently appears to have contributed to a16z's Speedrun accelerator before his departure.

Industry observers view Ampadu's exit as a definitive end to the TxO chapter. Launched as a donor-advised fund, TxO aimed to bridge the network and capital gap for underserved founders. While praised by some beneficiaries, its structure drew criticism for not utilizing traditional venture capital mechanisms. In 2024, the program expanded to include a grant program, offering $50,000 to nonprofits supporting diverse founders.

The initiative's indefinite pause coincides with a broader industry trend where major tech firms are scaling back or reframing formal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitments. TxO's final cohort was onboarded in March 2025. a16z and Ampadu did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.

Reactions & Analysis:

Maya Chen, VC Analyst at PitchBook: "Ampadu's departure is a symbolic moment. TxO was a bold, structured experiment in inclusive investing. Its pause and his exit suggest a16z, like many firms, is retreating to a more decentralized, deal-by-deal approach to diversity—which often lacks accountability."

David Park, Founder & TxO Alumnus: "This is a huge loss. Kofi and TxO didn't just write checks; they provided belief and access when no other tier-one firm would. The program's model had flaws, but its absence leaves a void. It feels like the industry is quietly closing doors it just recently promised to open."

Rebecca Shaw, Managing Partner at Crestline Ventures: "While well-intentioned, donor-advised funds like TxO can create a philanthropic silo, separate from a firm's core profit-driven investing. Ampadu's move might free him to pursue this mission more directly. The market is correcting; impact needs to be baked into the main fund thesis, not sidelined."

Marcus Thorne, Tech Commentator (Sharper Tone): "Let's be real. This is DEI theater ending its run. a16z got its goodwill press releases, and now that public pressure has eased, they're folding the tent. It exposes the hollow core of most VC 'commitments.' Ampadu was a capable leader, but the program was always a PR-friendly sidecar, not part of the engine. Good riddance to tokenistic gestures."

Full text of Kofi Ampadu's departure email:

I moved to the United States three months before my 11th birthday. One month later, I started 6th grade in a school more than 5,000 miles from my home, my friends, and everything familiar. Recently, my mom reminded me that my school required me to enroll as an English-as-a-Second-Language student. My memory immediately returned to how confused I felt. Even at 10 years old, I knew it made no sense that a kid from Ghana, an English-speaking country, was being asked to learn a language he already spoke fluently.

This was a systems requirement, a blanketed assumption about what students from certain places could or could not do. That same type of systemic assumption is what we set out to challenge through the Talent x Opportunity Initiative. The venture ecosystem often relies on proxies such as schools, networks, and prior credentials, which can obscure exceptional founders who do not follow the most common paths. TxO invested in and supported these overlooked founders to bridge the gap between talent and opportunity.

During my time at the firm, I was deeply grateful for the opportunity and the trust to lead this work. Identifying out-of-network entrepreneurs and supporting them as they sharpened their ideas, raised capital, and grew into confident leaders was one of the most meaningful experiences of my career.

As I move on to my next chapter, I leave with pride in what we built and gratitude for everyone who helped shape it. Thank you for the trust, the collaboration, and the belief in what is possible. There is more work to do and I am excited to keep building.