Andreessen Horowitz's (a16z) highly competitive Speedrun startup accelerator program is now open to all types of startups, with an acceptance rate of less than 1%, according to TechCrunch. The program, which runs for 12 weeks in San Francisco, previously focused on gaming, entertainment, and media startups. In other tech news, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruled that SpaceX should be regulated under the Railway Labor Act, and Apple released iOS 26.3 with updates primarily benefiting non-Apple devices, as reported by Ars Technica. Additionally, Samsung is offering up to $900 in trade-in credit for its new phones, The Verge reported. Aurora, the driverless truck firm, announced plans to expand its network in the Southern US.
The a16z Speedrun program, launched in 2023, has become a highly sought-after accelerator. In a January blog post, the program stated that over 19,000 startups pitched, with fewer than 0.4% accepted into the latest cohort, according to TechCrunch. Joshua Lu, the program's general manager and a partner at a16z, told TechCrunch that the program has evolved from its initial focus on gaming startups to a horizontal program open to all types of founders. The program previously operated in Los Angeles but will now focus solely on San Francisco. Two cohorts are run each year, accepting between 50 and 70 startups.
In a separate development, the NLRB decided that SpaceX should be regulated under the Railway Labor Act, which governs labor relations for railroad and airline companies, Ars Technica reported. This decision, which came after the agency abandoned a Biden-era complaint against the company, means SpaceX will be subject to different rules and a separate enforcement agency, the National Mediation Board. The Railway Labor Act includes an extensive dispute-resolution process that makes it more difficult for employees to strike.
Apple also released its iOS 26.3 update, which includes updates that primarily benefit users of non-Apple devices, Ars Technica reported. The update, which also includes iPadOS 26, macOS 26 Tahoe, and other operating systems released in September 2025, focuses on bug fixes and security patches. The update includes a "transfer to Android" feature to facilitate switching from Apple phones to the Android ecosystem.
Finally, Samsung is preparing for its next Unpacked event on February 25th, where the company is expected to announce the Galaxy S26 lineup of phones, according to The Verge. The company is offering up to $900 in trade-in credit for the new phones, and those who pre-register will receive a $30 credit for accessories.
Aurora, the driverless truck firm, announced plans to triple its driverless truck network, according to The Verge. The company is adding new routes throughout the Southern US, including longer routes that normally require breaks for human drivers.
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