Kofi Ampadu, the partner at a16z who led the firm’s Talent x Opportunity fund and program, has left the firm. His departure was announced in an email he sent to staff, which was obtained by TechCrunch. This news comes several months after the firm paused the TxO initiative and laid off most of its staff.
In the email, sent Friday afternoon with the subject line “Closing My a16z Chapter,” Ampadu reflected on his work. He wrote that during his time at the firm, he 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 his career.
Ampadu led the program for over four years, from its launch in 2020 until its pause last November. He took over from the initial leader, Nait Jones. Following the TxO pause, Ampadu appears to have worked at a16z’s latest accelerator, Speedrun.
His departure likely signals the end of the TxO chapter. The fund and program were designed to support underserved founders by providing access to tech networks and investment capital through a donor-advised fund. While some founders praised the program, others criticized its controversial donor-advised structure. In 2024, the program also launched a grant initiative to provide $50,000 to nonprofits that help diverse founders.
The program’s last cohort was in March 2025. Its indefinite pause occurred as many prominent tech companies have been reframing, cutting, or eliminating prior public commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Ampadu included a personal note in his email, recounting his move from Ghana to the United States as a child. He described being mistakenly placed in an English-as-a-second-language class upon arrival, a systemic assumption he said the TxO Initiative aimed to challenge. He explained that the venture ecosystem often relies on proxies like schools and networks, which can obscure exceptional founders who do not follow common paths. TxO was created to invest in and support these overlooked founders to bridge the gap between talent and opportunity.
In closing his note, Ampadu expressed pride in what was built and gratitude for everyone who helped shape it. He stated that as he moves on to his next chapter, he leaves with the belief that there is more work to do and he is excited to keep building.