Talha

Co-Founder @ drs a16z sr007

[Talha @TalhaAlver59]

I’m excited to share that DRS has joined @a16z @speedrun SR007 cohort in San Francisco.

DRS is an AI-native consumer mobile app company. We design product mechanics, retention, monetization, and user acquisition together from day one, rather than layering them on after the product is built.

My path to DRS spans consumer products, gaming, and AI. At Procter & Gamble, I learned how consumer insight shapes everyday products. I wrote the growth and monetization playbook that turned a Turkish gaming studio into a global hitmaker. At @SpaceXAI, I experienced firsthand what exceptional talent, relentless speed, and global ambition can make possible. I left to bring everything I had learned across consumer insight, product, growth, monetization, and AI together in one company.

@osmanelsoz and I first crossed paths at @ProcterGamble and later played core roles together at that same gaming company, which was eventually sold to SciPlay. His expertise across product, data, and machine learning perfectly complements my focus on growth, monetization, and distribution.

Ahmet Onur, who built Kolektif House into Turkey’s largest workspace operator, brought together a team of experienced founders and builders whose products have reached millions. His resourcefulness, judgment, and ability to turn complex problems into practical solutions have helped shape DRS from day one.

Named after Formula 1’s Drag Reduction System, DRS is about unlocking speed at the right moment. As a longtime @LewisHamilton fan, I admire the precision, consistency, and performance under pressure he embodies. That same mindset shapes how we build: with deep product expertise, rapid execution, and global ambition.

A huge thank you to the @a16z @speedrun team, especially @andrewchen, @JoshLu and @marcussegal, for believing in us from our very first call. And a special thank you to my wife, family, and friends for their unwavering support.

Follow DRS for our next announcement and read our manifesto at https://t.co/BvIwyJpWbe.

Lights out, here we go.