Venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz has launched the Horowitz Andreessen Academy, a for-profit educational initiative designed as an alternative to traditional four-year degrees. The project is backed by $42 million in funding led by a16z.
The inaugural one-year fellowship program begins in Fall 2027, with applications opening on September 22. Participants will receive more than $50,000 in compute credits and a $5,000 budget for travel and research.
The curriculum focuses on project-based learning rather than traditional exams or lectures. Industry leaders, including Sam Altman and Naval Ravikant, are scheduled to teach intensive courses as part of the program.
Founding corporate partners include Google, Meta, OpenAI, Anduril, Coinbase, and NVIDIA. More than 40 hiring partners are currently aligned to recruit graduates, addressing a market demand of over 19,000 open AI-related positions.
The firm plans to launch a two-year accredited program in Fall 2028, pending regulatory approval. This expanded version may introduce tuition fees comparable to those of elite private universities.
