a16z Launches Non-Accredited 'Academy' for High School Grads
AI-generated image · US National Wire
Andreessen Horowitz is betting $42 million on a San Francisco-based trade school for aspiring founders, bypassing the traditional college route.
Andreessen Horowitz is introducing The Horowitz Andreessen Academy, a San Francisco-based program targeting high school graduates who have not attended college. As TechCrunch first reported, the academy has raised $42 million as a for-profit venture.
The initial one-year program is open to approximately 50 students, including those under 18, selected based on "proof of work" regarding what they have built, shipped, or earned. While the first year charges no tuition, the school is not accredited, meaning students earn no degrees or transferable college credits. Students are responsible for their own housing, though the school provides assistance in finding roommates.
Coursework ranges from technical subjects like "AI Research and Models" to life philosophy, specifically a course titled "The Geometry of Luck." The program's primary draw is access to mentors and big names in tech. CEO Gagan Biyani stated on X that by 2028, the academy intends to expand to a two-year program and will charge tuition comparable to elite private universities.
In return for that tuition, students will gain access to 200 mentors and speakers, including people from 10 founding corporate partners: Anduril, Anthropic, Coinbase, Google, Meta, Nvidia, OpenAI, Palantir, Replit, and Stripe. Biyani noted that these companies, among others, intend to hire from the school's graduates. An a16z spokesperson told TechCrunch the school may also expand its enrollment beyond 50 students in the future.