Andreessen Horowitz Funds Free AI Academy for Aspiring Technologists
A new San Francisco-based academy, backed by a $42 million investment led by Andreessen Horowitz, will offer a tuition-free, one-year program focused on artificial intelligence.
The Horowitz Andreessen Academy, a for-profit school in San Francisco incubated by venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, is set to launch its inaugural one-year fellowship program in September 2027. The program aims to enroll approximately 50 graduating high school seniors, providing them with a tuition-free year dedicated to learning about artificial intelligence.
Andreessen Horowitz is leading a $42 million investment round in the academy. Notable investors also include Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke and Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan. Each participant will receive over $50,000 in computing credits and resources, alongside $5,000 for travel and exploration expenses.
The curriculum is designed around project-based learning and lectures delivered by industry leaders, with a reduced emphasis on traditional testing and homework. Gagan Biyani, co-founder of Udemy, serves as the academy's CEO.
The academy also intends to seek regulatory approval for a two-year program, slated to begin in fall 2028, with tuition fees expected to be comparable to those at elite private universities. Ben Horowitz, co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz, believes AI will be as transformative to jobs as the Industrial Revolution was to agrarian society.