Andreessen Horowitz Launches $42 Million School With No Grades or Degrees

Venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz is launching a $42 million initiative, the Horowitz Andreessen Academy, aimed at educating the next generation of tech entrepreneurs.

The San Francisco-based school aims to provide an alternative to traditional higher education. It is primarily targeting recent high school graduates interested in starting businesses or pursuing careers in technology. The academy plans to welcome its first class of approximately 50 students in September 2027.

The curriculum will not include homework, tests, or grades. Instead, students will complete short courses in subjects such as "AI Research and Models" and "The Geometry of Luck." A significant portion of their time will be dedicated to developing their own startup ideas and working on independent projects. Over 200 mentors and guest speakers, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, will support the students.

Gagan Biyani, the academy's CEO and co-founder of Udemy, emphasized that "proof of work" will be prioritized over grades. Andreessen Horowitz believes that traditional educational approaches may not adequately prepare young people for a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. The firm argues that the training methods suitable for the Industrial Revolution are not a perfect fit for the AI revolution, necessitating the development of new training models.