Andreessen Horowitz launches $42M AI academy to train next-gen talent

Silicon Valley tech elites have launched a new college alternative, the Horowitz Andreessen Academy, raising $42 million to cultivate top AI talent. The unaccredited two-year program in San Francisco targets students aged 16 to 22, encouraging them to build AI models instead of traditional coursework. Venture-capital firm Andreessen Horowitz is spending $35 million on the academy, with an additional $7 million from founding partners including OpenAI, Google, Meta, Nvidia, and Anthropic. Students will receive over $50,000 in AI computing access, a $5,000 travel budget, and instruction from guest lecturers like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. More than 40 companies have signed on as hiring partners. The academy is accepting applications for a tuition-free Founding Class Fellowship for about 50 students starting in fall 2027, with a two-year program planned for fall 2028. Critics warn the school, which doesn't require traditional teaching credentials, may put students' skills at risk.