Andreessen Horowitz Launches Tuition-Free AI Academy Backed by $42M From Tech Giants

Andreessen Horowitz announced on September 22, 2026, that it is launching a tuition-free, unaccredited academy for aspiring AI entrepreneurs, positioning the program as a college alternative. The San Francisco-based Horowitz Andreessen Academy, operating as a for-profit company, is accepting applications for 50 slots in fall 2027. The one-year curriculum covers AI systems design, startup fundraising, business sales and storytelling, with no tests or homework. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is named as an instructor or guest lecturer. Anthropic, Google, Meta, OpenAI, Nvidia and Palantir seeded the program with a $42 million investment. The academy targets recent high school graduates or students with up to two years of elite university coursework. Andreessen Horowitz, a major AI investor, raised $1 billion in August for a fund backing AI physical infrastructure. The academy plans to seek regulatory approval for a two-year program starting fall 2028, with tuition expected to match elite private universities.