Andreessen Horowitz is launching an ‘academy’ with no homework and partnerships with Palantir, Google, and Meta

THE NEWS

What happened

Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) is launching the Horowitz Andreessen Academy, a non-accredited one-year program for recent high school graduates starting in fall 2027. With $42 million in funding and partnerships from major tech giants like Palantir, Google, Meta, OpenAI, and Nvidia, the initiative replaces traditional degrees and homework with immersive work stints at partner companies. Students will relocate to San Francisco, receive over $50,000 in compute credits, and attend short classes led by industry leaders such as Sam Altman. The program aims to create a direct pipeline into Silicon Valley startups, reflecting a broader trend of tech billionaires bypassing traditional higher education institutions.

CONTEXT

Why it matters

Andreessen Horowitz is launching the Horowitz Andreessen Academy in fall 2027. This one-year program targets recent high school graduates with no homework or traditional degrees. Instead, students will relocate to San Francisco and work directly at partner companies like Palantir, Google, Meta, OpenAI, and Nvidia. Funded by $42 million from a16z, the academy offers over $50,000 in compute credits and classes led by industry leaders such as Sam Altman. Only 50 spots are available for this inaugural cohort.

AT A GLANCE

Key facts

• The Horowitz Andreessen Academy is a one-year program launching in fall 2027.
• It accepts only 50 recent high school graduates and requires relocation to San Francisco.
• The program has no homework, traditional grades, tests, or accredited degrees.
• a16z provides $42 million in funding, including over $50,000 in compute credits per student.
• Partner companies include Palantir, Google, Meta, OpenAI, Nvidia, Coinbase, and Stripe.
• Students will spend time working at tech companies alongside short classes with founders.
• The initiative is free for the first cohort but requires students to arrange their own housing.