Andreessen Horowitz launches academy for high school grads to train founders
Venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz is starting a one-year, tuition-free academy in San Francisco for recent high school graduates interested in founding companies. The program will offer mentorship from tech leaders and coursework on topics like AI and personal philosophy, but it is not accredited and will not grant degrees. The school plans to expand to a two-year program by 2028 with tuition comparable to elite private universities.
The for-profit academy, which has raised $42 million, will select its first cohort of 50 students based on demonstrated initiative—what they have built or shipped—rather than test scores. While the first year is free, students must arrange their own housing, though the school assists with roommate matching. The curriculum blends technical subjects like AI research with philosophical courses on designing a fortunate life.
The school explicitly positions itself as an alternative to both traditional college and the drop-out-to-found path. Its 2028 expansion will introduce a two-year format with tuition on par with elite private universities. Ten major tech firms, including OpenAI, Google, and Stripe, are founding partners, and many plan to recruit directly from the program's graduates.
This model could reshape how young people perceive the value of a traditional degree versus practical, mentor-driven training. For those unable to afford college or skeptical of its ROI, this academy may offer a faster, more direct route into high-paying tech roles, but it also risks creating a two-tier system where access to elite networks and jobs depends on proximity to venture capital. The lack of accreditation could limit mobility for students who later want academic credentials.