Sep 22, 2026 · 1h 19m
A new school bets builders need projects, not grades
a16z Just Launched a School
The academy offers a test of whether an AI-era education can develop ambitious builders outside the university system.
- 1Horowitz Andreessen Academy will use projects, mentors, and real-world building instead of grades, tests, and conventional coursework.
- 2Its tuition-free 2027 fellowship targets young builders before they commit to college, startups, accelerators, or venture capital.
- 3The program embraces AI while emphasizing agency, resilience, and the ability to pursue nonlinear paths through repeated experimentation.
Don't miss
Gagan Biyani explains why the academy will openly embrace AI despite student backlash, making the technology part of its educational mission.
The brief
Gagan Biyani and Molly O’Shea introduce Horowitz Andreessen Academy, a tuition-free, unaccredited residential program designed for young technology builders rather than conventional college students.
The academy will reserve most student time for projects, with mentors and Silicon Valley partnerships replacing fixed coursework; its founding fellowship begins in September 2027.
Biyani positions the program between college, accelerators, and venture capital: an immersive place to explore ambitious projects before choosing a company or career path.
The AI debate is central rather than incidental. The academy plans to teach responsible AI use and select students who see the technology as part of the future.
The episode’s deeper claim is that agency and resilience matter across optimistic and pessimistic futures, because students must become capable of repeated experimentation and recovery.
Featuring
a16z
San Francisco
Not the End of the WorldBooks & mentions
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