"Zero Tuition, Lessons from Jensen Huang... What Is Silicon Valley’s Ambitious 'AI School'?"

Establishing a Two-Year Residential AI Training Institute
Hands-On Field Experience with Big Tech Leaders like NVIDIA and OpenAI

A major venture capital firm in Silicon Valley is making a bold move by establishing an artificial intelligence (AI) talent development institute designed to break away from the conventional university model. The goal is to nurture practical talent ready to contribute on the frontlines of industry, rather than focusing on traditional, theory-based academic learning.

Horowitz Anderson Academy. HAA Website

Andreesen Horowitz office located in San Francisco, USA. Nikkei Asia

On September 22 (local time), renowned venture capital firm Andreesen Horowitz (a16z) announced the launch of the “Horowitz Andreesen Academy” (HAA), an alternative educational institution dedicated to training high school graduates in hands-on AI skills.

The a16z team explained the rationale behind the project, stating, “If the internet changed the way we acquire knowledge, AI has ushered in an era where people can turn anything into action. This is fundamentally transforming what it means for the younger generation to learn and be educated, which is why an entirely new kind of educational institution is needed.”

Residential Campus Model, Cutting Theory for Practical Training

HAA will run a full-time, residential, in-person program at its San Francisco campus, featuring a curriculum that stands apart from traditional colleges and universities. Instead of monotonous, theory-centered lectures, the school will focus on field training, individual projects, and expert lectures.

Students freely conversing. HAA website

The school’s highly anticipated line-up of instructors is already making waves in the industry. Notable figures such as Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA; Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft; Mira Murati, CEO of Thinking Machines Lab (and former Chief Technology Officer of OpenAI); and Travis Kalanick, founder of Uber, will deliver guest lectures in person.

Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia. Photo by Yonhap News

Leading global big tech companies will also partner as corporate affiliates, allowing students to gain immediate real-world work experience during semesters and breaks. These partners include NVIDIA, OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta, Palantir, Anduril, and other dominant players in the global AI landscape.

Full Tuition Waived in Inaugural Year...Transitioning to Accredited Degree Program by 2028

HAA is commencing its student recruitment process immediately, with plans to launch its first one-year cohort in the fall of next year.

From the left, Ben Horowitz and Kagan Biyani, co-founders, Eric Torenberg, general partner. Horowitz-Anderson Academy

In its first year, the program will operate as a non-accredited institution—meaning degrees will not be officially recognized—while offering a groundbreaking benefit: a full tuition waiver for all students.

Following official approval from local authorities, HAA plans to transition into a two-year accredited program and will charge tuition comparable to prestigious private universities beginning in 2028.

47.3 Billion Won Investment Spurs Concern from Traditional Universities

a16z has personally invested $35 million (approximately 47.39 billion won) in this project, and both co-founder Marc Andreessen and General Partner Eric Torenberg have joined the academy’s board of directors to strengthen its leadership.

Academy founding team. Horowitz Academy LinkedIn

Torenberg expressed confidence, saying, “True venture begins by discovering and developing talent, and that has always been at the core of what universities do. I am certain that among the many founders who will graduate from this academy, Andreesen Horowitz will directly invest in some of them.”

However, there are also voices of concern. John Friedman, Dean of the Watson Institute at Brown University, commented, “While it will be a refreshing experience for students to learn directly from the world’s top industry leaders, one cannot overlook the unique value and strengths possessed by traditional universities, where decades of expertise have been cultivated among their faculty.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.