Nike's Phil Knight Invests $1 Billion in Entrepreneurial Education
WHO:
Inc - Phil Knight, founder of Nike, is backing a new engineering college.
Forbes - Phil Knight is donating to the University of Oregon.
WHAT:
Fast Company - The Horowitz Andreessen Academy has raised $42 million to date, with funding led by a16z and investors including C-suite from Shopify, DoorDash, Palantir, and Alpha School.
Fast Company - The Academy's first year’s tuition is said to be free for students, with the two-year program to follow at a cost "similar in cost to an elite private university."
Inc - Knight is investing $1 billion in entrepreneurial education.
Inc - The new college will focus on combining technical training, entrepreneurship, and startup support.
WHERE:
Forbes - The investment is directed towards the University of Oregon.
WHEN:
Fast Company - Applications for the Academy's founding class are open, with an early decision application deadline of Nov. 5.
Fast Company - Accepted students are expected to begin classes in Sept. 2027.
WHY:
Inc - The initiative aims to move more university discoveries into the marketplace.
HOW:
Inc - The college will provide support for student entrepreneurs through a combination of education and resources.
(UPDATED September 24, 2026 11:01 UTC)
The Horowitz Andreessen Academy has successfully raised $42 million, with funding led by a16z and contributions from executives at companies like Shopify, DoorDash, Palantir, and Alpha School. The Academy will offer free tuition for its first year, with the subsequent two-year program priced similarly to that of an elite private university. Applications for the founding class are now open, and the early decision application deadline is set for November 5, with accepted students expected to start classes in September 2027.
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(UPDATED September 24, 2026 10:00 UTC)
Phil Knight, the founder of Nike, is making headlines with a significant investment of $1 billion to support entrepreneurial education at the University of Oregon. This new engineering college will focus on blending technical training with entrepreneurship and startup support, aiming to help university discoveries transition into the marketplace. Through this initiative, the college will provide essential resources and education to empower student entrepreneurs.