Two Stanford students have launched a new $2 million startup accelerator program called Breakthrough Ventures, aimed at supporting businesses founded by college students and recent graduates across the U.S. Roman Scott and Itbaan Nafi, the founders of this initiative, identified a crucial gap in funding and opportunities for student entrepreneurs due to limited access to capital and networks.
Breakthrough Ventures, born out of the success of Demo Days at Stanford, represents a shift from a seasonal accelerator to a long-term partnership with founders. Nafi, a master’s candidate at Stanford, highlighted the significance of this fundraising effort, emphasizing a commitment to student founders. With Raihan Ahmed at the helm, Breakthrough Ventures has secured backing from investors like Mayfield and Collide Capital, focusing on nurturing the next wave of AI, health, consumer, deep tech, and sustainability startups.
While similar programs exist at UC Berkeley and MIT, Breakthrough Ventures distinguishes itself by being designed ‘for student founders by student founders.’ This student-led approach aims to foster collaboration among diverse college communities, mirroring the inclusive spirit of events like Treehacks hackathon at Stanford.
Source: TechCrunch