Stanford Students Raise $2M to Fund Student Entrepreneurs

Two Stanford students just changed the game for Gen Z entrepreneurs. Roman Scott and Itbaan Nafi announced the launch of Breakthrough Ventures, a $2 million accelerator program specifically designed for college students and recent graduates nationwide. Here's what makes this different: Up to $10,000 in grant funding per startup Compute credits through Microsoft and Nvidia partnerships Legal support and mentorship from industry veterans Opportunity for $50,000 follow-on investment Built "for student founders by student founders" The timing couldn't be better. While traditional accelerators often overlook young entrepreneurs due to lack of experience or networks, Breakthrough addresses this exact gap. What's particularly impressive is their track record. The duo started with popular Demo Days at Stanford in 2024, saw real success stories emerge, and decided to scale nationwide with backing from Mayfield and Collide Capital. Their goal: Deploy the fund over three years and incubate at least 100 companies across AI, health, consumer, deep tech, and sustainability sectors. This represents a significant shift in how we think about student entrepreneurship. Instead of waiting until after graduation to pursue startup dreams, students can now access real capital and resources while still in school. For a generation facing economic uncertainty, this could be the bridge between academic learning and real-world impact. Applications for the latest cohort are now open. What do you think about student-led accelerators? Could this model inspire more young entrepreneurs to start building while still in college? #GenZEntrepreneurs #StartupAccelerator #StudentFounders #VentureCapital #Innovation

Two Stanford students just proved that age is just a number when it comes to changing the startup ecosystem. Roman Scott and Itbaan Nafi have raised $2 million to launch Breakthrough Ventures, a nationwide accelerator specifically designed for college students and recent graduates. Here's what makes this groundbreaking: The funding gap is real. Students have historically lacked access to capital and networks needed for entrepreneurial success. These two identified the problem and decided to solve it themselves. The program offers serious support: • Up to $10,000 in grant funding • Compute credits through Microsoft and Nvidia • Legal support and mentorship • Opportunity for $50,000 follow-on investment What sets Breakthrough apart is its hybrid model. In-person meetups at major VC firms, culminating in a Demo Day at Stanford. It's built by student founders, for student founders. The numbers are ambitious: Deploy the fund over three years and incubate at least 100 companies across AI, health, consumer, deep tech, and sustainability sectors. This comes at a crucial time when many young people feel economic anxiety about their futures. Breakthrough aims to become "the hub for Gen Z entrepreneurship" by providing the resources and networks that were previously out of reach. Applications for their latest cohort opened February 2nd, backed by Mayfield and Collide Capital. The message is clear: Don't wait for permission to build the future you want to see. What do you think about student-led initiatives disrupting traditional funding models? Have you seen similar gaps in your industry that young entrepreneurs could fill? #GenZEntrepreneurship #StartupAccelerator #StudentFounders #VentureCapital #Innovation

Two Stanford students just proved that Gen Z isn't waiting for permission to change the game. Roman Scott and Itbaan Nafi have launched Breakthrough Ventures, a $2 million accelerator specifically designed for college students and recent graduates nationwide. Here's what makes this different: While most accelerators focus on experienced entrepreneurs, Breakthrough targets the funding gap that student founders face. They're offering up to $10,000 in grants, compute credits through Microsoft and Nvidia, legal support, mentorship, and potential $50,000 follow-on investments. The program is backed by major investors including Mayfield and Collide Capital, plus Stanford founder alumni. They're focusing on AI, health, consumer, deep tech, and sustainability companies. What's impressive is their track record. They started with popular Demo Days at Stanford in 2024 and saw real success stories emerge. Now they're scaling nationwide with a hybrid model featuring in-person meetups at VC firms and culminating in a Demo Day at Stanford. Their goal? Deploy the fund over three years to incubate at least 100 companies and become "the hub for Gen Z entrepreneurship and thought leadership." This addresses a real problem. Student founders historically lack access to capital and networks needed to launch their ventures. By creating an accelerator "for student founders by student founders," they understand the unique challenges young entrepreneurs face. Applications for their latest cohort opened February 2nd, and they're already planning to help young entrepreneurs gain economic stability while inspiring others globally. The message is clear: Gen Z isn't just the future of entrepreneurship, they're actively building it today. What do you think about student-led initiatives like this? Are we seeing a new wave of entrepreneurship? #GenZEntrepreneurs #StartupAccelerator #StudentFounders #VentureCapital #Innovation

Two Stanford students just changed the game for young entrepreneurs nationwide. Roman Scott and Itbaan Nafi didn't wait for someone else to solve the funding gap for student founders. They raised $2 million and launched Breakthrough Ventures, the first accelerator built "for student founders by student founders." Here's what makes this different: Up to $100,000 in grant funding per startup Compute credits from Microsoft and Nvidia Mentorship from industry leaders like Waymo CEO Tekedra Mawakana Potential $50,000 follow-on investment Hybrid model with meetups at top VC firms The timing couldn't be better. While Gen Z faces economic uncertainty, these founders are creating pathways for their peers to build solutions in AI, health tech, sustainability, and deep tech. What's brilliant about their approach? They understand the unique challenges student entrepreneurs face because they're living it themselves. No corporate bureaucracy, no outdated processes, just real support from people who get it. Their goal: incubate 100 companies over three years and become "the hub for Gen Z entrepreneurship." Applications opened February 2nd, and this could be the launchpad that transforms how we think about student innovation. The message is clear: don't wait for permission to build the future. Create the opportunities you wish existed. What do you think about student-led accelerators? Could this model reshape how we support young entrepreneurs? #Entrepreneurship #GenZ #StartupAccelerator #Innovation #StudentFounders

Two Stanford University students - Roman Scott (Xfund Ethics Fellow alum) and Itbaan Nafi - have raised $2M to launch Breakthrough Ventures, a nationwide accelerator built by student founders for student founders. Breakthrough Ventures aims to close gaps in funding, mentorship, and opportunities for business founders in college across the U.S., offering grant funding, industry support, and a hybrid program model culminating in a Demo Day at Stanford. This initiative reflects the entrepreneurial mindset we foster at STVP, supporting real-world impact, early-stage innovation, and broad access to entrepreneurial ecosystems. Read more in TechCrunch: https://lnkd.in/eRHAVTbi

Two college students just raised $2M to solve a problem most VCs ignore. While traditional accelerators focus on seasoned entrepreneurs, Roman Scott and Itbaan Nafi saw a massive gap: brilliant student founders with game-changing ideas but zero access to capital or networks. Their solution? Breakthrough Ventures, the first major accelerator built specifically for student founders by student founders. Here's what makes this different: • Up to $10,000 in grant funding (no equity required upfront) • Compute credits through Microsoft and Nvidia partnerships • Legal support and mentorship from industry veterans • Potential $50,000 follow-on investment opportunities • Hybrid model with local meetups and Stanford Demo Days The numbers are already impressive. They're targeting 100+ companies over three years across AI, health, consumer, deep tech, and sustainability sectors. But here's the real insight: Gen Z entrepreneurs think differently. They're not just building businesses, they're solving problems that affect their generation directly. Climate change, mental health, economic instability, AI ethics. What started as Stanford Demo Days has evolved into something bigger. A movement to give young innovators the resources they need before they graduate and get absorbed into corporate jobs. The timing couldn't be better. With economic uncertainty hitting young people hardest, entrepreneurship isn't just an opportunity, it's becoming a necessity for financial stability. Applications opened February 2nd. The question isn't whether student founders have great ideas. It's whether we'll give them the chance to build them. What's your take on student entrepreneurship? Are we doing enough to support the next generation of founders? #StudentEntrepreneurship #GenZ #StartupAccelerator #Innovation #VentureCapital

Two Stanford students just changed the game for Gen Z entrepreneurs. Roman Scott and Itbaan Nafi raised $2 million to launch Breakthrough Ventures, a nationwide accelerator built specifically for college students and recent graduates. Here's what makes this different: Up to $10,000 in grant funding (no equity required) Compute credits through Microsoft and Nvidia partnerships Legal support and mentorship from industry veterans Potential $50,000 follow-on investment Demo Day at Stanford with top VCs The problem they're solving is real. Students have historically lacked access to capital and networks needed to launch startups. Most accelerators cater to experienced entrepreneurs, leaving young founders behind. Breakthrough operates with a hybrid model featuring in-person meetups at VC firms across the country, culminating in a Demo Day at Stanford. They're targeting AI, health, consumer, deep tech, and sustainability companies. Backed by Mayfield and Collide Capital, the program aims to incubate at least 100 companies over three years. Applications for their latest cohort opened February 2nd. What I find most compelling is their approach: "for student founders by student founders." They understand the unique challenges young entrepreneurs face because they're living it themselves. This could be the catalyst that unlocks a new wave of Gen Z innovation. When you remove barriers to entry and provide the right support system, amazing things happen. What do you think about student-focused accelerators? Are they the key to democratizing entrepreneurship for the next generation? #GenZEntrepreneurs #StartupAccelerator #StudentFounders #Innovation #Entrepreneurship

Most college founders don’t fail from bad ideas—they fail from no support. Here’s how two students are changing that with $2M in funding: If you’re a student builder, you know the struggle. Lack of capital. No network. No guidance. I see it firsthand watching students drop brilliant startup ideas because they feel stuck. Roman Scott and Itbaan Nafi faced the same thing—then they built their own solution. It started with scrappy demo days at Stanford. Now? It’s Breakthrough Ventures: a student-run accelerator with real firepower. They raised $2M to back 100 new student-led startups over the next 3 years. Founders get: - Up to $100K in grants - Credits from Microsoft + Nvidia - Legal and mentorship support - $50K follow-on investment opportunities - Demo Day at Stanford And here’s the kicker—it’s built by students, for students. Every frustration baked into a solution. No gatekeeping. No “wait your turn.” Just launch, build, and grow—with the tools you need. If you're a student dreaming of your own company, look into the latest Breakthrough cohort. Your startup journey doesn’t have to start with nothing. It can start with people who get it—and back you.

Stanford students Roman Scott and Itbaan Nafi have raised $2 million to launch Breakthrough Ventures, a nationwide accelerator targeting college students and recent graduates. The duo started with Demo Days at Stanford in 2024 before expanding the program. Scott graduated with his undergraduate degree in 2024 and completed a master's the following year, while Nafi remains a master's candidate. Breakthrough secured funding from Mayfield and Collide Capital, plus Stanford founder alumni, to support startups in AI, health, consumer products, deep tech, and sustainability. The founders emphasize their program is "for student founders by student founders." Similar programs exist at UC Berkeley (Free Ventures) and MIT (Sandbox Innovation Fund), but Breakthrough aims to bridge funding gaps across multiple university ecosystems nationwide. Participants receive up to $10,000 in grant funding, compute credits through Microsoft and Nvidia Inception, legal support, and mentorship. The program concludes with potential $50,000 follow-on investments and a Demo Day at Stanford. The accelerator plans to incubate at least 100 companies over three years. Nafi positions Breakthrough as "the hub for Gen Z entrepreneurship" amid economic uncertainty facing young people. Applications for the current cohort opened Monday.

There has never been a better time in history to build a startup as a high school or university student. We’re living through a rare convergence of more accessible capital, dramatically lower barriers to entry, unprecedented technological leverage with AI, and an increasingly uncertain traditional career path (which has now become the far riskier path). Gen Z may face great economic / political uncertainty and institutional distrust, but if we’re lucky on anything, it’s being best-positioned to win in the AI age. The unfair advantage is being at the extreme of innate traits like speed, unconditioned worldviews, and proximity to talent, cultural, and technological change. This belief began forming in 2023, when Jerry and I, whilst still on campus, observed a structural gap in how young founders were emerging faster than the ecosystem was adapting to support them. Too often, this meant great talent staying dormant and unrealised, or our most ambitious leaving Australia, often for the US, in search of environments that fully matched their ambition. As such, we decided to take radical ownership of the future we wanted to see exist, and built NextGen Ventures Fund I to back student founders before anyone else and start growing a garden of tall poppies with unbounded ambition. Although we’re only at the beginning of this shift, we’re already seeing extraordinary young Australians following in the footsteps of Canva, Atlassian, and Immutable and beginning their own path toward building globally great companies. We’ve been fortunate to back 11 incredible startups in 2025, and we’re excited to back many more in the years ahead, as we close out our raise for Fund I. And whilst there is still a significant way to go in giving young founders the resources, cultural infrastructure, and support they truly deserve, the tide has already shifted meaningfully in just a few short years. We’re grateful to work alongside many great universities, investors, and ecosystem partners who share the belief that Australia can be the best place in the world for young founders to build. — Thanks to Bronwen from Capital Brief for sharing our story. You can read the article here https://lnkd.in/gTYHFz7V