Howard U Students Launch Founders on the Yard HBCU Entrepreneur Accelerator

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 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

Student entrepreneurship gets a major push as Roman Scott and Itbaan Nafi, founders of Breakthrough Ventures, secure $2 million to support student-led startups across the U.S. With Raihan Ahmed leading the accelerator, the program aims to back 100 young ventures, widening access to capital, mentorship, and networks beyond elite campuses. A big moment for the next generation of founders. Read More: https://lnkd.in/geAjZWD9

Two Stanford University students have raised US$2 million to launch Breakthrough Ventures, a new accelerator programme designed to fund and support startups founded by college students and recent graduates across the United States. The accelerator was founded by Roman Scott and Itbaan Nafi , who began building the programme after organising a series of well-attended Demo Days at Stanford in 2024. “Breakthrough’s purpose is to fill in the funding and opportunity gap that exists in many of these ecosystems because students have historically lacked access to capital and the networks required to launch their entrepreneurial pursuits,” Scott added. “We hope that by supporting young entrepreneurs, we’re able to uplift as many stories as possible to then inspire many more across the world to use the tools and knowledge around them to pursue entrepreneurship not only to change their communities, but also gain economic stability for themselves and their families,” Nafi said. Quadri Adejumo of Techparley details how Stanford-founded Breakthrough Ventures is backing the next generation of student entrepreneurs. https://lnkd.in/gb9ArHDV #techtrends #instagood #fyi #trending #techparley

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

Excited to share our latest interview on The Capitalyst: Julian Hall's inspiring journey from tech startups to empowering the next gen as "The Ultrapreneur" behind Ultra Education! He's revolutionizing financial literacy for kids aged 7-18 with hands-on programs, games like Start-up Dash, and initiatives breaking barriers for underrepresented youth—from investment banking to co-authoring entrepreneurship degrees at The Open University. Julian Hall FRSA BCAe proves entrepreneurs are made, not born. What's your take on teaching kids business skills early? Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/dtmETfBJ #YouthEntrepreneurship #FinancialLiteracy #EdTech #Startups #UltraEducation

Two college students just raised $2 million to solve a problem most VCs ignore. While traditional accelerators focus on experienced founders, Roman Scott and Itbaan Nafi from Stanford saw a massive gap: student entrepreneurs with brilliant ideas but zero access to capital or networks. Their solution? Breakthrough Ventures, the first accelerator built "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 The numbers tell the story. They started with Demo Days at Stanford in 2024, saw students achieving real success, and decided to scale nationwide. Now they're backed by Mayfield and Collide Capital with a goal to incubate 100 companies over three years across AI, health, consumer, deep tech, and sustainability. "Students have historically lacked access to capital and the networks required to launch their entrepreneurial pursuits," Scott explains. This isn't just about funding. It's about economic mobility for Gen Z. While many young people feel anxious about their financial future, these founders are creating pathways for students to build companies that could change their lives and communities. Applications opened yesterday for their latest cohort. What do you think about student-focused accelerators? Are we finally recognizing that great ideas don't wait for graduation?

15 student-led startups have advanced as semifinalists in Michigan State University's premier pitch competition, Burgess New Venture Challenge. These teams represent seven colleges across campus including Michigan State University - Eli Broad College of Business, Michigan State University College of Engineering, Michigan State University College of Communication Arts and Sciences, College of Social Science at Michigan State University, Lyman Briggs College-Michigan State University, and Michigan State University College of Natural Science, proving that entrepreneurship at MSU isn’t limited to one major or one mindset.  The Challenge takes place on Thursday, April 9 at the Marriott East Lansing at University Place in downtown East Lansing, where the top five teams will compete for a share of $50,000 in funding.  To meet this year's semifinalist teams, visit:

Two Stanford Students Launch $2M Startup Accelerator For Students Nationwide Student startup accelerator Breakthrough Ventures secures $2M to fund college entrepreneurs nationwide with grants and mentorship. DETAILS: https://lnkd.in/d7eVwKhf