Breakthrough Ventures: Empowering Student Entrepreneurs

Two innovative minds from Stanford University have successfully raised $2 million for Breakthrough Ventures, an accelerator program dedicated to supporting businesses founded by college students and recent graduates across the country.

Roman Scott and Itbaan Nafi initiated the development of Breakthrough Ventures following the overwhelming success of their Demo Days at Stanford in 2024. The positive outcomes achieved by students fueled their decision to expand the program on a national scale.

Nafi, currently pursuing a master’s degree at Stanford, expressed, “This fundraising effort transforms Breakthrough into a lifelong partner for our founders.” Meanwhile, Scott, an alumnus who completed his undergraduate and master’s degrees at Stanford, emphasized the unique student-centric approach of their accelerator.

The duo enlisted Raihan Ahmed to lead the accelerator and secured funding from prominent investors like Mayfield and Collide Capital. Their focus areas include AI, health, consumer products, deep tech, and sustainability. Scott highlighted the accelerator’s distinction as a platform “for student founders by student founders.”

While similar student programs exist at UC Berkeley and MIT, Breakthrough Ventures sets itself apart by fostering a diverse network of student entrepreneurs from various American colleges, reminiscent of Stanford’s renowned Treehacks hackathon.

Breakthrough Ventures aims to bridge the funding and opportunity gap prevalent in entrepreneurial ecosystems, particularly among students lacking access to capital and vital networks. The program offers grant funding, compute credits, legal support, mentorship, and the potential for a significant follow-on investment.

Nafi stressed the program’s student-focused design, tailored to meet the specific needs of young founders. The hybrid model includes in-person meetups at prominent VC firms and concludes with a Demo Day at Stanford.

In their three-year plan, the founders aim to nurture at least 100 companies through Breakthrough Ventures, envisioning it as a premier hub for Gen Z entrepreneurship and thought leadership. The program’s launch of the latest cohort signals a new wave of support for aspiring entrepreneurs.

By empowering young innovators, Breakthrough Ventures seeks to inspire a global community of entrepreneurs driving positive change and economic stability. Nafi envisions a future where diverse stories of success motivate others to pursue entrepreneurship and create lasting impact.

This article has been updated to rectify the name of an investment firm.