Stanford Duo Secures $2M to Launch National Student Startup Accelerator, Aims to Bridge Funding Gap

In a move to democratize early-stage funding for the next generation of founders, two Stanford University graduates announced on Monday the launch of Breakthrough Ventures, a $2 million startup accelerator exclusively for college students and recent graduates across the United States.

The initiative, spearheaded by co-founders Roman Scott and Itbaan Nafi, evolved from a series of successful Demo Days they began hosting at Stanford in 2024. Witnessing the traction gained by participating student teams, the duo decided to formalize and scale the effort into a full-fledged, national program.

"This fundraise transforms Breakthrough from a seasonal program into a lifelong partnership with our founders," said Nafi, who is currently a master's candidate at Stanford, in an interview with TechCrunch. Scott, who completed both his undergraduate and master's degrees at Stanford by 2025, emphasized the accelerator's unique positioning: it is built "for student founders by student founders."

To lead operations, the founders brought on Raihan Ahmed. They subsequently secured backing from venture firms including Mayfair and Collide Capital, alongside a consortium of Stanford alumni founders. The fund will target early-stage ventures in AI, health, consumer products, deep tech, and sustainability.

While university-affiliated accelerators are not new—with examples like UC Berkeley's Free Ventures, MIT's Sandbox, and Stanford's own StartX—Breakthrough distinguishes itself through its national, cross-campus focus. "Students have enjoyed how we’ve brought together so many others from different American colleges," Nafi noted, comparing the community-building aspect to Stanford's renowned Treehacks hackathon.

The core mission, according to Scott, is structural: "Breakthrough’s purpose is to fill 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." This gap is particularly acute outside traditional tech hubs, leaving many promising student ideas under-resourced.

The accelerator will operate on a hybrid model, combining virtual programming with in-person meetups at partner VC firms, culminating in a Demo Day at Stanford. Selected teams receive up to $100,000 in grant funding, compute credits via Microsoft and NVIDIA's Inception program, legal support, Waymo ride credits, and mentorship from leaders like Waymo CEO Tekedra Mawakana. Participants also become eligible for a $50,000 follow-on investment upon completion.

"We’ve nailed the student-founder experience," Nafi asserted. "Students really feel like we get them, and that’s because we are students." The fund aims to deploy its capital over three years, with a goal of incubating at least 100 companies. Nafi expressed a broader ambition for Breakthrough to become "the hub for Gen Z entrepreneurship and thought leadership," a response to widespread economic anxiety among younger generations.

Applications for the inaugural cohort are now open. "We hope to uplift as many stories as possible to inspire others worldwide to use the tools around them to pursue entrepreneurship," Nafi said, highlighting goals of community impact and personal economic stability.

Reactions & Analysis

David Chen, Venture Partner at a Seed-Stage Fund: "This is a smart, needed intervention. The most compelling student founders often bootstrap or drop out to seek funding. A structured, sympathetic platform that keeps them in school while building could unlock a new wave of innovation."

Maya Rodriguez, Sophomore & Aspiring Founder at University of Michigan: "I'm thrilled. As someone not in Silicon Valley, accessing networks feels impossible. This validates that great ideas can come from anywhere. The compute credits and legal support are game-changers for a first-time founder like me."

Professor Arjun Mehta, Business School Faculty: "While the intent is commendable, we must scrutinize the sustainability. Student-run ventures have high attrition post-graduation. Is $100k enough to build traction? The mentorship component will be the true make-or-break factor."

Lisa Torrence, Commentator on Tech Ethics: "Another elite Stanford circle extending its network, masquerading as democratization. Let's be real: this primarily benefits students at already-well-connected schools who can craft a slick pitch. What about the community college student with a brilliant, rough-around-the-edges idea? The 'gap' they're filling is very selective."