Stanford Students Raise $2 Million for Accelerator Program
Two Stanford students, Roman Scott and Itbaan Nafi, made headlines by announcing that they have successfully raised $2 million for their accelerator program, Breakthrough Ventures. The program is designed to provide funding and support to businesses founded by college students and recent graduates from across the nation.
Scott and Nafi initially started building the accelerator program after hosting a series of well-received Demo Days at Stanford in 2024. The positive response from students who found success through the program encouraged them to expand their efforts and seek funding to further develop Breakthrough Ventures.
Speaking about the fundraising success, Nafi, who is currently pursuing a master’s degree at Stanford, expressed his excitement about turning Breakthrough Ventures into a long-term partnership with their founders. Scott, who graduated from Stanford in 2024 and later obtained a master’s degree, highlighted the unique aspect of their accelerator being created “for student founders by student founders.”
The duo enlisted Raihan Ahmed to lead the accelerator and successfully secured investments from prominent firms like Mayfair and Collide Capital, as well as Stanford alumni founders. The funds raised will be used to support the next generation of companies in various sectors such as AI, health, consumer, deep tech, and sustainability.
While student-focused accelerator programs exist at other universities like UC Berkeley and MIT, Breakthrough Ventures aims to bridge the funding and opportunity gap for student entrepreneurs. The program offers grant funding, compute credits, legal support, mentorship from industry leaders, and the potential for follow-on investments, providing a comprehensive support system for participants.
Breakthrough Ventures will follow a hybrid model with in-person meetups at VC firms and a Demo Day at Stanford. The goal is to incubate at least 100 companies over three years and establish Breakthrough as a leading hub for Gen Z entrepreneurship and thought leadership.
Applications for the latest cohort are now open, with Nafi emphasizing the program’s mission to uplift young entrepreneurs and inspire economic stability through entrepreneurship. By leveraging the tools and knowledge available, Breakthrough Ventures aims to empower individuals to create positive change in their communities and secure a brighter future for themselves and their families.
