Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Harvard Launches AI Faculty Clones for Startup Founder Bootcamp
Harvard Business School has created a short course for people who want to start companies.
The course uses computer programs that act like versions of some Harvard professors.
Students can ask these AI mentors for advice and practice presenting their business ideas.
They can also attend live sessions with human experts.
The program lasts eight weeks and costs $699.
At the end, participants may get a chance to pitch their ideas to investors for $100,000.
Harvard says the AI versions are inspired by professors but are not exact copies.
Some students like the idea, while professor Jeff Bussgang said his own AI avatar feels a little creepy.
The course is not a Harvard degree and does not provide academic credit.
Harvard Business School launched an eight-week HBS Foundry bootcamp priced at $699, or about Rs 66,673.
The program uses AI mentors modeled on HBS faculty to help founders develop ideas, validate markets and prepare pitches.
Participants can practice pitches with AI avatars without directly meeting the professors they represent.
The bootcamp includes live expert sessions and an opportunity to pitch investors for $100,000.
Harvard said 760 founders had enrolled and clarified that the program is not a degree or academic-credit course.
- Who
- Harvard Business School, HBS Foundry and participating startup founders; Jeff Bussgang is represented by an AI avatar.
- What
- An eight-week startup bootcamp using AI mentors modeled on Harvard Business School faculty.
- When
- The program lasts eight weeks; the article does not give a launch date.
- Where
- Harvard Business School's HBS Foundry program; the article does not specify a physical location.
- Why
- To help aspiring deep-tech founders develop ideas, validate markets, prepare pitch decks and practice before meeting mentors and investors.
Potential Benefits
Concerns and Limitations
AI professor avatars
Potential Benefits
The avatars let founders practice ideas and pitches before speaking with real mentors or investors; Harvard said the concept came from founders seeking more preparation.
Concerns and Limitations
Jeff Bussgang described his own simulation as “a little creepy,” and the article noted repetitive movements and that the AI response was unmoved by an unusual business idea.
Access to faculty expertise
Potential Benefits
Students can create an AI advisory board inspired by HBS experts and receive personalized guidance without direct contact with the professors.
Concerns and Limitations
Harvard said the AI clones are not intended to be exact replicas of the real faculty members they model.
Value of the program
Potential Benefits
The bootcamp offers structured business-model development, market validation, pitch-deck preparation, live expert sessions and an investor-pitch opportunity.
Concerns and Limitations
The program is not a Harvard degree and does not offer academic credit, so it functions as entrepreneurial support rather than formal academic study.
- Program
- HBS Foundry startup bootcamp
- Duration
- Eight weeks
- Price
- $699, listed as approximately Rs 66,673
- Enrollment
- 760 founders, according to a Harvard spokesperson
- AI mentors
- Personalized advisors inspired by HBS faculty teaching styles and expertise
- Investor opportunity
- Participants can pitch investors for $100,000
- Academic status
- Not an HBS degree program and not for academic credit