AI
Harvard's $699 bootcamp uses AI clones of instructors to coach startup founders
The business school's eight-week program leans on AI avatars to deliver personalized feedback between weekly live sessions with real faculty.
TechCrunch — AI
Harvard Business School is embracing AI to scale its entrepreneurship education. Its new eight-week HBS Foundry bootcamp—priced at $699—pairs live weekly instruction with AI avatars of faculty members who provide feedback during student pitch practice and mock board meetings.
How It Works#
The avatars, created by startup HeyGen, step in between in-person sessions to offer personalized guidance. While entrepreneurs still meet with live instructors each week, the virtual versions handle the feedback loop during practice exercises, allowing the program to deliver more frequent coaching at a lower cost.
Project director Katharina Rings initially envisioned the AI component as a simple chatbot interface. After launching a trial version, however, students pushed back—they wanted a more structured, guided experience, which led to the pivot toward realistic avatars.
The Student Response#
Despite widespread skepticism about AI in education, Foundry participants have embraced the technology. New York Times reporter Sarah Kessler tested the system firsthand, pitching to an AI clone of venture capitalist Jeff Bussgang alongside the real founder. While both versions critiqued her hypothetical "Uber for bananas" concept, Kessler noted that the digital Bussgang delivered feedback with a visibly stiff demeanor.
Bussgang himself acknowledged the uncanny valley effect, calling his avatar "a little creepy," yet added that his actual students find the tool valuable. The positive reception stands in contrast to broader campus sentiment; many college students have been vocal about their reservations toward AI in academic settings.
Scaling Expertise#
The initiative reflects Harvard's strategy to reach more aspiring entrepreneurs while maintaining the advisory relationship that distinguishes business education. By automating personalized feedback through AI, the school can offer individual coaching at scale without proportionally expanding its faculty footprint.
