A new $2 million startup accelerator launched by Stanford University students aims to address the critical funding gap for student and recent graduate founders across the United States.Breakthrough Ventures, backed by firms like Mayfair and Collide Capital, will provide resources including grant funding, mentorship, and access to industry leaders to aspiring young tech entrepreneurs. the program, which grew from popular Stanford Demo Days, signals a growing investment in the potential of university-born innovation and a commitment to fostering the next generation of tech leaders.
Stanford University students Roman Scott and Itbaan Nafi have launched Breakthrough Ventures, a new startup accelerator backed by $2 million in funding – approximately Rp31 billion. The program aims to support student and recent graduate founders across the United States, addressing a critical gap in early-stage funding for emerging tech talent.
The announcement, made on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, marks a significant step forward for the initiative, which began as a series of popular Demo Days at Stanford in 2024. Recognizing the potential of student-led ventures, Scott and Nafi expanded their efforts, ultimately securing investment from firms like Mayfair and Collide Capital, as well as a network of Stanford alumni founders.
Breakthrough Ventures differentiates itself with a focused approach: “for student founders by student founders.” While other universities, including UC Berkeley with Free Ventures, MIT with the Sandbox Innovation Fund, and even Stanford itself with programs like StartX, LaunchPad, and Cardinal Ventures, offer similar support, Breakthrough aims to provide a uniquely tailored experience. “Students have enjoyed how we’ve brought together so many others from different American colleges,” Nafi observed, drawing a comparison to Stanford’s renowned Treehacks hackathon.
“This fundraise turns Breakthrough from just being a seasonal accelerator into a lifelong partnership with our founders,” Nafi stated, emphasizing the program’s commitment to long-term support. The accelerator’s model will be hybrid, combining in-person sessions at leading venture capital firms with a culminating Demo Day at Stanford.
Participants in the program will have access to a comprehensive suite of resources, including grant funding of up to $100,000, compute credits through Microsoft and the Nvidia Inception program, legal support, Waymo travel credits, and mentorship from industry leaders like Waymo CEO Tekedra Mawakana. Furthermore, founders will have the opportunity to receive follow-on investment of $50,000 upon completion of the program.
Scott explained that Breakthrough is designed to address a systemic issue. “Breakthrough’s purpose is to fill in 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 focus on accessibility is a key element of the accelerator’s mission.
The founders believe their own experiences as students give them a unique understanding of the challenges faced by student entrepreneurs. “We’ve nailed the student-founder experience to a T,” Nafi said. “Hence why we offer the resources we do and have structured the program in this way. Students really feel like we get them, and that’s because we are students.”
Breakthrough Ventures plans to deploy the $2 million fund over the next three years, with a goal of incubating at least 100 companies. Nafi envisions the fund becoming “the hub for Gen Z entrepreneurship and thought leadership,” particularly as young people increasingly seek economic stability through innovation. Applications for the latest cohort are now open.
“We hope that by supporting young entrepreneurs, we’re able to uplift as many stories as possible to then inspire many more across the world to use the tools and knowledge around them to pursue entrepreneurship not only to change their communities, but also gain economic stability for themselves and their families,” Nafi concluded. The launch of Breakthrough Ventures reflects a growing trend of supporting the next generation of tech innovators and underscores the potential of student-led startups to drive economic growth and social impact.
