- Harvard Business School (HBS) has launched the 8-week Foundry Bootcamp, using AI clones of instructors to guide entrepreneurship for a tuition fee of $699.
- These AI Avatars are built from the images, voices, and knowledge of instructors, allowing students to practice fundraising pitches, board meetings, and investor exchanges in a simulated environment.
- One of the AI Avatars belongs to Jeff Bussgang, co-founder of Flybridge Capital and a senior lecturer at HBS.
- HBS tested the program at more than 100 universities across all 50 U.S. states before a wider rollout.
- Foundry combines HBS teaching content, a student community, AI Agents, AI Avatars, and weekly live sessions with entrepreneurs, investors, and faculty.
- The goal of HBS is to scale training far beyond the approximately 900 MBA students recruited annually through the use of AI.
- The AI system is trained to be a rigorous critic rather than always agreeing with the learner, helping students refine business ideas before meeting real investors.
- According to HBS, using images or AI Avatars of instructors increases engagement and trust among learners compared to standard AI chatbots.
- In summer courses, about 45% of students paid their own tuition, while the rest were sponsored by universities or participated through partnership programs.
- Although AI is highly valued for its 24/7 support and real-world simulation, HBS noted that the most popular feature remains the forums where entrepreneurs interact directly, showing that human interaction still plays a central role.
📌 Harvard’s Foundry program reflects a new trend in education where AI not only supports learning but also acts as simulated instructors and practice partners. Instead of replacing faculty, AI Avatars are designed to scale training and allow learners to practice anytime. However, HBS also notes that the greatest value of the program still comes from the community and the exchange between students, emphasizing that AI is a supplementary tool and has not replaced the human-to-human learning experience.
