Harvard Business School launches a startup bootcamp with AI avatars of its instructors

First recorded August 22, 2026 · Latest coverage August 22, 2026 · 1 source

Harvard Business School has introduced Foundry, a $699 startup bootcamp that uses AI avatars of instructors to give participants feedback during exercises such as practice pitches and mock board meetings, according to TechCrunch. The program applies generative AI to a structured education setting rather than a general-purpose chatbot experience.

Why it matters: The launch shows educational institutions experimenting with AI as a scalable layer for coaching and simulation, not just content generation. If effective, instructor avatars could broaden access to feedback-intensive business training while testing whether branded, institution-backed AI tutors can become viable education products.

Sources

• Harvard’s $699 startup bootcamp offers AI avatars of its instructors TechCrunch · August 22, 2026