---
title: "Harvard's $699 Startup Bootcamp Debuts AI Avatars of Instructors for Pitch Practice"
source: "TechCrunch：AI（RSS）"
source_tier: "t2"
url: "https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/22/harvards-699-startup-bootcamp-offers-ai-avatars-of-its-instructors/"
permalink: "https://feed.astralor.com/items/itm_ca1bb3e81f45e80ca5f60a13"
published: "2026-08-22T21:46:56.000Z"
score: 62
channel: "ai"
tags: ["AI Avatars","HBS Foundry","Startup Education","Harvard Business School"]
---

# Harvard's $699 Startup Bootcamp Debuts AI Avatars of Instructors for Pitch Practice

## AI commentary

> What's most interesting here is that a top business school is using AI to simulate human mentors at a lower cost, showing AI could reshape pricing and delivery of educational services. For edtech founders and AI commercialization watchers, tracking enrollment and retention data will be key.

## At a glance

Harvard Business School's HBS Foundry startup bootcamp, priced at $699, now features AI avatars of instructors that provide real-time feedback during practice pitches and mock board meetings. The initiative aims to lower barriers to entrepreneurial coaching, enabling participants to access personalized guidance anytime and improve their business communication and decision-making through repeated rehearsal. The avatars are built on instructors' voices and styles, but do not replace the depth of human mentorship.

## Key points

- HBS Foundry's $699 bootcamp now includes AI instructor avatars for simulated pitch and board meeting scenarios.
- The avatars are generated based on real instructors' styles and voices, offering real-time feedback for iterative refinement of business proposals.
- The initiative aims to lower the barrier to entrepreneurial mentorship, giving founders affordable, high-frequency practice opportunities.

## Full text

In the HBS Foundry program, AI avatars provide feedback during practice pitches and board meetings.

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Verify against the original before citing; curated by Astral Feed: https://feed.astralor.com/items/itm_ca1bb3e81f45e80ca5f60a13