Hustler Words – Harvard Business School (HBS) is pioneering a novel approach to entrepreneurial education, leveraging advanced AI avatars to deliver personalized feedback within its new startup bootcamp. This strategic move, reported on August 22, 2026, aims to significantly broaden HBS’s global reach and impact.
The innovative HBS Foundry program, an intensive eight-week bootcamp designed for aspiring entrepreneurs and priced at $699, integrates these sophisticated AI entities directly into its curriculum. Developed by the startup HeyGen, these digital instructors complement weekly live sessions with human faculty by taking on the crucial role of providing critical feedback during practice pitches and simulated board meetings.
New York Times journalist Sarah Kessler recently offered a firsthand account of this technological integration. She engaged with the system by pitching her business concept to an AI rendition of Flybridge Capital co-founder, Jeff Bussgang. Both the authentic Bussgang and his virtual counterpart reportedly found her "Uber for bananas" idea unconvincing, with Kessler humorously noting the digital avatar’s "frozen smile" throughout her presentation.
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Katharina Rings, the project director, initially envisioned the AI component as a more rudimentary chatbot. However, feedback from students following a trial phase indicated a strong preference for a more structured and guided interactive experience, leading to the current avatar-based system.
In an intriguing twist, while many university students globally have voiced skepticism or outright negative sentiments regarding AI’s role in education, participants in the HBS Foundry program have expressed considerable enthusiasm for the avatars. Bussgang himself acknowledged the "creepy" aspect of his digital doppelgänger but underscored its popularity, stating, "My students love it." This sentiment highlights a potential shift in how future generations of learners might interact with artificial intelligence in high-stakes educational environments.
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