Harvard Business School uses AI avatars for startup bootcamp

Harvard Business School (HBS) has integrated AI-generated avatars into its eight-week HBS Foundry startup bootcamp. The program, which costs $699, uses technology from the startup HeyGen to create digital replicas of instructors.

While human instructors continue to lead weekly live sessions, the AI avatars serve as interactive training partners for practical exercises. Participants use these digital versions to practice startup pitches and simulate board meetings, allowing for repeated practice and immediate feedback without requiring constant human instructor availability.

During testing, a digital version of instructor and Flybridge Capital co-founder Jeff Bussgang was used to evaluate a business pitch. While Bussgang noted that his digital replica could feel ‘creepy,’ he observed that his students enjoy using it as a practice tool. Project director Katharina Rings noted that while the initial concept was a simpler chatbot, student demand shifted the focus toward more interactive, guided experiences. Some users have noted technical limitations, such as unnatural or ‘frozen’ facial expressions during presentations.