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Students
AI Cyber Security entrepreneurs founders Healthcare new startup Stanford University Students

Student Founders Establish Backed Program to Help Peers Build Startups

 



Two students affiliated with Stanford University have raised $2 million to expand an accelerator program designed for entrepreneurs who are still in college or who have recently graduated. The initiative, called Breakthrough Ventures, focuses on helping early-stage founders move from rough ideas to viable businesses by providing capital, guidance, and access to professional networks.

The program was created by Roman Scott, a recent graduate, and Itbaan Nafi, a current master’s student. Their work began with small-scale demo days held at Stanford in 2024, where student teams presented early concepts and received feedback. Interest from participants and observers revealed a clear gap. Many students had promising ideas but lacked practical support, legal guidance, and introductions to investors. The founders then formalized the effort into a structured accelerator and raised funding to scale it.

Breakthrough Ventures aims to address two common obstacles faced by student founders. First, early funding is difficult to access before a product or revenue exists. Second, students often do not have reliable access to mentors and industry networks. The program responds to both challenges through a combination of financial support and hands-on assistance.

Selected teams receive grant funding of up to $10,000 without giving up ownership in their companies. Participants also gain access to legal support and structured mentorship from experienced professionals. The program includes technical resources such as compute credits from technology partners, which can lower early development costs for startups building software or data-driven products. At the end of the program, founders who demonstrate progress may be considered for additional investment of up to $50,000.

The accelerator operates through a hybrid format. Founders participate in a mix of online sessions and in-person meetups, and the program concludes with a demo day at Stanford, where teams present their progress to potential investors and collaborators. This structure is intended to keep participation accessible while still offering in-person exposure to the startup ecosystem.

Over the next three years, the organizers plan to deploy the $2 million fund to support at least 100 student-led companies across areas such as artificial intelligence, healthcare, consumer products, sustainability, and deep technology. By targeting founders at an early stage, the program aims to reduce the friction between having an idea and building a credible company, while promoting responsible, well-supported innovation within the student community.

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Awareness Budget Cyber Security Cyberattacks CyberCrime Data Education Internet National Cyber Security Centre phishing Protection Ransomware Schools SonicWall Students threats

Fortifying Cybersecurity for Schools as New Academic Year Begins

 

School administrators have received a cautionary alert regarding the imperative need to fortify their defenses against potential cyberattacks as the commencement of the new academic year looms. 

The National Cyber Security Centre has emphasized the necessity of implementing "appropriate security measures" to safeguard educational institutions from potential threats and to avert disruptions.

While there are no specific indicators of heightened threats as schools prepare to reopen, the onset of a fresh academic term underscores the potential severity of any cyberattacks during this period. 

Don Smith, the Vice President of the counter-threat unit at Secureworks, a cybersecurity firm, has highlighted the current transitional phase as an opportune moment for cybercriminals. He pointed out that the creation of new accounts for students and staff, as well as the school's approach to portable devices like laptops and tablets, can introduce vulnerabilities.

Smith explained, "Summer is a time when people are using their devices to have fun, play games, that sort of thing. If you've allowed teachers and pupils to take devices home, or let them bring their own, these devices may have picked up infections and malware that can come into the school and create a problem."

Last September, six schools within the same academy trust in Hertfordshire suffered internal system disruptions due to a cyberattack, occurring shortly after the new term had started. 

Additionally, just recently, Debenham High School in Suffolk fell victim to a hack that temporarily crippled all of its computer facilities, prompting technicians to work tirelessly to restore them before the commencement of the new term.

Schools are generally not the primary targets of concentrated cyberattack campaigns, unlike businesses, but they are considered opportunistic targets due to their comparatively less robust defenses. 

Don Smith emphasized that limited budgets and allocation priorities may result in schools having inadequate cybersecurity measures. Basic digital hygiene practices, such as implementing two-factor authentication and keeping software up to date, are crucial for safeguarding vital data.

Moreover, it is imperative for both students and teachers to be regularly educated about cybersecurity threats, including the importance of strong passwords, vigilance against suspicious downloads, and the ability to identify phishing attempts in emails. Mr. Smith noted that cybersecurity is no longer solely the responsibility of a small IT team; instead, all users are on the frontline, necessitating a general understanding of cybersecurity fundamentals.

A recent study revealed that one in seven 15-year-olds is susceptible to responding to phishing emails, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds with weaker cognitive skills. Professor John Jerrim, the study's author, emphasized the need for increased efforts to help teenagers navigate the increasingly complex and perilous online landscape.

The National Cyber Security Centre, a division of GCHQ, has previously issued warnings regarding the growing prevalence of ransomware attacks targeting the education sector. Ransomware attacks involve criminals infiltrating a network and deploying malicious software that locks access to computer systems until a ransom is paid. Although ransomware attacks temporarily declined during the first quarter of 2023, they have been steadily increasing since then.

SonicWall, a cybersecurity company, emphasized that schools, being repositories of substantial data, are attractive targets for hackers pursuing financial and phishing scams. As schools rely more heavily on internet-based tools in the classroom, they must prioritize cybersecurity, both in terms of budget allocation and mindset, as the new school year approaches.

In response to these concerns, a spokesperson for the Department for Education affirmed that educational institutions bear the responsibility of being aware of cybersecurity risks and implementing appropriate measures. This includes establishing data backups and response plans to mitigate potential incidents.

"We monitor reports of all cyberattacks closely and in any case where there has been an attack, we instruct the department's regional team to offer support," they added. "There is no evidence to suggest that attacks like this are on the rise."
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