About the Program
The Stanford Accelerator for Learning is launching the Learning Futures Summer Program, hosted by the Education Entrepreneurship Hub and with support from Google.org.
The program brings together a cohort of early-stage student founders who are passionate about improving learning outcomes through innovation. These student cohort members will join a group of 12 Create+AI awardees. Through a combination of in-person workshops, virtual sessions, and community gatherings, program participants gain the tools, insights, and network needed to move their projects forward.
Participants receive a research stipend to advance their inquiry, support the development of new ideas, and accelerate research-informed innovation with the potential for meaningful impact.
The summer program emphasizes:
- Learning science-informed design
- Responsible and effective use of AI
- Real-world research-infused application in education systems
- Community-driven entrepreneurship
Participants join a growing ecosystem of builders, researchers, and educators working to shape the future of learning.
2026 Student Cohort
Program Goals & Learning Outcomes
The Stanford Accelerator for Learning is launching the Education Entrepreneurship Hub’s Learning Futures Summer Program, which is designed to support early-stage founders move from promising ideas to actionable, scalable ventures in education.
By the end of the program, program participants will:
- Validate a Real Problem
- Define a clear problem statement informed by research and grounded in real-world needs
- Articulate a theory of impact and identify measurable learning outcomes & research plans
- Build Thoughtful, Responsible Products
- Translate ideas into prototypes using modern tools, including AI if applicable
- Understand core principles of product design and technical architecture
- Apply best research-anchored practices in ethical AI, data privacy, and accessibility
- Navigate the Education Market
- Develop a go-to-market strategy specific to schools and learning ecosystems
- Understand procurement, district decision-making, and partnerships
- Identify viable early adopters and distribution channels
- Communicate and Fund Their Vision
- Craft a compelling narrative and pitch
- Understand fundraising fundamentals and legal basics
- Build confidence in presenting to stakeholders, partners, and investors
- Build and Lead Effective Teams
- Identify co-founder fit and early team needs
- Develop strategies for hiring and culture-building
- Lead with clarity, purpose, and adaptability
- Design for Real Learning Impact
- Integrate learning science into product decisions
- Design for learner variability and inclusive outcomes
- Evaluate whether their solution meaningfully improves learning
Program Timeline & Key Dates
Summer Program Duration:
Tuesday, August 25, 2026 – Friday, September 18, 2026.
The cohort program will start with 3-day intensive in-person programming on Stanford campus on August 25-27, 2026.
Mentors
Following the in-person kickoff, program participants will be matched with mentors from across the Stanford Accelerator for Learning ecosystem and broader education, technology, and venture communities. Mentor matching is based on each participant’s project, goals, and areas of interest.
Throughout the program, participants will engage with their mentors for targeted guidance on advancing their projects from refining problem definition and product design to navigating the education market and preparing for fundraising. Mentors may include faculty, operators, founders, and domain experts in areas such as learning science, AI, product development, and education systems.
More details on mentor availability, focus areas, and engagement structure will be shared closer to the start of the Summer Program.