Harvard Remains a Powerhouse for Startup Founders
Harvard continues to rank among the top universities producing successful startup founders, raising billions in funding and leading major tech companies.
Harvard is known for its academic excellence and influential alumni. But it also stands out as one of the top schools for launching successful startups. Whether it’s graduates or well-known dropouts, Harvard-affiliated founders have built companies now valued in the trillions.
Harvard’s Strong Presence in Startup Leadership
Harvard consistently ranks alongside Stanford and MIT when it comes to producing founders of venture-backed startups. With graduation season underway, it’s a good time to look at how Harvard is performing in the startup world today.
From unicorn founders to CEOs of fast-growing companies, Harvard continues to play a major role in shaping the startup landscape. Many of these ventures have gone on to secure massive funding and achieve major exits.
Top Startups with Harvard Founders
We reviewed 12 of the most heavily funded startups founded by individuals with ties to Harvard. At the top is Stripe, co-founded by John Collison, who studied at Harvard before leaving to build the company. He follows in the footsteps of other billionaire dropouts like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg.
Another notable example is Rippling, a human resources software company that recently raised $450 million at a $16.8 billion valuation. Its CEO and co-founder, Parker Conrad, is a Harvard graduate.
Devoted Health, which provides Medicare-related services, is also led by Harvard alumni. Co-founders Ed and Todd Park, both Harvard grads, have helped the company secure significant funding, with Ed Park serving as CEO.
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Over $200 Billion Raised by Harvard-Affiliated Startups
Private startups founded by former Harvard students have raised over $200 billion in equity funding. More than 1,900 companies with Harvard ties have raised at least $1 million each.
In the past year alone, these startups have attracted over $54 billion in funding. One standout contributor is OpenAI, whose co-founder and CEO, Greg Brockman, briefly attended Harvard before transferring. His company raised nearly $47 billion during that period.
Harvard Produces Startup CEOs at Scale
Harvard isn’t just a breeding ground for founders—it’s also a major source of startup CEOs. Currently, 158 Harvard alumni serve as CEOs of unicorns, high-growth startups, or companies that have already exited.
Some of these companies have become household names, including Lyft, Grab, Cloudflare, and Moderna. Many of these CEOs earned their MBAs from Harvard Business School, which has a strong reputation for developing future business leaders.
Interestingly, some of Harvard’s most famous startup contributors never completed their degrees—suggesting that even a brief stint at Harvard can shape a successful founder.
What’s Next for Harvard and Startups?
Harvard shows no signs of slowing down as a launchpad for entrepreneurs and tech leaders. In the coming weeks, we’ll explore how it compares to other top universities in producing funded startup founders.