New York, NY, USA, April 14th, 2026, FinanceWire
Léman Manhattan Preparatory School has graduated the first cohort of its AI Entrepreneur Fellowship, a 10-week program in which students developed and pitched original AI-powered ventures designed to address real-world needs.
The Fellowship, a flagship initiative of the Collegio Institute, challenged students to move beyond passive use of artificial intelligence and instead apply it as builders, problem-solvers, and entrepreneurs. At the end of their fellowship, students had created ventures spanning college readiness, SAT preparation, teen employment, creator tools, student research, wellness, and music practice support.
Students closed the program by pitching their ventures to a panel of seasoned founders and investors, earning strong marks for originality and execution and affirming that these were not merely classroom exercises, but ventures with genuine promise. Just as important, the fact that these ventures were built in only 10 weeks suggests a broader lesson. In an AI-centered world, meaningful capability does not always require a long runway. With the right guidance, discipline, and opportunity, it can develop with surprising speed.
One of the judges was Rick Galdi, founder/chairman of a venture capital company and former president of another. He saw in the presentations “all the core attributes I look for in a venture-scale, AI-native startup” and described the ventures as showing “what the next wave of AI-native entrepreneurship looks like.” The maturity displayed by the students, from his perspective, “rivaled that of many seasoned start-up teams, signaling a powerful shift in who will build the future of AI.”
Another judge, Dr. Eugene Clark, who is Emeritus Director of the National Academy of Professional Studies in Australia, described himself as having “witnessed the future.” In so doing, he offered an emphatic “Wow! The future is here, and what a positive impact it can and will continue to make.” He, like the other judges, was struck by how the students moved from concept and basic skills to execution in just 10 weeks.
What distinguishes the Fellowship is not simply that students used AI. It is that they used it with judgment, discipline, and an outcome-based purpose. Through advanced prompt engineering, vibe coding, iterative design, and product development, students learned to regard AI not as a shortcut but as an accountable thought partner in the creation of products and services with practical value.
The Fellowship was designed not only to develop technical fluency but also to cultivate self-leadership. Students were asked to confront uncertainty, test ideas in public, respond to feedback, and take responsibility for turning concepts into tangible ventures. In that respect, the program reflected a broader educational philosophy at Léman. Central to this philosophy is an understanding that preparing students for a world being reshaped by AI requires far more than teaching tools. It requires helping them develop judgment, resilience, initiative, and the confidence to lead.
The graduation of this inaugural cohort marks an important milestone for Léman Manhattan and the Collegio Institute. It also signals a broader institutional commitment to preparing students not merely to adapt to technological change, but to engage it actively and responsibly.
Speaking for Collegio Partners, Dr. H. Keith Spears, Chancellor Emeritus of Campbellsville University, said “what these students created should send a signal across education. Extraordinary generational talent is waiting to be unlocked, but education must evolve if it is to unlock that promise fully. What the Léman Manhattan students experienced is the kind of education these times demand.”
With the launch and completion of the AI Entrepreneur Fellowship, Léman continues to advance its mission of “Each Student, Future Prepared,” equipping students with the mindset, capabilities, and initiative to make a meaningful mark on the world.
About Léman Manhattan Preparatory School
Léman Manhattan Preparatory School serves 708 students from Pre-K through Grade 12 as an International Baccalaureate institution. Within its first decade, Léman graduates earned acceptance to every Ivy League university.
About the Collegio Institute
The Collegio Institute is Léman Manhattan’s platform for forward-looking educational innovation, developed in partnership with Collegio Partners.