Cardano Foundation and the Venture Accelerator at UCLA Anderson Announce New Multi-Year Education and Entrepreneurship Partnership
Integrating Cardano Academy content into educational programming at UCLA
Zug, Switzerland and Los Angeles, California, September 28, 2026 – The Cardano Foundation today announced a multi-year partnership with the Venture Accelerator at UCLA Anderson School of Management. The partnership will provide educational and entrepreneurial opportunities for UCLA students, founders and Venture Accelerator participants, while creating new opportunities to engage with emerging blockchain technologies and the Cardano ecosystem.
Designed to give students and early-stage founders multiple touchpoints with blockchain technology, the partnership brings together educational programming, practical application, founder support and ecosystem engagement.
First, Cardano Academy content and use cases will be incorporated into blockchain education at UCLA, including Blockchain Cryptocurrency Applications in Business and Finance, taught by Alex Nascimento, UCLA Anderson MBA ’08, beginning in 2027. Students will engage with Cardano educational content, practical applications and project-based learning.
The partnership will also launch with Cardano for the Real World: Blockchain, AI, and Building the Next Big Thing, an interactive masterclass on October 19 designed by the Cardano Academy and Alex Nascimento. The session will introduce students to enterprise Web3, decentralized AI agent infrastructure and real-world blockchain applications. Students will work in teams to develop Web3 business architectures and present rapid pitches, while also exploring AI-assisted smart contract development. Students who successfully complete the program will receive a Cardano Foundation-sponsored certification.
The Cardano Fellowships within the UCLA Accelerate Program will provide five sponsored fellowships for selected early-stage companies participating in UCLA Accelerate. Fellows will receive funding, mentorship and engagement with the Cardano ecosystem, while participating companies will have opportunities to explore building on the Cardano blockchain.
The partnership will also include the Cardano Foundation’s sponsorship of the 2027 UCLA Draper Innovation Showcase, with educational programming, founder engagement, networking opportunities and ecosystem visibility through Showcase programming and events.
“Fluency in the application of technologies such as blockchain and AI to reshape products, markets and business models is something today's students and founders simply must have,” said Alex Nascimento. “Our aim is to arm entrepreneurs with the confidence to challenge assumptions, identify where these technologies can create real value and transform credible ideas into companies that can scale.”
“Some of the most consequential uses of blockchain will come from entrepreneurs who see it as infrastructure for solving problems the market has yet to address,” said Nadia Mannell, Director for Commercialisation & Ecosystem Growth at the Cardano Foundation. “Partnering with the Venture Accelerator at UCLA Anderson allows us to engage with these founders early through the Foundation’s Academy and Venture Hub, supporting their journey of building and scaling on Cardano. Our role is to surround them with the technical depth, ecosystem access and operational discipline needed to translate ambitious ideas into durable companies.”
“The Venture Accelerator at UCLA Anderson is committed to providing students and founders with practical, experiential learning that connects the classroom with how companies are being built today,” said Trish Halamandaris, Director of the Venture Accelerator at UCLA Anderson. “Our partnership with the Cardano Foundation brings that commitment to life by giving the UCLA community hands-on exposure to blockchain and AI, while creating new pathways for founders through mentorship, funding opportunities and the UCLA Accelerate program. We’re excited to help students and entrepreneurs not only understand these emerging technologies but explore how they can apply them to build and grow real-world ventures.”
The collaboration builds on the Cardano Foundation’s broader education and ecosystem work through the Cardano Academy and Venture Hub, alongside collaborations with the University of Zurich, the University of Brasília and PUC-Rio. Together, the partnership will connect UCLA students and founders with blockchain education, practical applications, mentorship and opportunities to engage with the Cardano ecosystem.