Students at UCLA. Courtesy photo
UCLA Anderson Brings Blockchain To The Business School
At UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, blockchain is making its way into the classroom.
On September 28, the Cardano Foundation and UCLA Anderson announced a new multi-year partnership that will give students and early-stage founders the chance to work with blockchain and AI through classes with hands-on projects. Now, they’ll get loads of support and mentorship opportunities.
Beginning next year, Cardano Academy’s content will be incorporated into UCLA’s Blockchain Cryptocurrency Applications in Business and Finance course, taught by Alex Nascimento – a UCLA Anderson MBA alum from the Class of 2008.
Students will work with real-world use cases and project-based assignments designed to connect blockchain concepts with business applications.
“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,” says 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.”
The hands-on experiences will kick off with Cardano for the Real World: Blockchain, AI, and Building the Next Big Thing – an interactive masterclass mid-October. Students will team up and craft Web3 business ideas, pitch them, and even experiment with AI-assisted smart contracts. Those who complete the program will earn a Cardano Foundation-sponsored certification. More importantly, they’ll get an experience that mimics what this field would look like in practice.
WHERE STARTUPS COME IN
Aside from students and professors, this experience will have startups in the mix. There will be five early-stage companies participating in the UCLA Accelerate Program. They’ll receive Cardano Fellowships, including funding, mentorship, and opportunities to engage with the Cardano ecosystem.
The Cardano Foundation is also sponsoring the 2027 UCLA Draper Innovation Showcase as well, where attendees will have educational sessions, founder engagement and networking opportunities within the event. This is a great chance for those interested in entrepreneurship to bridge learning about a technology and seeing how founders might use it to develop and test new ideas.
“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,” says Trish Halamandaris, Director of the Venture Accelerator at UCLA Anderson. “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.”
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