Kriti PatelTLDR: Shaquille O’Neal has invested in a community college startup called Campus, aiming to help students graduate and change their lives. Inspired by Jeff Bezos’ philosophy of investing in life-changing initiatives, Shaq believes everyone should have access to world-class education. Campus currently has 726 students and offers synchronous classes taught by professors from prestigious universities. O’Neal is confident that he and Campus founder Tade Oyerinde will make a significant impact in the education field.
Former NBA player Shaquille O’Neal has invested in a community college startup called Campus, with the goal of helping students graduate and improve their lives. Campus is a $29 million venture that aims to address the low graduation rates of community colleges, which currently stand at less than 40%. O’Neal feels strongly about this issue and wants to make a difference by investing in education.
O’Neal revealed that he was influenced by Jeff Bezos’ philosophy of investing in initiatives that have a meaningful impact on people’s lives. He believes that investing in education is a way to achieve this and does not prioritize high financial returns. According to O’Neal, everyone should have access to world-class education, and he sees Campus as a way to provide that opportunity to more students.
Campus has already attracted the support of several prominent CEOs, including Sam Altman from OpenAI and Jason Citron from Discord. The startup currently has 726 students and collaborates with professors from esteemed universities like Vanderbilt, Princeton, and New York University to offer synchronous classes. Additionally, students in the online business administration program receive a free laptop, free internet access, and the support of a success coach.
Campus also provides associate degrees in paralegal studies and AWS cloud administration. O’Neal praised the young age of Campus founder and chancellor Tade Oyerinde and expressed confidence that their collaboration will make a significant impact in the field of education. O’Neal referenced his partnership with Kobe Bryant during their time in the NBA, suggesting that they will be a dynamic duo in the education sector as well.
