Shaq & Sam Altman-Backed Startup Campus Names Ex-Meta AI Chief Jerome Pesenti as CTO After Sizzle AI Acquisition
Campus, the fast-growing college startup backed by Sam Altman and NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, has appointed Jerome Pesenti, Meta’s former Vice President of Artificial Intelligence, as its new Chief Technology Officer.
As part of the deal, Campus will acquire Sizzle AI, Pesenti’s personalized learning platform, for an undisclosed amount. Sizzle AI already serves more than 1.7 million learners, delivering customized, AI-powered educational content.
Founder and Chancellor Tade Oyerinde said the acquisition will accelerate Campus’ roadmap by up to three years, significantly boosting its ability to adapt coursework to individual student needs.
“This is a game changer,” Oyerinde said.
Disrupting Community College With AI
Founded to transform the traditional community college model, Campus markets itself as a platform to “maximize access to world-class education.” It currently offers accredited associate degrees taught by adjunct professors from Stanford, Princeton, NYU, and other top universities.
The program, which costs $7,320 per academic year and accepts Pell Grants, also provides students with laptops, mobile Wi-Fi devices, personal success coaches, and 24/7 tutoring. Professors on the platform can earn over $8,000 per course.
Today, Campus has more than 3,000 students enrolled and is positioning itself as a leader in AI-powered higher education.
Backed by Big Names in Tech & Venture Capital
Campus has raised over $100 million from top investors, including Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund, General Catalyst, Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale, Figma CEO Dylan Field, and other prominent backers.
With Pesenti now onboard, Campus aims to merge AI-driven personalization with traditional college pathways, hoping to scale its model and become a new standard in accessible higher education.
