Applications are now open for the 2026/2027 Stanford Seed Transformation Program (STP), a 10-month leadership and business growth program designed for established entrepreneurs and CEOs across Africa.
Designed in Silicon Valley and delivered across Africa, Indonesia, and South Asia, the program is led by Stanford Graduate School of Business faculty alongside experienced local advisors. It equips business leaders with the tools, frameworks, and confidence to scale their companies sustainably.
Graduates join a lifelong global community of Stanford Seed entrepreneurs, unlocking continued learning, networking, and business support.
Program Structure
Hybrid Format
- Part-time and designed for busy CEOs
- A combination of in-person sessions and online learning
In-Person Classroom Sessions (Africa)
Two one-week sessions led by Stanford GSB faculty:
- Week 1: January 18–22, 2027 | Accra, Ghana
- Week 2: June 7–11, 2027 | Nairobi, Kenya
Time Commitment
- CEO/Founder: 5–8 hours per week
- Management Team: 2–4 hours per week
Program Components
Management Team Workshops
- Two online workshops
- Two on-site, full-day sessions hosted at your company
Leadership Labs
- Four structured peer roundtables
- Focused on solving real business challenges
Multilingual Learning
Live and on-demand translation available in 50+ languages, including:
- Kiswahili
- IsiZulu
- Afrikaans
- Arabic
- French
- Portuguese
- Bahasa Indonesian
- Hindi
- Bengali
- Tamil
- Urdu
…and more.
Certification
Participants receive:
- Two Stanford Graduate School of Business certificates
- One for the CEO
- One for the company
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:
- Be a CEO or Founder of a for-profit company
- Operate primarily in Africa, Indonesia, or South Asia
- Have a management team of at least three members (excluding the CEO)
- Generate annual revenue between USD $300,000 and $15 million
- Operate in most industries (broad eligibility)
ALSO APPLY FOR:
AIG Public Leaders Programme (AIG PLP) 2026 for Emerging African Public Sector Leaders
Program Fee
Donor-Supported Rate (Africa)
USD $9,500
The full program cost is heavily subsidised through donor support, including:
- Robert King (MBA ’60) and Dorothy King
- De Beers Group (Botswana, Namibia, South Africa participants)
- AMMAN (Indonesia participants)
⚠️ Travel and accommodation are not included. Meals during in-person sessions are covered.
Scholarships Available
A limited number of additional scholarships (up to 60% of the donor-supported fee) may be awarded to:
- Women founders
- Social entrepreneurs
- Founders with caregiving responsibilities
- Small enterprises
- Entrepreneurs in underserved or under-resourced markets
Scholarships are competitive and not guaranteed.
Details are shared with applicants who advance to the interview stage.
Why Apply?
The Stanford Seed Transformation Program offers:
- World-class faculty from Stanford GSB
- Proven growth frameworks from Silicon Valley
- Peer learning with high-impact CEOs
- Access to a lifelong global alumni network
- Structured tools to scale revenue, operations, and leadership
For African entrepreneurs leading growth-stage companies, this is one of the most prestigious executive business programs available on the continent.
Application Deadline: May 1, 2026
Program Duration: January – November 2027 (10 Months)
Format: Part-time | Hybrid (In-person + Online)
Locations (Africa Cohort): Accra, Ghana & Nairobi, Kenya
Apply for the Stanford Seed Transformation Program
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