Stanford Seed

After selling his company, Mark Phelps had a problem most people would envy. Total freedom and no idea what to do with it. “There’s only so many vacations you can go on.” So he became a Stanford Seed Coach. He moved to Ghana for a year and worked side by side with six entrepreneurs, helping them build transformation plans for their companies. Not from a boardroom. On the ground, in their communities. The thing that surprised him most? How much he got back. “Having previously been president of my own company, I can tell you it’s a lonely life. There’s nobody you can share your deepest, darkest secrets with. Having somebody who has the right to ask you anything and challenge you is invaluable.” As a coach, Mark became that for the entrepreneurs he worked with. Stanford Seed is looking for experienced business leaders with 20+ years of senior management experience to coach entrepreneurs in Africa, South Asia, and Indonesia for one year. Housing, stipend, airfare, and insurance are covered. Applications for the 2027 cohort close May 8th: stanfordseed.co/coach. #Stanfordseed #SeedTransformationProgram #Leadership #Coach

Only one month left to apply for the Seed Transformation Program! Zaky Muhammad Syah, Co-Founder & CEO of dibimbing.id and Cakrawala University, is one entrepreneur who used the STP to strengthen his leadership and grow his company in Indonesia. “The most impactful change I made was implementing a clear strategic focus and leadership structure. As a result, our revenue grew significantly, NPS improved above 75, and we expanded our hiring partnerships to over 1,000 companies.” If you’re a CEO or founder interested in scaling your business, the STP is a 10-month, part-time opportunity for established companies in Africa, Indonesia, and South Asia with USD 300K-15M in annual revenue. Applications close June 1. Apply now: http://stanfordseed.co/igSMO #StanfordSeed #SeedTransformationProgram #ScaleYourBusiness

CEOs and founders in the Seed Transformation Program are scaling their companies and creating measurable impact across Africa, Indonesia, and South Asia. Take Saurabh Agarwal, Founder & CEO of GROWiT India: “I think [Seed] was one of the best decisions that I could have ever taken. Most of the programs they work with you, not your team. So I think that was the differentiator. Before the program, we were working with about 100,000 farmers. Today, we are working with close to 250,000 farmers. We were at around USD 3 million revenue when we started. And today we have close to USD 6 million revenue.” Many other CEOs and founders have used the Seed Transformation Program to strengthen their strategy, build stronger teams, and expand their companies, all while continuing to run them: → 78% increased revenue after the Seed program → 29% median revenue increase within one year → $2B+ USD capital secured by Seed entrepreneurs → 42% have done business with fellow participants What could be possible for your business? Learn more and apply: http://stanfordseed.co/igSMO #StanfordSeed #SeedTransformationProgram

Help transform businesses and strengthen economies as a Stanford Seed Coach. Join Stanford Seed as a coach and experience powerful personal and professional rewards as you work alongside high-growth entrepreneurs in Africa, Indonesia, or South Asia, applying your expertise to real-world challenges that drive meaningful impact. As a Seed Coach, you’ll: • Expand your global network with like-minded leaders • Stay intellectually engaged through hands-on problem-solving • Make a lasting difference by helping businesses scale and thrive. If you’re ready to use your experience to create meaningful impact, this is your opportunity. Learn more and apply by May 8: /stp/coaching #StanfordSeed #SeedTransformationProgram #SeedTransformationNetwork

Do you have decades of business leadership experience? Help transform the next generation of businesses as a Stanford Seed Coach. Stanford Seed is seeking leaders with expertise in strategic growth, financial management, and organizational leadership to coach businesses in Africa, Indonesia, and South Asia. As a Seed Coach, you’ll: - Bring strong executive judgment, hands-on business insight, and a passion for mentoring entrepreneurs as they scale and strengthen their companies - Help high-potential businesses navigate growth challenges, build resilient organizations, and drive meaningful economic impact across these regions Learn more and apply by May 8: /stp/coaching

Are you a senior business leader with 20+ years of experience ready to spend a year creating impact? We’re looking for experienced professionals to serve as Seed Coaches in Africa, South Asia, and Indonesia, working side by side with CEOs to help them scale their companies and transform their leadership. The ideal Seed Coach: → 20+ years of business experience in senior management roles → Track record of growing businesses and executing strategies → High adaptability and collaborative mindset → Passion for empowering entrepreneurs in emerging markets The role requires living in a region where Seed operates for one year (January–December 2027), coaching 6–8 companies, and traveling to work on the ground with CEOs at their sites. You don’t need a Stanford affiliation or an MBA. Experience in emerging markets is valued but not required. Learn more and apply: /stp/coaching #StanfordSeed #SeedCoach #GlobalImpact

Last week in Freetown, members of the Stanford Seed team connected with dozens of Sierra Leone based entrepreneurs exploring how to scale their companies and expand their impact. Special thanks to Seed Network members @ Hamza Hashim and @ Mohamed Bangura for sharing their growth journeys and what the Seed Transformation Program made possible for their businesses. Curious about the program? Applications are now open for CEOs and founders of established companies across Africa, Indonesia, and South Asia. Learn more and apply: http://stanfordseed.co/igSMO #StanfordSeed #SeedTransformationProgram

Before Seed, at best, we thought we might be a Southern African regional player. … We didn’t necessarily have ambitions for the rest of the continent.” Lerang Selolwane, Co-founder of Lucient Engineering, on his company’s vision before the Seed Transformation Program (STP). “Just meeting entrepreneurs in all those different companies literally forced us to rip up whatever dreams we had and say these are nowhere near big enough. We need to aim higher and dream further.” What could be possible if you expanded your company’s vision? Apply to the STP today: http://stanfordseed.co/igSMO #StanfordSeed #SeedTransformationProgram

“The greatest power and the greatest gift that we get is the ongoing network.” - Joanne Mwangi-Yelbert, CEO of PMS Group Africa CEOs/founders across Africa, South Asia, and Indonesia who complete the Seed Transformation Program join the Seed Transformation Network to carry on their work, support each other, and intensify their impact. Watch the video to hear more about Joanne’s experience with the network, and apply for the 2027 cohort of the Seed Transformation Program here: http://stanfordseed.co/igSMO #StanfordSeed #SeedTransformationProgram #SeedTransformationNetwork

What happens after CEOs/founders complete the Seed Transformation Program? The journey continues. You join the Seed Transformation Network, a global community of 1,500+ founders and CEOs across Africa, Indonesia, and South Asia who are committed to leading high-growth businesses that create lasting impact. The Network is regionally run and led, connecting entrepreneurs across industries to continue learning, sharing insights, and supporting one another beyond the program. What Network members gain access to: → Local chapters with ongoing events and learning opportunities → Seed Coaches and project-based consultants → Stanford student interns → A peer community actively doing business together (42% of members reported collaborating in 2024) Through regional engagement and peer collaboration, members strengthen their leadership, explore new opportunities, and scale their companies with purpose. Together, they’re building thriving enterprises that drive job creation, innovation, and economic growth in their communities. Learn more and apply to the Seed Transformation Program today: http://stanfordseed.co/igSMO #StanfordSeed #SeedTransformationProgram #SeedTransformationNetwork

“It’s like going to business school, but better.” Those aren’t our words, they belong to the leaders who have walked this path. When we asked our community what the Seed Transformation Program meant for their growth, the answers were about more than just strategy. They talked about clarity of thought, a shift in mindset, and the realization that their businesses could become global. The 10-month journey is designed for founders and their senior management teams to build a concrete plan for scale. If you’re itching for more, we’re here to help you get there. Apply for the next cohort: http://stanfordseed.co/igSMO #StanfordSeed #SeedTransformationProgram #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #ScaleYourBusiness

How do you gain world-class business insight without stepping away from your company? At the Seed Transformation Program, CEOs and founders of established companies in Africa, Indonesia, and South Asia learn directly from Stanford GSB faculty and local advisors whose expertise shapes how modern organizations lead, compete, and grow. If you’re curious about the faculty you’d be learning from, listen to our Grit & Growth podcast where Stanford GSB professors reflect on leadership, transformation, and what they’ve learned teaching entrepreneurs across emerging markets. 🎧 Listen here: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/stanford-professors-reflect-fostering-grit-nurturing-growth Delivered over 10 months through in-person immersion weeks and online learning, the program is designed for founders who want to transform their companies while continuing to run them. Learn more and apply: http://stanfordseed.co/igSMO #SeedTransformationProgram #StanfordSeed #Entrepreneurship