Stanford Seed renews collaboration with African Management Institute to support African entrepreneurs

TV47 for Tv47 Digital February 08, 2023, 11:32 AM

In Summary

Launched in partnership with Stanford Seed in 2021, AMI’s Aspire Business Growth Programme provides owners of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and their senior teams with practical learning and training to power growth in their business with 88% of graduates attributing accelerated business growth to the programme.
“Partnering with AMI to offer the Aspire Business Growth Programme has expanded our ability to reach more SMEs across Africa, while also preparing businesses to be positioned to join Stanford Seed’s Transformation Program for established CEOs and founders,” says Darius Teter, Seed Executive Director.

Seed, a Stanford Graduate School of Business-led initiative, has renewed its collaboration with the African Management Institute (AMI) in its ongoing effort to partner with entrepreneurs to help them build thriving enterprises that transform lives.

Stanford has announced a new scholarship fund for the initiative, which spans the African continent, and will now include francophone Africa.

Launched in partnership with Stanford Seed in 2021, AMI’s Aspire Business Growth Programme provides owners of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and their senior teams with practical learning and training to power growth in their business with 88% of graduates attributing accelerated business growth to the programme.

“Partnering with AMI to offer the Aspire Business Growth Programme has expanded our ability to reach more SMEs across Africa, while also preparing businesses to be positioned to join Stanford Seed’s Transformation Program for established CEOs and founders,” said Darius Teter, Seed Executive Director.

“Evidence shows that small and early stage businesses are in need of more tailored support. Through Aspire we’re able to offer support to entrepreneurs at an earlier stage of their journey through AMI’s practical programme built specifically for African business owners.’’

Originally offered as an alternative option for African businesses that do not meet the minimum requirements, AMI and Seed have opened the application process for the Aspire Business Growth Programme to businesses across the continent after a successful pilot. 130 businesses have enrolled in the programme so far with 88% of participants that complete, attributing their business growth to the programme .

“In 2021 our business was at a stagnant state, we were not growing and we didn't know what to do next. The Aspire programme gave us a 360 degree look at the business. The tools were a game changer. Before Aspire we kept postponing decisions as we run the day to day operations of the business, but now we have a way of making both big and small decisions and more importantly bringing people on board to the decisions. Our revenue has grown, our business continues to grow thanks to Aspire,’’ Raphael Opiyo Obiero, Founder of Nawiri African Sprouts Ltd and Aspire Programme participant says.

Applications for the March 2023 cohort are now open at https://www.africanmanagers.org/aspire-stanford-seed/.

The deadline to apply is March 13th, 2023. Stanford Seed will be offering scholarships of up to 75% to qualified applicants, based on the organisation's needs.