Stanford Institute for Innovation in Developing Economies

The Stanford Institute for Innovation in Developing Economies (SEED) bridges a critical gap in global efforts to address prosperity around the world by focusing on the private sector as the engine for sustainable growth. Our goal is to transform the lives of people in poverty—on a massive scale—through innovation, entrepreneurship, and the scaling of businesses.

» Learn more about SEED's pathbreaking approach to stimulating economic opportunities in developing economies.

This year's Stanford Africa Business Forum focused on building and scaling businesses across the continent.

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SEED’s research goal is to advance general knowledge through the study of entrepreneurship; product and service innovations that serve the poor; and the growth of firms in developing economies.

Social Networks and Economic Activity: Opportunities and Challenges in Developing Economies

SEED research panel exploring the role of social networks in economic activity.

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Opportunities to support SEED's mission to alleviate poverty around the world are available to Stanford students at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

» Learn more about Student Programs

Stanford Africa Business Forum

This year's Stanford Africa Business Forum was held April 11th and focused on scaling businesses across the continent.

Clare Akamanzi, COO of the Rwanda Development Board

Keynote speakers included Jean-Louis Ekra, President and Chairman of the African Export-Import Bank in Egypt; Clare Akamanzi, COO of the Rwanda Development Board (see picture above); Patrick Bitature, Chairman of Simba Group, East Africa, and Silicon Valley-based entrepreneur Pieter de Villiers, originally from South Africa.

Ghanaian and Nigerian business owners participating in SEED's West Africa Transformation Program visiting Stanford

Panelists also included companies participating in SEED's West Africa Transformation Program.

SEED volunteer business coaches spend up to one year in Africa where they immerse themselves into the local business ecosystem and coach a portfolio of companies in general management.

Coaches engage with African executives on business topics and challenges with the goal of transforming companies into industry leaders and job creators. Coaches work closely with African companies to formulate goals for growth and to develop and help implement strategies that will lead clients to a successful transformation.

Leverage Your Skills as a Business Leader and Advance Economic Opportunities in Africa.

What motivates SEED volunteers? Find out in this video.

» Learn how you can volunteer your expertise

News and Events

SEED Awards $2.7 Million to 33 Research Projects

The Stanford Institute for Innovation in Developing Economies (SEED) is pleased to announce its 2014-15 round of Innovation & Entrepreneurship in Developing Economies (I-Awards) and Global Development and Poverty Initiative (GDP) research awards. This year, SEED awarded more than $2.7 million for 33 research projects based in 23 countries around the world.

“We were very pleased with the bold ideas and diversity of disciplines represented in this round of proposals,” said Jesper Sørensen, SEED’s faculty director. “Many of our awardees are crossing disciplinary boundaries to explore transformative ideas – exactly what's needed to discover the next significant breakthroughs that will contribute to alleviating global poverty.”

» Announcement and awardees

Visit us at the Peace Corps Connect conference

Interested in volunteer opportunities? Visit SEED's booth at the Peace Corps Connect conference in Berkeley, CA, June 5-6 2015.

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MBA Fellowships for African and Indian Nationals Now Accepting Applications

The Stanford MBA Program at the Graduate School of Business is now accepting applications from African nationals for the Stanford Africa MBA Fellowship and from Indian nationals for the Stanford Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship.

The application submission deadline for both fellowships is June 8, 2015 (5pm PT).

New SEED Leadership

The Stanford Institute for Innovation in Developing Economies (SEED) is pleased to announce that effective immediately, Jesper Sørensen, the Robert A. and Elizabeth R. Jeffe Professor of Organizational Behavior, and Faculty Director for SEED is assuming the additional role of Executive Director for the Institute. Raj Chellaraj, CFO and Associate Dean for Finance and Administration for the Stanford Graduate School of Business is taking on the additional role of Chief Operating Officer for SEED.

Sørensen and Chellaraj are replacing Tralance Addy and Christian Loucq respectively. SEED is very grateful for the energy, dedication, and expertise that Dr. Addy and Dr. Loucq provided during their tenure, and the instrumental roles they played in advancing SEED's mission.

Changes to SEED Advisory Board

SEED welcomes two new members to its Advisory Board:

Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar (widely known as “Tino”) is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California. Prior to his court appointment, Cuéllar was the Stanley Morrison Professor of Law at Stanford Law School, as well as a Professor (by courtesy) of Political Science, and the Director of Stanford’s Freeman-Spogli Institute for International Studies, which partnered with SEED to launch the Stanford Global Development and Poverty Initiative (GDP). Cuéllar holds a BA from Harvard, JD from Yale, and received his PhD in political science from Stanford.

Fred Swaniker is the Founder and Executive Chairman of the African Leadership Academy in South Africa, which seeks to enable lasting peace and prosperity in Africa by developing and connecting the continent’s future leaders. Swaniker graduated from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he was honored as an Arjay Miller Scholar. He is also a TED Fellow, an Echoing Green Fellow, and was named a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader.

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