Stanford Seed

In this Grit & Growth episode, Zachariah George, Managing Partner at Launch Africa Ventures, shares his advice on securing seed capital and impressing potential investors. As cofounder of one of the largest early-stage funds in Africa, Zach breaks down the key steps for founders looking to raise funds, from doing your own due diligence and understanding unit economics, to planning for cross-border expansion and ensuring your legal structure is investor-ready. Listen to Zach’s advice, his insights on the changing economic landscape in Africa, and learn more about his vision to create a value chain of funding with blended capital that goes beyond just equity. Link in bio! #VentureCapital #Entrepreneurship #StartupFunding #GritAndGrowth #StanfordGSB #InvestorTips

Meet Tawhida Shiropa, Founder and CEO of Moner Bondhu, a mental health startup dedicated to providing affordable, accessible mental health services through AI technology. Founded in 2016, Moner Bondhu has become a leader in the Bangladeshi market, offering online and in-person counseling, employee wellbeing programs, and evidence-based AI interventions, with regional language support. Their platform leverages AI to deliver personalized, scalable mental health care, reducing costs and increasing accessibility. Watch the full video to learn more about how Moner Bondhu is providing mental health care in Bangladesh and their plans for future growth. https://lnkd.in/dFNcu8aZ 

Congratulations to the 27 entrepreneurs from Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe who recently completed the Seed Spark program in Africa! We’re also excited to announce the top three finalists from the program's pitch competition. These innovative entrepreneurs are addressing key challenges in African markets: Biobele Oyibo, Earlybean (Techstars ‘23) Michael Oshogbunu, Vevet Oluseyi Adebayo-Olubi, 1024 Concepts Limited A big thank you to our collaborators who helped make this journey possible: Smart Lab , Orbit Innovation Hub, Rwanda ICT Chamber, Founder Institute, Eight2Five Innovation Hub powered by Old Mutual #AfricaSeedSparkPitch #SeedSparkFinalists #AfricanEntrepreneurs #StartupAfrica #InnovationInAfrica

Tony Xu, MBA ’13, says that immigrating from China at the age of five and moving around as a young kid taught him one of the keys to success — how to adapt to new environments. Influenced by his entrepreneurial and hardworking parents, Xu started DoorDash in his apartment while attending Stanford Graduate School of Business. In this View From The Top interview, the cofounder and CEO of DoorDash explains why problem solving means focusing on the smallest details, like working out logistics issues by making deliveries yourself. Learn more about Xu's entrepreneurial journey and insights here: https://lnkd.in/d8bDnjTK #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #Innovation

Last week, business leaders gathered in Accra for a conference about the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in accelerating productivity and growth for African businesses, hosted by the Ghana chapter of the Seed Transformation Network. Carl Richards, president of the Ghana chapter, urged African businesses to proactively harness AI as a tool for productivity and global competitiveness. He also highlighted AI’s potential to overcome traditional barriers, enabling African businesses to manufacture efficiently, access global markets, and streamline operations. The conference provided a space for African entrepreneurs to explore the latest AI trends, network with industry experts, and discuss how AI could be leveraged to drive sustainable economic growth across the continent. Read more about the conference highlights and discussions https://lnkd.in/dZcQYCxa #StanfordSeed #BusinessTransformation #AfricanEntrepreneurs #AIConference

Embracing AI involves asking the right questions. Ethan Mollick outlines four critical inquiries that can help organizations adapt and thrive in the age of AI. By understanding what tasks have changed, recognizing new opportunities, and personalizing offerings, businesses can position themselves for success. Listen to this episode for more practical insights about how to integrate AI into your business. https://lnkd.in/gEe-NKbt #AIStrategy #BusinessInnovation #Entrepreneurship #StanfordGSB #Adaptation #GrowthMindset

Meet Reginald C, founder and CEO of REUDE Technologies, an India-based start-up which specializes in creating versatile drones for multiple applications. Their patented hardware technology is designed to transform payloads without human intervention. Their Stingray drone can handle payloads from 10 kg to 50 kg, change payloads autonomously in under 30 seconds, and has advanced features like reduced noise levels and an anti-collision system. Learn more about REUDE Technologies in Reginald's pitch video from the Seed Spark Program: https://lnkd.in/dYgQ3dkn 

In this Grit & Growth episode, Esi E. Ansah, Founder of Axis Human Capital Limited and Executive Director at the Ashesi Centre for Leadership, delivers a masterclass on one of the hardest tasks any leader faces: downsizing. From gathering data and following labor laws, to managing team morale, Ansah provides a clear blueprint for leaders facing tough HR decisions. Without a doubt, downsizing is one of the most dreaded tasks — for CEOs and employees alike. Which is why Ansah tries to prepare leaders to handle it with clarity, effective communication, and compassion. And she also reminds small to medium-size businesses that, regardless of size, every company needs to have policies and plans to deal with downsizing. Tune in to hear Ansah’s advice on how to identify — and, more critically, avoid — the most common pitfalls of downsizing. https://lnkd.in/g6BEsnEu #Leadership #HRStrategy #WorkforceManagement #Downsizing #StanfordGSB #GritAndGrowth

Meet Ondrej Lang, co-founder of the e-commerce platform Feelo, a platform that helps customers save money and enjoy the experiences they love. At Feelo, which is based in Sri Lanka, they partner with merchants to secure the best deals on restaurants, hotels, spas, wellness services, and more. Consumers can access these exclusive offers through their website or mobile apps, making it easy to save money on activities they love. In the Seed Spark online program for start-ups, we support entrepreneurs like Ondrej who are eager to learn and grow their businesses. Learn more about Feelo, including their growth and investment opportunities, in Ondrej's pitch presentation here: https://lnkd.in/d5GApe3t 

Congratulations Nita Joshi-Bhagat and the entire Village Imaging team on a successful initiative and for your commitment to providing access to quality health care services in Botswana! With more than 3,800 attendees, the BWP 200,000 raised in the Pink Run will enable Village Imaging's mobile mammogram machine to travel to communities throughout Botswana, bringing essential breast cancer screening services to women who may otherwise not have access to healthcare facilities. This is a great reminder that "if you want to walk fast, walk alone. If you want to walk far, walk together." - African proverb #BreastCancerAwareness #GlobalHealth #PinkRun2024