In a significant milestone for a partnership first launched in 2017, De Beers Group and the Stanford Graduate School of Business have extended their agreement for a further three years, reinforcing their shared commitment to growing and scaling high-potential enterprises across Southern Africa through to 2028.
Since its inception, the collaboration has supported transformative business
growth, strengthened leadership capability, and accelerated job creation across the region. The extension marks nearly a decade of strategic partnership dedicated to building resilient, inclusive economies through entrepreneurship. De Beers Group has invested US$2.3 million over the 2026-2028 period, which will equip an additional 60 business leaders and 300 management teams with the tools to grow and scale.
Aligned to this renewed commitment, recruitment for the Class of 2027 officially opened on 18 February 2026. High-growth entrepreneurs from across Southern Africa are invited to apply for the next cohort of the Stanford Seed Transformation Program, delivered in partnership with De Beers.
The program equips founders and senior leaders with world-class business frameworks, global insights, and a powerful peer network designed to unlock scale, strengthen governance, and drive sustainable impact.
Applications will remain open until 1 May 2026 and eligible businesses are encouraged to submit early to secure consideration.
ABOUT STP
The Stanford Seed Transformation Program (STP), is an executive education initiative of Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB). This unconventional, immersive learning experience is designed for high-potential CEOs/founders of for-profit companies or for-profit social enterprises who want to grow and scale their companies with an annual revenue between US $300,000 and US $15 million based in Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. Participants gain access to Stanford GSB’s world-class curriculum, practical business tools, from strategy and finance to marketing and sales and a peer network of entrepreneurial leaders from across Africa, South Asia and Indonesia.
It is designed to not only capacitate the business owner, but members of their senior management team participate to facilitate buy-in, implementation and impact. Stanford’s world-renowned faculty and a dedicated team of experts work with leaders and their team throughout their 10-month transformational journey. The sessions will be 50 percent in-person, classroom based with travel to a city in either West or East Africa for CEOs and 50 percent online and 2 workshops at each company’s premises with the CEO and management team.
“The Seed Transformation Program equips entrepreneurs with the knowledge, skills and networks they need to grow their businesses while creating lasting value in their communities. This aligns with De Beers’ Building Forever framework, which is focused on making a meaningful, sustainable impact in the places where we operate and ensuring a positive legacy long after the last diamond is mined. We are proud to welcome a new cohort of leaders from across Southern Africa who are ready to elevate their businesses and drive transformative change,” said Otsile Mabeo, Vice President: Social Impact and Sustainability, De Beers Group.
The closing date for applications is 1 May 2026. Interested applicants are requested to visit gsbseed.stanford.edu/ for more information.
