The Stanford Africa Business Club is excited to present the 13th Annual Stanford Africa Business Forum, Winning the Worlds Last Growth Frontier. We aim to explore how best to leverage the potential of the continent to catapult it into a new phase of economic growth. Join us this year as we invite speakers and guests to discuss the challenges and opportunities within the continent as many countries gear up for future growth. Explore the opportunities and challenges that technology can have in transforming local economies, how investment can foster growth and how policy can transform business environments.
The SABF is the premier opportunity to inspire relevant ideas for business in Africa. The one-day conference has consistently attracted over 300 attendees in past years to the Stanford Graduate School of Business for dialogue and networking. Throughout its 13 years in session, the Forum has brought exceptional speakers and panelists to the Stanford campus, providing thought-leadership on transformative and disruptive ideas on the continent. These guests from all corners of the continent span diverse industries and sectors within business, government and nonprofit organizations.
The Forum creates a platform for exceptional business leaders, insightful policy makers, pioneering faculty, and motivated students with a shared interest in shaping the future of business in Africa to exchange powerful ideas and build long-lasting relationships. It is a collaborative effort between the Stanford Institute for Innovation in Developing Economies (Stanford Seed), the Africa Business Club, Stanford African Students’ Association and Center for African Studies.
The Stanford Africa Business Forum was founded in 2007 by Stanford undergraduate students, Irungu Nyakera and Kwame Ansong-Dwamena based on the following premise: “For many years, the economic potential of African nations has been overshadowed by issues of poverty, underdevelopment, corruption, conflict and meager progress. African economies have been known to depend immensely on the social benevolence of foreign nations and institutions. As such, economic relations in Africa have become characterized with all forms of social investment such as aid, grants, charity and debt relief. Interestingly, however, the concept of business and actual investment in Africa, which is often overlooked, may serve as the key to unlocking true solutions to rectify these problems.”
The 2007 forum was based on the theme: Fostering Entrepreneurial Activities in Africa. Its main objective was to portray Africa in a more positive light than that more commonly seen in the media and create awareness of the diverse and burgeoning opportunities, as well as the extraordinary growth that characterized African countries as they capitalized on years of continued stability.
Today Irungu serves as the Principal Secretary for Planning and Statistics under the Ministry of Devolution and Planning in the Kenyan government. He is the youngest appointee ever for such a top government position. Kwame is a Software Development Engineer in Test at Microsoft Corporation.
The Stanford Africa Business Forum aims to be the leading networking platform for professionals, students, and academics from the U.S. West Coast interested in business and innovation in Africa. By inviting thought leaders and industry professionals from the continent, our goal is to stimulate thought and discussions through engaging keynotes, interactive panels and workshops.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
08:00am Arrival, registration and breakfast
08:45am Welcome address by the co-chairs
09:00am Dean’s welcome
09:15am Stanford SEED welcome
09:30am Opening keynote address
10:10am Coffee break
10:20am Morning Panels
11:30am Startup pitch competition finals | Design thinking workshop
01:00pm Lunch at the Arbuckle Pavilion
02:00pm Second Keynote address
03:10pm Afternoon panels
04:15pm Coffee break
04:30pm Closing keynote address
05:30pm Vote of thanks
06:00pm Break
7:00pm Networking reception + Showcase
09:00pm Afterparty
On Campus
Knight Management Center
Stanford University
Stanford, CA, 94305
For a list of local hotels, please visit:
visit.stanford.edu/plan/lodging.html
For Travel and Parking Logistics, please visit:
gsb.stanford.edu/visit