Accel Leadership Program
Build leadership skills through real-world problem-solving
The Accel Leadership Program (ALP) develops entrepreneurial leaders through case-based team learning. Each year, 16 technically-minded Stanford graduate and co-term students from across the University solve real-world problems with fellows and mentors. Students work in teams with a high growth venture CEO to create and present a case study on a real-world business problem. Over six-months, Accel Fellows build life-long community and learn about startup strategy, organizational structure, fundraising, leading and scaling technical ventures, and operating models. Students will also have the opportunity to attend in-person site visits at local Silicon Valley start-ups throughout the year.
Current Cohort
Shikha Avancha
Clinical Informatics Management
Shadi Elaridi
Mechanical Engineering
Akayla Hackson
Electrical Engineering
Julius Hillebrand
Management Science & Engineering
Arec Jamgochian
PhD Robotics (Aero/Astro)
Ali Kight
Bioengineering
Rizwaan Malik
Education Data Science
Fahad Nabi
Symbolic Systems
Divya Nagaraj
Computer Science
Guillaume Noziere
Management Science & Engineering
Emily Redmond
Computer Science & Human Computer Interaction
Saige Sunier
Design, Mechanical Engineering
Angela Tsao
Earth System Science; Computer Science
Bingyi Wang
Physics
Tim Wu
Bioengineering, Management Science & Engineering
Yang Fan Yun
Computer Science, Management Science & Engineering
Year-at-a-Glance
Winter
Explore how to lead entrepreneurial ventures including establishing startup strategy, forming organizational culture and effective team structures, securing resources, and building operating models that scale. Students will have the opportunity to attend in-person site visits at local Silicon Valley start-ups.
Spring
Teams create a real-time case study with a current startup CEO/senior executive that tackles a real-world business problem for their high-growth venture, and present the case on the challenge and the potential paths to resolution. Students will have the opportunity to attend in-person site visits at local Silicon Valley Startups.
Teaching Team
Program Information
STVP Accel Leadership Program and explores how to lead entrepreneurial ventures including establishing startup strategy, forming organizational culture and effective team structures, securing resources, and building operating models that scale. Teams formulate a case study with a current startup CEO/senior executive that tackles a real-world business problem for their high-growth venture, and present the case on the challenge and the potential paths to resolution. Fellows will:
- Benefit from access to faculty coaches and industry-leading guest speakers from Silicon Valley startups and venture capitalists
- Gain experience in solving real business strategy issues through interactive cases
- Master skills in leadership, organizational structure, securing resources, and operating models
- Build lasting connections through a diverse network of entrepreneurially-minded Stanford students and alumni from all majors and a cross-section of years
- Attend in-person site visits at local Silicon Valley start-ups
- Receive mentorship with an Accel partner
- Have the opportunity to present at the “Pitch Day” with Accel partners
Application Information
Enrollment is limited to 16 current Stanford graduate and co-term students from any major or school at Stanford. Preference is given to technically-minded students and STEM majors who have demonstrated an interest in entrepreneurship and leadership. An example of demonstrated interest includes taking a “launch” class such as Lean Launchpad, Technology Venture Formation, or similar entrepreneurship courses.
This year we will not have a common application for all our available fellows programs, so if you are interested in applying for the Accel Leadership Program, please follow the application link below. Students will be asked to provide their academic information, a resume/CV, and thoughtful responses to essay questions, such as their experience with entrepreneurship as well as sharing challenges they’ve overcome as a leader. Select applicants will be asked to send in a video and attend an in-person interview November 7 – 10, which will allow applicants the chance to share their unique backgrounds with the selection committee. The in-person interviews will be conducted in groups.
The application for the 2023 – 2024 Accel Leadership Program cohort is now open!
Application Deadline: Sunday, October 15
If you’re interested in learning more about the Accel Leadership Program please join us for an info session with the teaching team and Accel alumni. The info session schedule is below. Please be sure to RSVP.
Please email Mandy Llerena-Weiks with any questions about applying to the Accel Leadership Program.
Info Sessions dates
The Accel Leadership Program teaching team will be holding a series of virtual and in person info sessions during the application period for the 2023-2024 cohort. These info sessions are designed for prospective fellows to learn more about the program, commitment, application, interview process, etc. Those in attendance will also have an opportunity to ask questions directly to the teaching team. Please RSVP for our info sessions through the link below to receive a Zoom link and reminder email. If you have any issues with the Zoom link that was sent to you prior to the info session, please email Mandy Llerena-Weiks at allerena@stanford.edu.
(VIRTUAL) Tuesday, August 22 @ 5:00 pm PT
(IN-PERSON) Thursday, September 28 @ 12:00 pm PT
Testimonials
ALP allowed me to reckon with the most pressing questions in starting a company — from finding co-founders, to raising capital, to scaling organizations. Through lectures, case studies, site visits to Accel portfolio companies, and 1-on-1 mentorship from Accel partners, ALP uniquely creates opportunities to “”learn by doing””. Being part of ALP’s 2023 cohort was one of the most pivotal experiences of my Stanford career, and where I met some of the brightest and most ambitious people.
B.S. Computer Science, M.S. Management Science & Engineering
The ALP experience was amazing. I really enjoyed getting to know my fellow ALPees and interacting with exciting Accel-backed companies led by brilliant founders from a diversity of backgrounds. Pitching your idea to VCs was also a great learning experience. Would strongly recommend this to anyone interested in VC-backed entrepreneurship.
M.S. Management Science & Engineering
ALP was a phenomenal community, experience, and learning opportunity. What made ALP especially unique were the diversity of folks in the class and the range of pitches we got a chance to see and give feedback on during our pitch days. The ALP community was definitely a highlight of my year!
B.S., M.S. Computer Science
ALP was the most enriching and fulfilling experience for my entrepreneurial education at Stanford – the mentorship from real-world VC’s at Accel, lessons learned from veteran leaders in start-ups, and relationships cultivated with likeminded Stanford students gave me a nuanced understanding of what the journey of entrepreneurship really looks like.
B.S. Symbolic Systems, M.S. Computer Science
As someone who took a gap year, my friend circles changed dramatically the year I came back. For one, there was the people I studied abroad with. The other would probably be ALP. I’m so glad I found this community in my senior year; the people I met were some of the most interesting, curious people I got to know at Stanford. If nothing else, come for the tight knit community.
B.S. Bioengineering, M.S. Management Science & Engineering
ALP has helped open doors to startup founders and VCs alike—people whose experience and mentorship has already been extremely valuable. Company visits and CEO-accommodated case studies make the program so special, and you‘ll have plenty of time to get to know everyone in your cohort! Go and pitch at the Accel Offices on Pitch Day if you can.
M.S. Management Science & Engineering
Alumni
Acknowledgements
STVP, the Stanford Engineering Entrepreneurship Center, extends its deep appreciation to Accel for supporting this program for Stanford students.
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