Accel Leadership Program
OUR APPLICATION IS NOW OPEN!
Click here to apply for the Accel Leadership Program 2024 – 2025 cohort.
Build leadership skills through real-world problem-solving
The Accel Leadership Program (ALP) develops entrepreneurial leaders through case-based team learning. Each year, 16 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
Huilan (Angelina) You
M.S. Management Science & Engineering
Faizan Asif
B.S. Computer Science and International Relations
Zaeem Bhanji
MBA – Business Administration
Maya Czeneszew
M.S. Computer Science
Gatsby Frimpong
M.S. Design, Data Science (Berkeley)
Irving Hsu
MBA (Business Administration)
Yubin Jee
B.S. Computer Science
Julia Lin
MCiM, Master's in Clinical Informatics Management
Wilfrido Martinez-Alonso
Dominik Moehrle
M.Sc. Education Data Science
Kenny Oseleononmen
M.S. Computer Science
Nirali Parekh
M.S. Management Science & Engineering
Philippe Roberge
Ph.D. Earth System Science
Nazanin Soltan
B.S. Computer Science, M.A. Public Policy
Anna Sulzer
M.S. Aeronautics & Astronautics
Sidong Wang
M.S. MS&E, Technology and Engineering Management
Year-at-a-Glance
Winter
Tuesdays | 9:30 – 11:20 am
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
Tuesdays | 9:30 – 11:20 am
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
The Accel Leadership Program 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 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.
Fellows will:
- Receive 3 units of credit for their completion of this program
- 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 fundamental skills in leadership and entrepreneurship such as, 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 1:1 mentorship with an Accel partner
- Have the opportunity to present at the “Pitch Day” with Accel partners
Eligibility:
- Graduate and co-terminal students only
Who Should Apply?
- Students from any discipline or major are encouraged to apply
- Applicants do not need to have a product idea in-mind or built to apply
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.
If you are interested in applying for the Accel Leadership Program, please use the Slideroom application link below. Applicants will be asked to provide their academic information, resume/CV, video submission, and compelling responses to essay questions that delve into their entrepreneurial experience and leadership challenges they’ve overcome. Selected applicants will be invited to attend an in-person interview on November 12 or 13, where they will have the opportunity to showcase their unique backgrounds to the selection committee. These interviews will be conducted in a group setting.
The application for the 2024 – 2025 Accel Leadership Program cohort is now open!
Application Deadline: Sunday, October 20
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.
INFO SESSION DATES
The Accel Leadership Program teaching team will host a series of virtual and in-person information sessions during the 2024-2025 cohort application period. These sessions will provide prospective fellows with detailed insights into the program, including its commitments, application requirements, and interview process. Attendees will be able to engage directly with the teaching team and ALP alumni and ask questions. To participate, please RSVP through the link below to receive the Zoom link and a reminder email.
- (VIRTUAL) Tuesday, August 20 — 3:00 – 4:00 PM PT
- (VIRTUAL) Tuesday, September 10 — 12:00 – 1:00 PM PT
- (IN-PERSON) Wednesday, October 2 — 12:00 – 1:00 PM PT
If you did not receive a calendar invite with a Zoom link please email Mandy Llerena-Weiks.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
Alumni
Acknowledgements
STVP extends its deep appreciation to Accel for supporting this program for Stanford students.
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