Strathmore University Business School

What Strathmore University Business School does

Strathmore University Business School (SBS) is the business school of Strathmore University, headquartered at Ole Sangale Road, Madaraka Estate, Nairobi, Kenya, operating since 2005 with 51–100 employees across primary academic and executive education functions. SBS delivers undergraduate programmes (Bachelor of Commerce, Financial Services, Supply Chain Management), master's degrees (MBA in modular and evening formats, plus specialized tracks in Healthcare Management, Agribusiness, Development Finance, and Public Policy and Management), doctoral programmes (PhD in Business and Management, PhD in Health Management, and the DIDIDI PhD Fellowship), and a broad executive education portfolio spanning corporate governance, healthcare, finance, monitoring & evaluation, and leadership.

The school operates through four delivery channels: its Nairobi campus, three wholly-owned Strathmore Global Institutes in Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, online/hybrid executive programmes, and on-site customized corporate training. Its core technology stack is the SBS E-Learning Portal, a Learning Management System supporting blended (in-person + online) program delivery. SBS monetizes through four streams: academic programme tuition (subscription-style, per-programme or per-semester), executive education programme fees (open-enrollment and customized corporate solutions, professional services pricing), research grants and consultancy funding from foundations and government agencies, and bespoke corporate leadership/management development contracts.

SBS sustains a large research and policy ecosystem via ten wholly-owned subsidiary hubs and institutes, including the Institute of Healthcare Management, Strathmore Institute for Public Policy and Governance (formerly Centre for Public Policy and Competitiveness, founded 2011), Strathmore Natural Capital Hub, Strathmore Agri-Food Innovation Centre, Africa Economic Development Hub, and several themed centers (Nonprofits, Water Governance, Media, Work and Family, Community Engagement). It maintains strategic alliances with Harvard Business School's Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness, Stanford/Johns Hopkins Leadership Academy for Development, University of St.Gallen, and IESE, and is accredited by NASPAA (public policy) and authorized to deliver the CP3P PPP certification. Major funders and clients include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, NIH/NHLBI, EU Horizon Europe, UKRI, WHO, IKEA Foundation, Tony Blair Institute, Kenya's Ministry of ICT & Digital Economy, Trademark East Africa, and Uber.

Name

Strathmore University Business School

Legal name

Strathmore University Business School

Website

https://sbs.strathmore.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Strathmore University Business School is a Nairobi-based private business school delivering undergraduate, master's, doctoral, and executive education programmes across East Africa via regional academies in Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, supported by ten specialized research institutes and grant-funded policy and healthcare management work.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education / Business School

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International Business & Global Management Schools (EDAHAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Business & Management Research Universities (EDAHABAE), Undergraduate Business Schools (BBA/BSBA Programs) (EDAHAHAA), Online Professional Schools (MBA/MPA/MPH/Etc.) (EDAHALAE), Teacher Training, Professional Development & Education Leadership (BPADAKAC)

Keywords

• Business education
• Executive education
• Higher education
• Corporate training
• Management programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Academic Programme Tuition: Revenue from undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degree programmes charged on a per-program or per-semester basis. MBA programmes offered in modular and evening formats.
2. Executive Education Programmes: Short-term professional development and executive training programmes offered as open enrollment or customized corporate solutions. Revenue generated through programme fees.
3. Research Grants and Consultancy: Funding from international development partners, foundations, and government agencies for research projects and policy consultancy work conducted by faculty and research centers.
4. Customized Corporate Training: Bespoke leadership and management development programmes delivered to organizations, featuring tailored curriculum developed in partnership with corporate clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Strathmore University Business School (SBS) delivers accredited undergraduate, master's, and doctoral business programmes, executive education, and customized corporate training for working professionals and organizations. It operates multiple specialized research centers and regional leadership academies across East Africa. Revenue is generated primarily through tuition, programme fees, customized corporate solutions, and research grants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Financial Services
• Bachelor of Science in Supply Chain and Operations Management
• Master of Business Administration (Modular)
• Master of Business Administration (Evening)
• MBA in Healthcare Management
• Master of Commerce
• Master of Management in Agribusiness
• Master of Science in Development Finance
• Master of Public Policy and Management
• PhD in Business and Management
• PhD in Health Management
• Global CEO – Africa Programme
• Advanced Management Programme
• Women Directors Leadership Programme
• Advanced Healthcare Management Programme
• Customized Corporate Training

Quantifiable outcome

• Accredited by NASPAA for public policy programmes
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Leadership Academy for Development (LAD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with LAD, an affiliate of Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University and Johns Hopkins University SAIS. LAD trains government officials and business leaders from developing countries to promote sound public policies and private sector development. SIPPG co-delivers programmes using LAD's analytical framework for policy reform leadership.
• Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness (Harvard Business School)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed by Michael E. Porter, the Institute studies competition and its implications for company strategy, competitiveness of nations and regions, and social problems. SIPPG benefits from research collaboration and knowledge sharing on strategy and competitiveness frameworks.
• BloombergminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBloomberg connects decision makers to dynamic network of information, data, news and analytics. Partnership provides access to financial data and analytics resources for research and education purposes.
• University of St.Gallen (HSG), SwitzerlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of St.Gallen ranks among top European business schools with EQUIS and AACSB accreditations. Provides international exchange opportunities, collaborative research, and faculty development for SIPPG and SBS.
• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) / TEEB UnitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSNCH partners with UNEP through The Economics for Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) Unit on the True Value of Food Project Kenya. This collaborative initiative aims to highlight nature's value and transform food systems in Kenya.
• Tony Blair Institute (TBI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with TBI and Kenya Ministry of ICT & Digital Economy for Digital Leadership Transformation Programme. 50 government ICT directors received training on digital transformation leadership.
• Trademark AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Trademark Africa on National Investment Strategy for Kenya (NISK) development and agro-logistics systems mapping for fresh produce sector. Also partnered on Netherlands Trade Agency (RVO) assignment.
• National Construction Authority (Kenya)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCustomized Public Private Partnership Executive Programme delivered to 15 directors from the National Construction Authority.
• Kenya RedCross SocietyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPublic Policy Executive Programme delivered to 25 Kenya RedCross staff members for capacity building.
• Duke University (Center for Policy Impact in Global Health)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIHM collaborates with Duke University's Center for Policy Impact in Global Health on the '4Ds' study examining disease, demographic, domestic finance, and donor transitions in Kenya.
• TRANSFORM / BrinkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed by Brink team on The Future of Work in Kenya's Informal Economy project, engaging 700+ individuals and 80 organizations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• INSEAD: INSEAD is a globally recognised business school with triple-crown accreditation offering MBA, executive education, and custom programmes with a presence in Africa via partnerships and the Africa Initiative. It competes with SBS in the premium executive and corporate education segment and represents the global standard SBS aspires to in research and partnerships.
• London Business School: London Business School is a global business school with triple-crown accreditation offering executive education programmes with relevance to African executives and diaspora. It is a broad incumbent that competes with SBS for the high-end African executive segment and serves as a benchmark for international programme quality.

Direct peers

• University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business: UCT GSB is a leading African business school offering MBA, executive education, and short programmes with EQUIS and AACSB accreditation. It is a direct African peer to SBS in terms of mission (African leadership development), programme portfolio, and target segments (working professionals and executives).
• Lagos Business School (Pan-Atlantic University): Lagos Business School is one of West Africa's premier business schools offering MBA, executive programmes, and custom corporate training with EQUIS and AACSB accreditation. It is a direct peer to SBS in serving African senior executives and in delivering customised corporate education at scale.
• Wits Business School: Wits Business School at the University of the Witwatersrand offers MBA, executive education, and research programmes across Africa. It is a direct peer to SBS in the African business school landscape, particularly for executive education, customised corporate training, and policy-oriented programmes.
• USIU-Africa: United States International University – Africa is a direct competitor to SBS in Kenya, offering undergraduate and graduate business programmes with a strong international orientation. It competes for the same Nairobi-based student and executive education segments and is among the most immediate alternatives for prospective SBS applicants.
• Stellenbosch Business School: University of Stellenbosch Business School offers MBA, executive education, and customised programmes with EQUIS and AACSB accreditation. It is a direct African peer to SBS in serving working professionals and corporate clients across the continent.

Regional players

• Kenya School of Government: Kenya School of Government is a public-sector training institution offering leadership and management programmes for Kenyan government officials. It is a regional peer competing with SBS for the same government training contracts (e.g., Ministry of ICT, National Construction Authority) and policy capacity-building engagements.
• Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA): GIMPA is a West African public business school offering MBA, executive, and public administration programmes with a strong government training mandate. It is a regional peer to SBS in the West African executive and public policy education space and serves as a comparable model for blended government-corporate programme delivery.

Emerging players

• Africa Leadership University: ALU is a pan-African higher education institution with campuses in Mauritius and Rwanda offering undergraduate and MBA programmes with a focus on emerging African leaders. It is an emerging competitor to SBS, particularly in Rwanda where SBS also operates a regional academy, and in the broader pan-African executive segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SBSKenya
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/StrathmoreBusiness
• Facebookfacebook.com/sbskenya
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/strathmore-business-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/sbskenya
• TikToktiktok.com/@sbskenya

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Strathmore University Business School