CEED

What CEED does

CEED (Center for Entrepreneurship and Executive Development) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2006 by SEAF (Small Enterprise Assistance Funds), an impact investing firm with 30+ years of SME investing experience and approximately 430 SME investments in frontier and emerging markets. The organization supports growth-stage entrepreneurs in emerging and frontier markets through a peer-to-peer model in which successful entrepreneurs mentor those seeking to scale. CEED operates 23 communities across 15+ countries in Africa, MENA, Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia, with wholly-owned regional centers in Tanzania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Romania, Morocco, Moldova, Tunisia, and Thailand, plus a jointly-controlled affiliate model.

Its core program portfolio comprises three flagship offerings: CEED Go-To-Market (G2M) for accelerating product launches, CEED Grow for scaling businesses past initial market success, and CEED Pro for developing professional management capabilities. These are complemented by the Investment Readiness Program (IRP), Pre- and Post-Investment Technical Assistance, Impact Measurement & Management (IMM) Trainings, the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE), the DreamBuilder online business-planning platform, and the MEPI FinTech Catalyst Program in MENA. CEED does not operate proprietary technology as a product; its primary assets are the peer-learning methodology, the curated member network, and the DreamBuilder platform used in the AWE curriculum.

CEED's revenue is a hybrid of three streams: membership fees (subscription), program fees from accelerator and training services, and grants and donor funding from institutional donors including USAID, U.S. Department of State (MEPI), Vitol Foundation, Argidius Foundation, IFC, DFC, BII, the World Bank, AFDB, and Afreximbank. Programs are delivered in-person through local centers and chapters and, since the COVID-19 pivot, also online through webinars, virtual mentoring, and the DreamBuilder platform. Primary customer segments are growth-stage entrepreneurs, with women entrepreneurs, youth entrepreneurs, SMEs, and tech startups in MENA as secondary segments; pricing is not publicly disclosed.

Name

CEED

Legal name

Center for Entrepreneurship and Executive Development (CEED)

Website

https://ceed-global.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CEED is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2006 by SEAF that supports growth-stage entrepreneurs in emerging markets through peer learning, mentorship, and networking across 23 communities in 15+ countries via flagship programs CEED Go-To-Market, CEED Grow, and CEED Pro.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Entrepreneurship Development Services

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

SME & Entrepreneurship Development (Trade-Linked) (BPADAMAE), Marketing, Branding & Sales Skills (EDAMAHAG)

Keywords

• Entrepreneur development services
• Business capacity building
• Peer learning networks
• SME growth programs
• Women entrepreneurship training

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Entrepreneurs pay membership fees to join CEED networks and access programs, know-how, and networks.
2. Program Fees: Revenue from accelerator and training programs including CEED Go-To-Market, CEED Grow, CEED Pro, and other specialized programs.
3. Grants and Donor Funding: CEED is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that receives funding from institutional donors including USAID, US Department of State (MEPI), Vitol Foundation, Argidius Foundation, and other development organizations to implement entrepreneurship development programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

CEED operates a global network of local centers and chapters delivering structured entrepreneur development programs — including CEED Go-To-Market, CEED Grow, CEED Pro, Investment Readiness Program, Pre- and Post-Investment Technical Assistance, Impact Measurement & Management Trainings, the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs, and the MEPI FinTech Catalyst Program — for growth-stage entrepreneurs in emerging markets. Membership, peer learning, mentorship, and curated networking events are bundled together to help SMEs scale, access capital, and expand into new markets.

Product overview

CEED (Center for Entrepreneurship and Executive Development) is a global entrepreneur network and non-profit organization that provides a portfolio of programs and services to support growth-stage entrepreneurs. The core offerings include three main programs: CEED Go-To-Market (G2M) for accelerating product launches, CEED Grow for scaling businesses, and CEED Pro for developing professional management skills. These are complemented by support programs including the Investment Readiness Program (IRP), Pre-Investment and Post-Investment Technical Assistance, and Impact Measurement & Management (IMM) Trainings. Additional specialized offerings include the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) and the DreamBuilder online platform for business planning. The organization operates through local centers and chapters across multiple countries, facilitating peer learning, mentorship, and networking as the primary service delivery mechanism.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CEED Go-To-Market (G2M): Program that accelerates product launches by helping entrepreneurs validate ideas, refine their model, and adapt quickly for sales and growth.
• CEED Grow
• CEED Pro
• Investment Readiness Program (IRP)
• Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE)
• MEPI FinTech Catalyst Program

Products and services

• CEED Go-To-Market (G2M) Program that accelerates product launches by helping entrepreneurs validate ideas, refine their business model, and adapt quickly for sales and growth. Targeted at entrepreneurs preparing to take products or services to market.
• CEED Grow Program for entrepreneurs who have found initial market success and want to scale further by boosting sales, strengthening teams, and expanding networks. Targeted at growth-stage SMEs.
• CEED Pro Program that guides entrepreneurs to become effective professional managers by focusing on leadership, systems, and strategic delegation. Targeted at founder-CEOs transitioning to professional management.
• Investment Readiness Program (IRP) Program that prepares enterprises for impact-related financing by strengthening their financial and management practices. Targeted at SMEs seeking to attract growth or impact capital.
• Pre-Investment Technical Assistance Provides peer learning and targeted support to help enterprises get ready for growth and investors. Targeted at SMEs preparing for capital deployment.
• Post-Investment Technical Assistance Delivers tailored support to portfolio companies to overcome operational challenges and accelerate impact after receiving investment. Targeted at investee SMEs of partner capital providers.
• Impact Measurement & Management (IMM) Trainings Equips businesses to measure, manage, and communicate their social and environmental value. Targeted at SMEs and impact-focused enterprises needing IMM frameworks.
• Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Global initiative supported by the White House W-GDP, U.S. Department of State, and U.S. Embassy Ljubljana to develop women entrepreneurs who are traditionally underserved. Uses CEED's ALL-IN method of peer learning, mentorship, and networking alongside the DreamBuilder platform.
• MEPI FinTech Catalyst Program Program designed to engage and support young entrepreneurs in the MENA region by bridging the innovation gap between startups and major corporations, focused on fintech solutions such as e-wallets, blockchain, and AI customer service. Targeted at young tech founders in MENA.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2214 jobs created by CEED members
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Thailand Association of Family Business Entrepreneurs (AFBE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Local partner for CEED Thailand launch. First CEED location in Southeast Asia, based in Bangkok, aims to empower growth-stage and women-owned businesses in Thailand.
• Attijariwafa bankflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Leading banking and financial group in North Africa, WAEMU, and EMCCA. Partnered with MEPI FinTech Catalyst Program in Morocco. First cohort (2019) focused on innovative solutions for SME credit distribution and digital employee engagement. Second cohort (2021) expanded to include Attijariwafa Group subsidiaries. Resulted in $651,626 in purchase orders and $1,099,700 in negotiations plus $768,750 in fundraising support.
• Global Entrepreneurship NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJeff Hoffman, Chairman of the Board of Global Entrepreneurship Network, serves on CEED's Global Advisory Board. Supports entrepreneurship in over 130 countries through Global Entrepreneurship Week.
• US Embassy LjubljanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) program in Slovenia, supported by White House W-GDP and U.S. Department of State.
• Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of accelerators and incubators supporting entrepreneurs in developing countries.
• AVPN (Asian Venture Philanthropy Network)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of social investors in Asia.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Endeavor: Global high-impact entrepreneur support network operating in 40+ markets with mentorship and acceleration programs. Endeavor is the closest comparable to CEED's model of selecting and supporting high-growth entrepreneurs in emerging markets through curated peer networks.
• NESsT: Supports social enterprises in emerging markets through investment readiness and capacity building. NESsT's enterprise development approach and emerging-market focus closely parallel CEED's IRP and post-investment TA.
• Aceli Africa: Mobilizes capital for SMEs in East Africa through blended finance and technical assistance. Aceli is a listed CEED partner and directly comparable in mission and geography (Tanzania/East Africa).
• Village Capital: Supports entrepreneurs through peer-selected cohorts and investment-readiness programs in emerging markets. Village Capital's peer-driven, cohort-based methodology closely mirrors CEED's ALL-IN approach and IRP.
• Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship: Accelerates social enterprises globally, particularly through the GSBI program. CEED's Director of Strategic Partnerships Jeri Jensen previously led partnerships at Miller Center, indicating direct ties and similar methodologies serving impact entrepreneurs.

Broad incumbents

• TechnoServe: Large international nonprofit focused on entrepreneurship and SME development in emerging markets, especially agriculture. CEED Tanzania's director Atiba Amalile previously worked at TechnoServe, indicating overlapping talent pools and program approaches.
• Acumen: Global impact investor and entrepreneurship supporter focused on poverty alleviation through patient capital and leadership programs. Comparable in mission and donor mix, though Acumen deploys its own investment capital rather than solely facilitating others' deal-flow.
• Heifer International: Global nonprofit working to end hunger and poverty through sustainable agriculture and entrepreneurship, including in CEED's operating geographies. Comparable in donor base, international development scope, and emerging-market focus.

Others

• Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE): Network of 250+ organizations supporting SMEs in developing countries; CEED is itself a member/partner. ANDE is a comparable ecosystem-builder, though functioning as a network of accelerators rather than a direct operator.
• SEAF (Small Enterprise Assistance Funds): CEED's parent organization and impact investment fund with 430+ SME investments in emerging markets. Comparable as the originating capital partner and reference customer; relevant for understanding the capital ecosystem CEED plugs into.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CEEDGlobal
• Facebookfacebook.com/ceedglobal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ceed-global

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries11 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 CEED