SEED Project

What SEED Project does

SEED Project is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization incorporated in the United States (EIN 83-0361589) and headquartered in Thiès, Senegal, where it was founded in 2002 as SEED Academy — the first basketball student-athlete academy in Africa. The organization uses basketball as an engagement vehicle to deliver academic education, athletic training, and leadership development to underserved youth, operating across Senegal, The Gambia, and the United States and serving more than 2,000 students weekly through a portfolio of programs: SEED Academy (boarding school for up to 40 grades 6-12 student-athletes housed at Senegal's CNEPS government facility), SEED Academy Girls (launched 2013 with NBA Champion Boris Diaw), SEED Rise (after-school program for ~1,050 K-12 students), SEED Scholars (post-graduation career services), SEED Gives (community service), and a Women's Empowerment department.

The organization has no proprietary technology platform or software product; its "technology" consists of a proprietary life-skills basketball curriculum and coach-training methodology (352 West African coaches trained). Its business model is donation-driven, with revenue from individual tax-deductible gifts, corporate sponsorships (NBA, Nike, UNICEF USA, Microsoft, CAA Foundation, City National Bank, SEDIMA Group, Blue Nectar Tequila), event-based fundraising (SEED Week in NYC raised $75K in 2017; Hoop Forum in Dakar), and student sponsorships at impact tiers ranging from $25 (textbooks) to $2,500 (full scholarship). Reported outcomes include $7M in cumulative student scholarship funding since 2006, 58 graduates playing US college basketball, 6 NBA/NBDL players (including Gorgui Dieng), and a 92% graduate success rate.

Name

SEED Project

Legal name

SEED Project

Website

https://seedproject.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Athletic, Arts & Talent-Based Scholarships (EDAIAOAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Growth Mindset, Motivation & Goal-Setting Programs (EDAMAIAE), Academic Enrichment Camps (General Studies) (EDAMALAB), Foundation/NGO & Philanthropic Scholarships (EDAIAOAH)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Basketball academy
• Student-athlete scholarships
• After-school education
• Non-profit community services

Headquarters

HQ city

Thiès, Thiès

HQ country

Senegal

HQ region

Africa

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting youth scholarships and programs. SEED is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization (EIN: 83-0361589).
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Funding from corporate sponsors for events and programs. Sponsors include companies like SEDIMA Group, Blue Nectar Tequila, CAA Foundation, UNICEF USA, Microsoft, and various others.
3. Event Fundraising: Revenue generated from annual events like SEED Week Summer Party ($75,000 raised in 2017) and Miami 3v3 Tournament ($4,500 raised).
4. Student Sponsorship: Individual sponsors can sponsor students for full academic and athletic scholarships. Impact tiers include $25 for textbooks, $50 for monthly tutoring, $250 for high-res print purchases, $2,500 for full scholarship.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SEED Project runs the first basketball student-athlete academy in Africa, providing full academic and athletic scholarships to up to 40 boarding students in grades 6-12 at its Thiès, Senegal campus. Beyond the academy, it delivers after-school academic tutoring, basketball clinics, and life-skills programming to more than 1,000 K-12 youth in Senegal and The Gambia through SEED Rise, and supports graduates with career services, women's empowerment workshops, and community-service initiatives.

Product overview

SEED Project is a non-profit organization that operates a multi-program portfolio serving over 2,000 youth weekly across Senegal, The Gambia, and the United States. The core offering consists of SEED Academy (the first basketball student-athlete academy in Africa) and SEED Academy Girls, which provide full scholarships combining academic education, high-performance basketball training, and leadership development for grades 6-12. Complementary programs include SEED Rise (after-school program for K-12 with 1,050+ students), SEED Scholars (career services for graduates), SEED Gives (community service initiative), and the Women's Empowerment Program. The organization also hosts signature events including SEED Week in NYC and the annual Hoop Forum in Senegal. SEED Project does not offer a software product or technology platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SEED Academy: The flagship boarding school program for student-athletes in Thies, Senegal
• SEED Academy Girls
• SEED Rise
• SEED Gives
• SEED Scholars
• Women's Empowerment

Quantifiable outcome

• 92% of graduates matriculate to university or secure a job
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, minor and emerging.

• NBAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNBA is a key strategic partner. In January 2017, SEED partnered with the NBA to launch the NBA Africa Academy, an elite student-athlete development program for high school boys from across Africa. NBA players including Gorgui Dieng actively support SEED through participation in Hoop Forum events and alumni activities.
• Boris Diaw / Babac'ards FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNBA Champion Boris Diaw and his Babac'ards Foundation co-founded SEED Academy Girls in 2013. This partnership enabled the launch of programming specifically for young women, addressing the gender gap in sports access.
• Giants of AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Giants of Africa (founded by Masai Ujiri, President Toronto Raptors) to co-host basketball/life skills camps. GOA began their 2016 summer tour in Senegal partnering with SEED, serving hundreds of youth with basketball clinics and leadership seminars.
• CAA FoundationmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCAA Foundation is a sponsor of SEED Week events, supporting the annual fundraiser and programs. CAA Foundation supports access to arts, education, and youth development.
• UNICEF USAmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerUNICEF USA sponsors SEED Week events. SEED aligns with UNICEF's focus on children's rights and development.
• MicrosoftmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMicrosoft is a sponsor of Hoop Forum 2017, supporting the annual 4-day event combining basketball and development programming.
• Dyckman BasketballcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-year partnership with Dyckman Basketball (NYC streetball institution) for annual Team Africa vs Team NY All-Star games. Also partnered with NY Knicks for youth clinics.
• NikecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNike partners with SEED for annual streetball events and provides athletic gear support. Nike sneakers and apparel featured at Dyckman Park events.
• WME | IMGmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerWME | IMG (world's largest sport and entertainment agency) hosts SEED's Student-Athlete Career Services Day workshops, providing professional development programming.
• Noble ImpactmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Noble Impact (education non-profit) to deliver job training workshops for student-athletes from SEED and New Heights NYC at Career Services Day.
• Ascend TogethercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2016, SEED teamed up with Gambian-based Ascend Together to launch Rise Gambia, an after-school program for middle school students using SEED's life skills curriculum.
• English ChallengeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnglish Challenge is an organization that aims to eradicate poverty and ameliorate living conditions of Talibes. Partnered with SEED Gives to host community events for Talibe children in Thies.
• H.O.P.E for SenegalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerH.O.P.E (Helping Other People Everywhere) partnered with SEED for Women's Empowerment Program workshops including Leadership & Entrepreneurship, Violence Against Women, Women's Sexual Health, and Self-Acceptance sessions. Also supported SEED Speaks public speaking workshop series.
• #iamtheCODEemergingStrategic or Co-development Partner#iamtheCODE is an NGO focused on increasing girls' access to technology. SEED Girls were invited to participate in a coding workshop. SEED is working on an MOU to develop the partnership and provide more girls with technology programming.
• SEDIMA GroupmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSEDIMA Group is a Senegalese corporate entity that donated to the COVID-19 Relief Packages Campaign, providing essential food and household items to families.
• Center for Global SportsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCenter for Global Sports sponsored Hoop Forum 2017, supporting the annual 4-day event that brings together top non-profits, corporations, and individuals using sport as a tool for development.
• UNFPAmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerUNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) sponsored Hoop Forum 2017, supporting the annual development conference.
• World of MoneymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld of Money (NYC-based non-profit improving youth financial literacy founded by Sabrina Lamb) hosted an interactive workshop for 40 SEED Academy students and 10 SEED Rise students covering financial literacy topics.
• City National BankmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCity National Bank hosted SEED's Student-Athlete Career Services Day for 3 consecutive years, providing workshop space and financial literacy education. Entertainment Group executives led roundtable discussions.
• OvertimecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOvertime (sports media company) partners with SEED for the Team Africa vs Team NY All-Star basketball event at Dyckman Park, helping amplify reach to basketball audiences.
• CNEPS (Centre National d'Education Populaire et Sportive)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEED Academy is housed at CNEPS facility in Thies, a government sports training and youth development facility. This partnership provides the physical infrastructure for SEED's boarding academy programs.
• Assist NYCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssist NYC co-hosted the Showdown in Miami 3v3 basketball tournament with SEED, helping raise $4,500 for SEED programs.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Right to Play: Right to Play is one of the largest sport-for-development nonprofits globally, operating in 15+ countries with programs that use sport to improve education, health, and leadership outcomes for marginalized children. Comparable mission, multi-country operating model, and donor-supported structure, though broader than basketball.
• Laureus Sport for Good Foundation: Laureus Sport for Good Foundation funds and supports sport-for-development programs in over 40 countries. Comparable as a sport-for-development ecosystem participant and potential funder, addressing education and life skills through sport in underserved communities globally.
• grassroot soccer: grassroot soccer is a global nonprofit using the power of soccer to educate, inspire, and mobilize youth to overcome their greatest health challenges. Comparable sport-led youth development nonprofit with measurable outcomes framework and African operations.
• Magic Bus: Magic Bus is a large India-based youth development nonprofit using sport to take children out of poverty through education and livelihoods programs. Comparable sport-plus-education livelihood model with measurable outcomes, though focused on South Asia.

Regional players

• African Leadership Academy: African Leadership Academy is a pan-African boarding college preparatory school in Johannesburg serving high-achieving youth from across Africa with leadership and entrepreneurship programming. Comparable as a selective African educational institution preparing African youth for global university placement, though broader than sports.

Direct peers

• Giants of Africa: Giants of Africa, founded by Toronto Raptors President Masai Ujiri, runs basketball camps and leadership programming across Africa and is a confirmed SEED partner. Directly comparable as an African basketball-youth development organization with overlapping geographic reach, donor base, and camp-style programming.
• Coaches Across Continents: Coaches Across Continents trains local coaches in Africa, Asia, and the Americas in sport-for-social-impact curricula. Comparable as a sport-for-development nonprofit with strong West African presence, coach training methodology, and life-skills curriculum delivery.
• NBA Africa Academy: The NBA Africa Academy, launched in 2017 in partnership with SEED itself, is the elite pan-African high school basketball academy. Directly comparable as a basketball student-athlete academy serving African talent with pathways to U.S. universities and professional basketball.
• PeacePlayers International: PeacePlayers International uses basketball to bring together youth from divided communities, with programming in the Middle East, Northern Ireland, South Africa, and the U.S. Directly comparable as a basketball-led youth development and education nonprofit operating internationally with similar sport-plus-education/leadership model.

Emerging players

• Boris Diaw / Babac'ards Foundation: NBA Champion Boris Diaw's Babac'ards Foundation co-founded SEED Girls in 2013 and continues to support girls' sports and education access in France and Africa. Directly comparable given the joint program development, though smaller in scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/seedproject
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/seeds-foundation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about SEED Project