The Stern Stewart Institute

What The Stern Stewart Institute does

The Stern Stewart Institute e.V. is a Munich-based registered nonprofit association (eingetragener Verein) founded in 1999, operating as both a think tank and a social entrepreneur. Its think tank wing produces an annual TSSI Summit (160 invited participants from business, politics, security, and technology), biannual-to-annual periodicals (Periodicals 27-32 feature contributions from leaders at BMW, Siemens, BlackRock, Aramco, Munich Security Conference, and others), and a curated network of influential board members including Susanne Klatten, Benedikt Franke, Rolf Dobelli, and John Defterios. The organization is closely affiliated with Stern Stewart & Co., the management consulting firm, sharing the same address at Salvatorplatz 4 in Munich and overlapping leadership (Markus Pertl is Managing Partner of Stern Stewart & Co. and Chairman of the Institute).

The social entrepreneur arm operates the Burkina Institute of Technology (BIT), a university founded in 2017 in Koudougou, Burkina Faso, ranked #1 in the country and teaching computer science, electrical and mechanical engineering, with a campus designed by Pritzker Prize winner Francis Kéré. It also operates 8 schools (including the Lycée Schorge de Koudougou and the Lycée Moderne de l'Amitié for 850 girls), a beekeeping social enterprise producing 150 tons of honey annually with 3,000 farmers, and women's literacy and 'One Woman One Garden' programs. BIT Solutions, a commercial subsidiary, offers software engineering and AI services to international clients, effectively monetizing BIT's engineering talent.

The Institute's business model is predominantly philanthropic: 100% of donated funds are stated to flow to programs (0% administrative overhead), with all work reportedly conducted on an honorary basis. Commercial revenue is limited to BIT Solutions services, possibly some summit-related fees, and honey/agricultural output. The organization does not disclose financial figures, has no external funding rounds, and operates with a 5-person core staff headquartered in Munich but executing primarily in Burkina Faso and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Name

The Stern Stewart Institute

Legal name

The Stern Stewart Institute e. V.

Website

https://sternstewartinstitute.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Stern Stewart Institute is a Munich-based nonprofit think tank and social entrepreneur that runs the annual TSSI Summit, publishes periodicals featuring global business and political leaders, and operates the #1-ranked Burkina Institute of Technology alongside schools, beekeeping, and women's empowerment programs in Burkina Faso.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education and Social Impact Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Intergovernmental Education Cooperation & Bilateral/Multilateral Programs (EDADALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

STEM, Digital Skills & Innovation Partnerships (EDADALAJ), Technical Assistance, Policy Lending & Capacity Building Programs (BPADACAN), Peacebuilding, Conflict Resolution & Stabilization (BPAGABAJ)

Keywords

• Think tank services
• Social entrepreneurship programs
• Higher education services
• Software engineering services
• Women empowerment programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Munich

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Stern Stewart Institute operates as a nonprofit think tank and social entrepreneur organization. It runs an annual TSSI Summit and publishes periodicals featuring global leaders in business, politics, security, and technology; owns and operates the Burkina Institute of Technology (BIT) university in Burkina Faso teaching computer science, electrical, and mechanical engineering; delivers software engineering and AI services through BIT Solutions; and runs social entrepreneurship programs including beekeeping with 3,000 farmers, women's literacy, and 8 schools.

Product overview

The Stern Stewart Institute operates as a think tank and social entrepreneur organization offering three core pillars: (1) a Think Tank hosting annual summits and publishing periodicals featuring global business and political leaders, (2) the Burkina Institute of Technology (BIT) university providing engineering education, and (3) BIT Solutions providing software engineering and AI services. Additionally, the organization runs social impact projects in agriculture (beekeeping producing 150 tons of honey), women's empowerment (literacy and vegetable gardening programs), and operates schools including the Lycée Schorge. The TSSI Summit Application serves as an internal event management tool.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TSSI Think Tank A think tank exploring insights from leaders in business, politics, security, and technology, hosting an annual summit and publishing periodicals featuring contributions from global thought leaders.
• Burkina Institute of Technology (BIT) A state-of-the-art university offering computer science, electrical and mechanical engineering programs and entrepreneurship training, with a modern campus designed by Pritzker Prize winner Francis Kéré.
• BIT Solutions
• Social Entrepreneurship Programs in Burkina Faso
• School Construction and Operation in Burkina Faso
• Annual TSSI Summit
• Periodical Publications

Quantifiable outcome

• 8 schools constructed including the Lycée Moderne de l'Amitié for 850 girls and the Lycée Schorge de Koudougou
• +4 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Burkina Institute of Technology (BIT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBIT is the Institute's own higher education institution founded in 2017, now ranked #1 in Burkina Faso. It educates students in computer science, electrical and mechanical engineering and trains entrepreneurs. Charlotte Rahe serves as CEO. The Institute operates BIT as its flagship educational initiative.
• Friends of The Stern Stewart InstitutecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFriends actively contribute to the Institute's impact with knowledge, experience, outspoken ideas to shape opinions, and advancement of projects in Africa. This network forms the core community supporting the Institute's mission.
• Lycée Schorge de KoudougouflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerA dream school built by the Institute, described as the best middle and high school in Burkina Faso. High ambitions for every girl and boy to succeed, graduate, and be prepared to make change. The campus was designed by Pritzker Prize winner Francis Kéré.
• Lycée Moderne de l'AmitiéStrategic or Co-development PartnerA school constructed by the Institute for 850 girls, representing one of 8 schools built over 25 years of operations.
• Stern Stewart & Co.coreOthersThe parent/affiliated management consulting firm based in Munich. Markus Pertl is Managing Partner of Stern Stewart & Co. and Chairman of the Stern Stewart Institute. The Institute and Stern Stewart & Co. share the same address and are closely aligned organizations.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-stern-stewart-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 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 The Stern Stewart Institute