Inspired by Nature's Greatest Giants

Just as the Sequoia tree stands as one of the world's oldest and largest living organisms rooted in community, resilient through time, and reaching monumental heights, the SETSI Sequoia Initiative is designed to nurture Black-led social enterprises with the same profound strength and enduring impact. We provide the fertile ground, the protective ecosystem, and the access to light necessary for transformative social ventures to take root, grow, and scale.

Our Mission

The SETSI Sequoia Initiative is a pro-bono program dedicated to empowering young, visionary Black entrepreneurs. Our mission is to equip them with the skills, resources, and networks needed to transform their daring ideas for social change into sustainable, scalable, and investment-ready enterprises aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Challenge & Our Approach

Despite their immense potential, Black-led social enterprises often face significant barriers, including limited access to tailored training, mentorship, markets, and capital. The Sequoia Initiative addresses these systemic gaps through a holistic, five-pillar framework that guides participants from concept to concrete impact.

Our Program Pillars: The Sequoia Ecosystem

Our initiative is built on a foundational ecosystem of support, designed to cultivate every aspect of a social venture's growth:

Skills and Social Enterprise Development:

We motivate participants to see social entrepreneurship as a powerful vehicle for self-employment, wealth creation, and community transformation. Through a rigorous, 30-hour tailored curriculum, we guide them to develop "bankable" business plans that attract support and investment. The goal is to shape reliable business partners and competitive local enterprises that inspire confidence.

We bridge the gap between local innovation and global opportunity. The initiative actively connects our cohorts' social businesses with a worldwide network of development partners, the global social impact community, and impact investors, building the capacity of participants to compete and collaborate on a global scale.

Growth is sustained through ongoing support. We provide a multi-layered mentoring system, matching participants with successful social business leaders, impact professionals, corporate volunteers, and peers. This network, supplemented by impact clubs and community structures, ensures entrepreneurs are never growing alone.

Access to Markets & Investment:

Mentoring & Support Networks:

Internship Opportunities:

To realize their learning in a practical setting, we facilitate critical internship opportunities aligned with each participant's venture and career preferences. This hands-on experience is a cornerstone for applying knowledge, building professional credibility, and ensuring the effectiveness of their efforts.

In a digital age, impact is amplified through technology. Our training incorporates digital skills, virtual collaborations, and dedicated social media platforms to stimulate participants' ability to link concepts, data, and technology to their work. This pillar ensures fellows are equipped for the modern economy and provides a pathway to further fellowships.

Technology Transfer & Digital Fluency:

Program Capacity & Implementation

• Cohort Model: The program operates as a rolling cohort selection, ensuring consistent and focused support.

• Intensive Training: Participants undergo 30 hours of intense, virtual impact-driven training.

The SETSI Sequoia Initiative is not just a program; it's an ecosystem for monumental growth.

We envision a future where Black-led social enterprises, like mighty Sequoia groves, form an interconnected and resilient forest of change, driving socio-economic development, creating wealth, and sharing sustainable best practices for generations to come.