Botswana’s Newman Ramatokwane Joins Prestigious Stanford Seed Transformation Program. Newman Tshepo Ramatokwane, Founder and Chief Experience Officer of Native Stretch Tents & Canopies, has been named among the select entrepreneurs joining the 2025 Stanford Seed Transformation Program (STP) Southern Africa Cohort.
The program, spearheaded by Stanford Graduate School of Business, supports high-potential business leaders across the region to scale their companies and drive impactful economic growth. Ramatokwane will represent Botswana in the 8th cohort of the program.
With over a decade of industry expertise, Native Events—under Ramatokwane’s leadership—has become a leading full-service event production company in Botswana. The business offers end-to-end solutions, including venue sourcing, branding, audiovisual production, entertainment coordination, and custom stage design. Their services cater to corporate, lifestyle, and government events, providing clients with immersive and seamless experiences.
Ramatokwane’s selection for the Stanford STP signals recognition of his entrepreneurial vision and the growing impact of Botswana’s creative industries on regional development. The program offers a year-long journey focused on leadership growth, business strategy, and operational excellence, tailored for founders of established small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets.
Applications for the 2026 STP cohort remain open until 1 May 2025 at stanfordseed.co/dbmetaSM. The program is backed by the De Beers Group as part of its commitment to fostering socio-economic development and sustainable livelihoods across Africa.
