Hassen Arfaoui awarded full scholarship to Stanford × 500 Global VC Unlocked Program: Silicon Valley

Hassen Arfaoui is the first Tunisian to join this program dedicated to VC professionals – an exclusive distinction, an invite-only, fully-funded honor awarded to four worldwide recipients each year.

Hassen Arfaoui, 216 Capital principal with deep expertise in early-stage investing across African startup ecosystems, was selected as one of only four full scholarship recipients for VC Unlocked: Silicon Valley.

This immersive, prestigious investor education program co-developed by Stanford University's Engineering Center for Global & Online Education (CGOE) and 500 Global, one of the world's most active seed-stage venture firms.

The scholarship is granted on a highly competitive, nomination-only basis to a select group of investors recognized for outstanding professional achievement and demonstrated potential to shape the future of the venture capital industry. This recognition places Hassen Arfaoui among a global cohort comprising General Partners, Limited Partners, and senior investors from top-tier venture capital funds, family offices, and institutions, operating across 30+ countries.

“I am honored to be selected as one of four scholarship recipients for VC Unlocked: Silicon Valley, delivered by 500 Global in collaboration with the Stanford Engineering Center for Global & Online Education.” “This flagship program bridges rigorous academic frameworks in venture capital with the hands-on expertise of seasoned Silicon Valley practitioners. I look forward to leveraging these insights to drive impact within the African startup ecosystem, where the stakes are particularly high.” — Hassen Arfaoui, Principal at 216 Capital

A Major Milestone for African Venture Capital

Hassen Arfaoui has spent his career at the intersection of institutional-grade fund management and high-growth African startup ecosystems, deploying capital across fintech, logistics, SaaS B2B, healthtech, and edtech from pre-seed to Series A. His selection as a recipient of this prestigious scholarship underscores the rise of African venture capital, now recognized as a credible, increasingly structured, and high-potential asset class on the global stage.

About VC Unlocked: Silicon Valley

Jointly delivered by 500 Global and Stanford's Engineering CGOE, VC Unlocked is widely regarded as the world's premier immersive program for venture capital professionals. The program brings together a curated group of top-tier investors for direct engagement with Stanford University, 500 Global's investment leadership, and Silicon Valley's most influential practitioners. The program has trained over 450 investors from 240+ VC firms since its founding in 2015. Admission is by nomination only — scholarships are reserved for an exceptional few who demonstrate both professional excellence and a commitment to advancing the VC industry.