Deadline: 15-Dec-2025
The Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship gives African students and recent graduates the opportunity to access training, resources, financial support and a network of mentors to develop their entrepreneurial skills and start building their own venture.
The 8-month fellowship equips emerging leaders with the entrepreneurial skills and mindset to create social and financial impact through top-tier training, mentorship, networking, and funding. The program offers business bootcamps, pitch coaching, workshops, and micro-credentials in entrepreneurship.
The fellowship unfolds in three phases. The first phase, explore (January–February), allows participants to identify their customers, validate problems, ideate solutions, and map user experiences.
The second phase, ignite (March–April), focuses on developing market channels, building business models, prototyping solutions, and testing assumptions. The final phase, Launch and Fellowship (May–August), enables up to 60 fellows to join the summer incubation program, access seed funding, and participate in weekly pitch sessions while refining and scaling their startups.
Fellows gain access to mentors and speakers leading innovation and entrepreneurship in North America, while also joining a cohort of thousands of like-minded students and graduates from across Africa. During the final phase, fellows are matched with industry leaders and entrepreneurs, receiving feedback at important startup milestones.
Financially, up to 60 fellows are selected to receive a $500 CAD stipend and the opportunity to compete for prizes of up to $15,000 CAD during the pitch competition. Participants may also travel to the Dunin-Deshpande Queen’s Innovation Centre to build lasting professional connections.
The fellowship places a strong emphasis on inclusivity by removing barriers to entrepreneurship. It encourages women to apply, adapts to those with limited internet access, and supports French-speaking participants.
All badges and certificates are free, permanently recorded using Blockchain technology, and accessible online. Each participant receives a program coach and access to a network of over 15 mentors throughout the course.
The program welcomes students and recent graduates from all disciplines and African post-secondary institutions, whether they are developing an existing business or starting a new one. Participants must show commitment by dedicating at least 10 hours per week and adhering to assignment deadlines.
While the program is delivered in English, mentorship may be offered in English or French, and those with limited English proficiency are encouraged to form teams or seek university support.
Upon graduation, fellows continue to receive post-incubation support and pitch opportunities, with high-performing participants invited to mentor future cohorts.
Applications closes on December 15, 2025, at 12:59 pm ET, with successful candidates notified by the end of December 2025.
For more information, visit Queen’s University.