Applications are open for the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship – Apply Before 15 December 2025

The Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship, delivered by the Dunin-Deshpande Queen’s Innovation Centre (DDQIC), supports African students and recent graduates who are committed to developing entrepreneurial solutions to pressing social and economic challenges. The fellowship equips emerging innovators with advanced training, personalized mentorship, seed funding, and a global network of industry experts. Over eight months, participants cultivate the skills and mindset required to transform ideas into high-impact ventures capable of driving financial sustainability and social progress across the African continent.

Program Purpose and Vision

The fellowship is designed for young African innovators at any stage of their entrepreneurial journey, whether refining an early idea or already operating a startup. Through intensive but flexible training, the program fosters entrepreneurial resilience, human-centered design thinking, and practical problem-solving abilities. Participants gain the tools needed to build viable business models, validate assumptions, pilot solutions, and prepare for scaling. DDQIC’s broader mission is to nurture purpose-driven entrepreneurs and strengthen innovation ecosystems across Africa.

Program Benefits

Fellows who demonstrate commitment, initiative, and perseverance receive access to some of the strongest innovation resources at Queen’s University. Benefits include:

• Structured online entrepreneurship training
• One-on-one mentorship from DDQIC’s global network
• Access to experienced coaches for technical and business guidance
• Seed funding for venture development
• Participation in pitch competitions
• A $500 stipend during the incubation phase
• Long-term post-program support and opportunities for continued pitching

Participants consistently highlight the program’s transformative impact, describing it as rigorous, accessible, and highly supportive.

Eligibility and Criteria

The fellowship is open to:

• Students or recent graduates from any discipline
• Individuals enrolled at or recently graduated from any accredited African post-secondary institution
• Entrepreneurs at any stage, from ideation to advanced venture development

The selection team seeks applicants who exhibit curiosity, resilience, dedication, and readiness to engage deeply with entrepreneurial training. Candidates should be prepared to commit approximately 10 hours per week throughout the eight-month cycle.

Language and Accessibility

Program content is delivered in English, and all assignments and pitch materials must be submitted in English. Mentorship is available in English and French. Applicants not fluent in English are encouraged to:

• Build teams including English-proficient partners, or
• Seek support from universities and community organizations for translation and language resources.

Program Structure and Timeline

The fellowship follows a three-phase model designed to guide entrepreneurs from exploration to launch:

Phase 1: Explore (January–February)

Over 1000 selected candidates complete entrepreneurship courses and the initial stages of the Disciplined Entrepreneurship framework. Participants validate problems, identify customer needs, conduct user interviews, generate solutions, and create early journey maps. Only those demonstrating strong commitment progress to the next phase.

Phase 2: Ignite (March–April)

Approximately 180 finalists advance to deeper training and complete the remaining steps of the entrepreneurship framework. At the end of this phase, participants pitch their ideas. The most promising ventures are selected as Fellows. Key milestones include building distribution channels, designing business models, prototyping solutions, and validating critical assumptions.

Phase 3: Launch and Fellowship (May–August)

Up to 60 Fellows enter DDQIC’s summer incubation program. Fellows refine prototypes, test solutions in real scenarios, recruit initial users, generate traction, and build scaling plans. They participate in weekly pitch sessions, receive mentorship, and compete for further seed funding.

Graduation and Beyond (August)

Upon completing the program, Fellows continue receiving advisory support and pitch opportunities. High-performing Fellows may return as mentors or ambassadors for future cohorts.

Program Outcomes and Impact

The fellowship has led to significant measurable outcomes:

• 84% of 2023 participants created youth employment through their ventures
• 97% of 2022 Fellows found the program extremely helpful
• 100% increase in participants reporting paying customers after completing the program

The program actively contributes to Sustainable Development Goals, including poverty reduction, health and wellbeing, and economic growth.

Fellow Success Stories

The program has supported a wide range of impactful ventures, such as:

• DMB Translation Services (Uganda): Assistive technologies for persons with disabilities
• Strictly Diabetic (Zimbabwe): Low-cost tools for managing Type 2 diabetes
• Canva Soap (Uganda): Accessible hygiene products for underserved communities
• Kwela Brews (South Africa): Low-cost brewing solutions for homebrewers
• AfriShoe Uganda: Customized footwear for people with walking disabilities
• Hya Bioplastics (Africa-wide): Bioplastics made from plant fibers
• Altery/Nautilus (Southern Africa): Digital credit and data confidentiality solutions

These ventures demonstrate the fellowship’s power to foster scalable, socially transformative innovation.

VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the fellowship organization. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.