Applications are now open for the 2026 Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship, a program designed to empower African students and recent graduates to cultivate their entrepreneurial skills and launch their own ventures. Through this fellowship, participants gain access to comprehensive training, practical resources, financial assistance, and mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs, providing a solid foundation to develop innovative solutions that generate both social and economic impact. The program spans eight months, during which participants build the mindset, expertise, and confidence necessary to lead ventures that make a meaningful difference in their communities.

The fellowship is open to students and recent graduates from any academic background and from any post-secondary institution across Africa. It welcomes individuals who are either already working on a business idea or those looking to start a new venture. The program is delivered virtually, allowing participants to work at a flexible pace, though the most engaged participants typically dedicate at least ten hours per week. Progress through the program requires submitting assignments online by designated deadlines, ensuring participants actively engage with the materials and exercises. All program content is delivered in English, and mentorship may be available in both English and French. Participants who are not yet proficient in English are encouraged to apply and collaborate with teammates who can meet program language requirements, with the option to seek support from their home institutions to access resources that help navigate language-related challenges.

Participants benefit from high-quality entrepreneurship training led by faculty and industry experts from Queen’s University, bringing decades of experience in startup development and corporate leadership. They are introduced to the Disciplined Entrepreneurship framework, a step-by-step methodology for creating scalable businesses developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Throughout the program, participants receive coaching on pitching, attend interactive workshops on marketing, goal setting, and recruitment, and have the opportunity to earn micro-credentials in entrepreneurship upon successful completion of the coursework.

Mentorship and networking are central to the fellowship experience. Participants engage with leading innovators and entrepreneurs from North America, gain access to Queen’s University’s global alumni network, and join a vibrant cohort of peers from across Africa. In the final stages of the program, fellows are paired with industry leaders to receive guidance at key startup milestones and refine their business strategies.

Financially, up to 60 fellows are selected in the final phase to receive a stipend of $500 CAD, with additional opportunities to compete for prizes of up to $15,000 CAD in a culminating pitch competition. Participants may also have the chance to visit the Dunin-Deshpande Queen’s Innovation Centre, building lasting connections that support the growth and sustainability of their ventures.

The program begins with the Explore phase, running from January to February, during which over a thousand carefully selected candidates gain access to curated online entrepreneurship courses and work through the initial steps of the Disciplined Entrepreneurship framework. This phase allows participants several months to demonstrate their dedication, develop their business concepts, and achieve important milestones that set the stage for success in the later phases of the fellowship.

Scroll down for more details and click on the official link attached below to apply for this opportunity