Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship for Young Africans

Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship

Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship 2027

Applications are now open for the 2027 Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship, a fully online programme for young African students and recent graduates. Over an eight-month journey, fellows develop the entrepreneurial skills and mindset needed to launch their own ventures while driving social and financial impact.

The programme offers training delivered by Queen's University faculty and industry leaders, the MIT Disciplined Entrepreneurship framework, pitch coaching, mentorship, and access to a global network of alumni and innovators. Up to 60 fellows receive a stipend of $500 CAD, and participants can pitch for prizes of up to $15,000 CAD. There is no cost to apply.

Application deadline: 1 December 2026 at 12:59 pm ET — that is 6:59 pm in Cameroon, not midnight

Contents

• About the Fellowship
• Quick overview
• Eligibility requirements
• Programme benefits
• Programme timeline
• How to apply

About the Fellowship

The Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship gives African students and recent graduates access to training, resources, financial support, and a network of mentors to develop their entrepreneurial skills and start building their own venture. The eight-month online programme is designed to build the skillset and mindset of leaders capable of driving both social and financial impact across the continent.

Everything happens online. No visa, no passport, no travel costs. For a student in Yaoundé or Douala with a reliable connection, the only real requirement is committing to all three phases between January and August 2027.

For those exploring other continent-wide opportunities, see also our guide to the YALI Mandela Washington Fellowship for young Africans.

Quick overview

Item	Details
Programme	Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship
Delivered by	Queen's University (Canada)
Duration	8 months, fully online
Open to	Citizens of African countries
Stipend	$500 CAD (up to 60 fellows)
Pitch prizes	Up to $15,000 CAD
Application cost	Free
Deadline	1 December 2026, 12:59 pm ET

Eligibility requirements

• You are a citizen of an African country.
• You are currently enrolled in a post-secondary institution, or you graduated within the past five years.
• You have a desire to solve pressing problems and bring an entrepreneurial idea to life.
• You can commit to completing all three phases of the online programme if selected.
• You have reliable internet access and a device to join virtual sessions and complete online assignments.

The five-year graduation window is the criterion that rules out most applicants. If you graduated before 2022, you are no longer eligible, however strong your business idea.

Still enrolled, or looking to requalify? Unicaf offers partial scholarships for online Bachelor's, Master's and doctoral degrees you can study from anywhere in Africa while working on your venture.

Programme benefits

Best-in-class training

• Business bootcamp delivered by Queen's University faculty and industry leaders with decades of combined entrepreneurship and C-Suite experience.
• The Disciplined Entrepreneurship framework, a proven step-by-step method for scalable startups developed at MIT.
• Pitch coaching and mastery.
• Live workshops on marketing, goal setting, and recruiting throughout the programme.
• Micro-credentials in entrepreneurship awarded by Queen's University for successful completion of the courses.

Mentorship and networking

• Connect with mentors and speakers leading innovation and entrepreneurship in North America.
• Access a global network of Queen's entrepreneurial alumni.
• Join a cohort of thousands of like-minded students and recent graduates from across Africa.
• Fellows are matched to industry leaders and entrepreneurs in the final phase.
• Receive feedback at key startup milestones.

Financial support

• Up to 60 fellows are selected in the final phase to receive a stipend of $500 CAD.
• Fellows can pitch for prizes of up to $15,000 CAD in the closing pitch competition.

Note how the money works: the $500 stipend goes to up to 60 fellows selected in the final phase, not to everyone who joins. The value for most participants lies in the Queen's micro-credentials and the mentor network, not in the cash.

Programme timeline

Phase	Focus	Dates
Applications	Submit and await decision	Due 1 December 2026; results by end of December 2026
Phase 1	Explore Entrepreneurship	January – February 2027
Phase 2	Ignite Entrepreneurship	March – April 2027
Phase 3	Launch Entrepreneurship	May – August 2027

How to apply

Applications are submitted online through the official Queen's University Innovation Centre page. Successful candidates will be notified by the end of December 2026. Applying is free, and the entire programme is delivered virtually, so fellows can participate from anywhere on the continent.

Apply before 1 December 2026

If you are also weighing your study options abroad, browse our list of fully funded scholarships for African students.

Read also

• YALI Mandela Washington Fellowship for young Africans
• Fully funded scholarships for African students

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