Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship 2027

Deadline: December 1, 2026

Applications are open for the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship 2027. 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 program develops the exceptional entrepreneurial skillset and mindset of leaders to drive social and financial impact.

For African students and recent graduates with a desire to solve pressing problems and bring entrepreneurial ideas to life, the program is split into three online courses where you will learn the foundations of entrepreneurship, receive virtual coaching, develop your own business idea, and demonstrate your commitment in order to advance to the next course.

The program is delivered by the Dunin-Deshpande Innovation Centre at Queen’s University (DDQIC), both directly and in collaboration with delivery partner organizations across Africa.

Benefits

Best-in-class Training

Business bootcamp delivered by Queen’s University faculty and industry leaders who bring decades of combined entrepreneurship and C-Suite experience

The Disciplined Entrepreneurship framework, a proven step-by-step framework for scalable startups developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Pitch coaching and mastery

Live workshops on marketing, goal setting, and recruiting are held throughout the program

Opportunity to earn micro-credentials on Entrepreneurship awarded by Queen’s University for successful completion the courses

Mentorship & Networking

Liaise 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 grads from across Africa

Fellows are matched to industry leaders and entrepreneurs in the final phase of the program

Receive feedback at important startup milestones

Financial Support & Opportunities

Up to 60 Fellows will be selected in the final phase to receive a stipend of $500 CAD

Opportunities to pitch for prizes of up to $15,000 CAD in the pitch competition at the end of the program

Inclusivity

They are committed to removing barriers to entrepreneurship and making the program accessible to as many people as possible. The team continuously refines the courses based on participant feedback and user needs to ensure a more inclusive learning experience.

Eligibility

You are a citizen of an African country.

You are a student currently enrolled in a post-secondary institution or a recent graduate (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 program if selected.

You have reliable access to the internet and a device to participate in virtual sessions and complete online assignments.

Application

Click here to apply

For more information, visit Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship.

You are a citizen of an African country. You are a student currently enrolled in a post-secondary institution or a recent graduate (within the past five years).

You are a citizen of an African country. You are a student currently enrolled in a post-secondary institution or a recent graduate (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 program if selected. You have reliable access to the internet and a device to participate in virtual sessions and complete online assignments.

Application

Click here to apply

For more information, visit Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship.

Best-in-class Training

Business bootcamp delivered by Queen’s University faculty and industry leaders who bring decades of combined entrepreneurship and C-Suite experience The Disciplined Entrepreneurship framework, a proven step-by-step framework for scalable startups developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Pitch coaching and mastery

Live workshops on marketing, goal setting, and recruiting are held throughout the program

Opportunity to earn micro-credentials on Entrepreneurship awarded by Queen’s University for successful completion the courses

Mentorship & Networking

Liaise 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 grads from across Africa

Fellows are matched to industry leaders and entrepreneurs in the final phase of the program

Receive feedback at important startup milestones

Financial Support & Opportunities

Up to 60 Fellows will be selected in the final phase to receive a stipend of $500 CAD Opportunities to pitch for prizes of up to $15,000 CAD in the pitch competition at the end of the program

Inclusivity

They are committed to removing barriers to entrepreneurship and making the program accessible to as many people as possible. The team continuously refines the courses based on participant feedback and user needs to ensure a more inclusive learning experience.