Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship On Entrepreneurship For African Students 2025

About The Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship

The Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship is a prestigious initiative that empowers African students and recent graduates to transform their innovative ideas into successful, impactful ventures. This fellowship, lasting for eight months, offers a comprehensive blend of training, mentorship, financial support, and global networking opportunities, designed to cultivate future African leaders with a strong entrepreneurial mindset. Through this program, participants gain the skills and knowledge necessary to create ventures that address pressing societal issues, while driving economic growth and social transformation across the African continent.

The fellowship is a collaboration between the Mastercard Foundation and Queen’s University’s Dunin-Deshpande Innovation Centre, which provides participants with access to some of the best entrepreneurship training in the world. Fellows have the opportunity to tap into Queen’s University’s extensive resources, learning from entrepreneurship experts, experienced mentors, and a global network of alumni, all of whom are dedicated to supporting the growth and success of African entrepreneurs.

The Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship spans eight months and is divided into several phases, each focusing on different aspects of entrepreneurship. Participants will begin by honing their entrepreneurial skills through a structured curriculum that covers the essentials of building a business. The program then shifts to hands-on application, allowing fellows to develop and refine their own entrepreneurial ventures with continuous feedback from mentors and peers. Finally, the fellowship culminates in a pitch competition, where participants can showcase their business ideas and compete for significant funding to accelerate the growth of their ventures.

Throughout the program, fellows will benefit from an inclusive and flexible learning environment. The fellowship is conducted virtually, allowing participants to engage with the material at their own pace, while also attending live workshops and mentorship sessions. Although the program is conducted in English, French-speaking applicants can receive mentorship in French, and non-English speakers are encouraged to apply, with support available to help them succeed.

Eligibility Criteria

The Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship is open to a broad range of applicants across Africa. Eligibility criteria include:

Students and recent graduates: The fellowship is open to current students and recent graduates from any academic discipline at an African post-secondary institution. Whether you already have a business or simply an idea you want to develop, this program welcomes individuals at all stages of their entrepreneurial journey.
Commitment to entrepreneurship: Applicants must demonstrate a strong desire to develop their entrepreneurial skills and a commitment to using the fellowship’s resources to create a sustainable business.
Time availability: The fellowship is flexible but requires participants to dedicate at least 10 hours per week to the program, making it manageable alongside other commitments.

English proficiency: The program’s core content is delivered in English, and assignments and pitches must be completed in English. However, non-English speakers are encouraged to apply and are advised to collaborate with English-proficient peers or seek language support from their universities.

Benefits of the Fellowship

Fellows in the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship receive a wide array of benefits aimed at equipping them for entrepreneurial success. These include:

Entrepreneurship Training: Fellows will participate in a business boot camp led by Queen’s University experts, covering essential entrepreneurial skills such as ideation, business model development, marketing, and financial management.

Disciplined Entrepreneurship Framework: Participants will have access to the Disciplined Entrepreneurship Framework, a proven methodology for building successful startups, developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Micro-Credentials: Upon successful completion of the program, fellows will earn Queen’s University micro-credentials, which provide formal recognition of their entrepreneurial training and bolster their professional qualifications.
Mentorship and Feedback: Fellows will receive ongoing guidance and feedback from experienced mentors, helping them navigate key milestones in the startup process. This mentorship extends to business pitching, marketing, and recruiting, ensuring that participants have a well-rounded entrepreneurial education.

Networking Opportunities: Participants will be connected to a global network of mentors, alumni, and peers, providing invaluable opportunities to build relationships that can help their ventures grow. The fellowship emphasizes diversity and inclusion, ensuring that participants from all backgrounds are supported throughout the program.
Financial Support: Fellows can compete for financial prizes that include a $ 500 CAD stipend and pitch for additional funding of up to $ 15,000 CAD to help kickstart their ventures.
Adaptability for Limited Resources: Recognizing the challenges faced by many African students, the program offers accommodations for participants with limited internet access, ensuring that they can fully engage with the fellowship. Support for participants with disabilities and language barriers is also provided.

International Travel Opportunities: Selected fellows may be invited to Queen’s University’s Innovation Centre in Canada, where they can further develop their ventures, connect with global innovators, and explore new growth opportunities.

How to Apply

To apply for the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship, interested candidates must complete the online application form, which can be accessed on the official fellowship website. Applications will be evaluated based on the applicants’ entrepreneurial potential, their commitment to addressing real-world problems, and their ability to leverage the fellowship’s resources to create impactful ventures.

The deadline for applications is December 4, 2024. Candidates are encouraged to apply early to ensure they have ample time to complete all required application components and maximize their chances of being selected.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY