Overview
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 vent
Complete fellowship details
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.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
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 .
Tips for this fellowship
Practical JobOpportunity guidance. These tips do not replace official rules or create new eligibility requirements.
- Check eligibility, funding coverage, study/project level and every required document before investing time in the application.
- Prepare transcripts, references, language tests, proposal/motivation statement and proof documents early.
- Separate the scholarship deadline from any university/program admission deadline; they may be different.
- Treat “fully funded” as a source fact only when the official provider explicitly confirms the covered costs.
JobOpportunity is the discovery and verification layer. Confirm eligibility, dates, salary/funding and application instructions on the original source before submitting anything.
Apply through JobOpportunity →Browse current JobOpportunity listings from opportunitydesk →
