Scholarship

Benefit: Best-in-Class Training on entrepreneurship skills ,Mentorship & Networking with industry experts ,Financial Support: $500 CAD stipend for up to 60 Fellows And Opportunities to pitch for prizes up to $15,000 CAD

Education: Mastercard Fellowship 2026 on Entrepreneurship

The Jim Leech Mastercard Fellowship 2026 on Entrepreneurship provides African students and recent graduates with a unique opportunity to access training, mentorship, financial support, and a global network to develop entrepreneurial skills and start building their own ventures. This 8-month program equips participants with the skills, mindset, and resources to drive social and financial impact.

Program Summary:

• Type: Fellowship
• Sponsor: Mastercard Foundation
• Duration: 8 months
• Eligible Countries: African Countries
• Benefits: Mentorship, networking, financial support, training, and opportunities to pitch for prizes
• Application Deadline: December 15, 2025

Eligibility Requirements:

• Open to students and recent graduates from all academic disciplines and African post-secondary institutions
• Participants can be working on an existing business or planning to start a new one
• Commitment to developing an entrepreneurial mindset and engaging with program resources
• Program is delivered virtually; committed participants are expected to spend at least 10 hours per week
• Program content is delivered in English; mentorship may be in English or French
• Assignments and pitches must be completed in English (team collaboration possible for non-English speakers)

Benefits of the Fellowship:

• Best-in-Class Training on entrepreneurship skills
• Mentorship & Networking with industry experts
• Financial Support: $500 CAD stipend for up to 60 Fellows
• Opportunities to pitch for prizes up to $15,000 CAD
• Travel opportunities to Dunin-Deshpande Queen’s Innovation Centre (DDQIC) for mentorship and networking
• Continuous support to transform ideas into scalable ventures

Program Timeline:

Phase 1 – Explore (January – February 2026)

• Access curated online entrepreneurship courses and work through the first 11 steps of the Disciplined Entrepreneurship framework
• Conduct user research, validate problems, ideate solutions, and create journey maps

Phase 2 – Ignite (March – April 2026)

• 180+ finalists continue advanced online training and complete remaining steps of the Disciplined Entrepreneurship framework
• Pitch ideas and develop business models, prototypes, and funding strategies

Phase 3 – Launch & Fellowship (May – August 2026)

• Up to 60 Fellows selected for the DDQIC Summer Incubation Program
• Receive mentorship, seed funding, weekly pitch sessions, and a $500 stipend
• Compete in a final pitch competition for additional funding
• Pilot solutions, scale ventures, and build lasting networks

Graduation (August 2026):

• Fellows complete incubation, receive post-program support, and high-performing Fellows may become ambassadors or mentors for future programs

How to Apply:

• This program is completely free of charge
• All official communications will be sent from: jimleechfellowship@queensu.ca
• For questions, contact: jimleechfellowship@queensu.ca

Application Deadline: December 15, 2025

Apply link