Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship 2026
- Omran Aburayya
- Oct 28
- 4 min read
If you’re an African student or recent graduate with a big idea and a drive to make social change, the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship might be exactly the springboard you need. The applications are now open for the 2026 cohort — here’s a full breakdown of what the fellowship offers, who it’s for, and how you can apply.
🔍 Fellowship Summary
Location: Virtual / Online (Africa)
Host Institution: Dunin-Deshpande Queen’s Innovation Centre (DDQIC) at Queen’s University, in partnership with Mastercard Foundation
Program Type: Fellowship / Accelerator (entrepreneurship)
Target Group: African students or recent graduates (within ~5 years)
Focus: Entrepreneurship, innovation, social impact ventures
Coverage: Fully funded (no cost to participants) ; selected fellows may receive a stipend (CAD 500) and compete for seed funding / pitch prizes (up to CAD 15,000)
Duration: 8 months (approx. January to August)
Application Deadline: December 15, 2025, at 12:59 PM ET (for 2026 cohort) (as per your provided text)
Start Date / Phases:
Phase 1: January – February 2026
Phase 2: March – April 2026
Phase 3: May – August 2026
🎓 Fellowship Overview & Structure
The Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship is designed to guide participants from idea stage to launch, through three sequential phases, offering training, coaching, mentorship, and opportunities for funding.
Phase 1: Explore Entrepreneurship
Timing: January – February (for 2026 cohort)
Introduces the fundamentals of entrepreneurship: recognizing problems, ideation, opportunity space.
Participants engage with curated online entrepreneurship modules (e.g., the Disciplined Entrepreneurship framework by MIT)
Assignments and milestones help assess commitment and readiness to proceed.
Phase 2: Ignite Entrepreneurship
Timing: March – April
Focuses on refining ideas into structured business models.
Virtual coaching, mentorship, customer discovery, prototyping, validation exercises.
Fellows are pushed to solidify their narrative and pivot or validate accordingly.
Phase 3: Launch Entrepreneurship
Timing: May – August
Execution stage: build minimum viable products (MVPs), test markets, refine product/market fit.
Selected fellows may receive seed funding, pitch support, weekly “3-2-1” pitch sessions (3 minutes, 2 slides, 1 ask)
Final pitch / competition among top ventures to win further funding (e.g. up to CAD 15,000)
Ongoing mentorship, coaching, networking, and incubation support through DDQIC’s network.
After the program ends, fellows often remain connected as alumni, ambassadors, and mentors for future cohorts.
Also, the integrated Pitch Competition is a key hallmark — in 2024, the top 15 finalists competed for seed funding (CAD 20,000 total) via a continental pitch event.
✅ Benefits & What You Get
Participating in the Jim Leech Fellowship offers a robust suite of benefits:
No Program Fees — entirely free to participants
Micro-credentials & Certificates — upon successful completion, you can earn digital badges / credentials from Queen’s University (some recorded on blockchain)
Entrepreneurship Training — world-class modules on innovation, business modeling, market analysis, leadership, scaling, etc.
Mentorship & Coaching — one-on-one, group coaching, and mentor matching throughout the program
Global Network Access — access Queen’s alumni, industry leaders, and peers across Africa and internationally
Seed Funding & Prizes — selected fellows may receive a CAD 500 stipend, and top ventures can compete for up to CAD 15,000 in funding
Pitch & Exposure — get visibility through pitch finals, watch parties across African countries, and media exposure for your venture
Continued Support — even post-program, you join a lifelong community of changemakers and may serve as mentor/ambassador
🧩 Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for the fellowship, you must meet:
Citizenship: Be a citizen of an African country
Academic Status: Be a student or recent graduate (within 5 years) from any discipline
Entrepreneurial Motivation: Show passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, or solving impactful challenges (even if you haven’t launched a startup yet)
Commitment: Ability to dedicate substantial time — typically approx 10 hours per week for program work
English Proficiency: The program content, assignments, and pitch are conducted in English. Mentorship may be offered in English or French. Even if English is not your strong suit, you may be encouraged to join a team with someone who meets the language requirement.
No prior business experience required — but a strong idea, determination, and willingness to learn are key
In addition, to progress through phases, you must complete assignments, meet milestones, and demonstrate growing commitment and traction.
📝 Application Procedure
Here’s a step-by-step guide to applying:
Check Eligibility — ensure you meet citizenship, academic status, language, and motivation criteria.
Prepare Documents:
Academic transcripts
CV / resume (highlight any entrepreneurial or extracurricular involvement)
Personal statement / motivation essay (explain your vision, challenges you want to tackle, and why this fellowship matters)
Business idea summary or concept note (even if early stage)
Sometimes letters of recommendation (depending on application form)
Complete the Online Application via the official portal (hosted by Queen’s / DDQIC)
Submit Before Deadline — December 15, 2025, at 12:59 PM ET (for the upcoming 2026 cohort)
Selection Process:
Phase 1: All applicants who pass initial screening enter Explore phase
Progress through assignments and milestones
Top candidates are selected into Ignite and then Launch phases
Final pitches and panel evaluation determine which ventures receive fellowship / funding
Notification — successful candidates will be informed by end of December 2025 (for 2026 cohort)
Join the Program and begin with Phase 1 in January 2026
Stay Committed — the program is demanding, so consistency, discipline, and engagement are essential
ℹ️ Tip: Craft a clear, problem-driven narrative when describing your entrepreneurial idea. Show evidence of research, market validation or interest, however minimal. And emphasize your drive to see it through.
