Commonwealth Startup Fellowship

Deadline: June 30, 2025

Description of the Opportunity

Applications are now open for Commonwealth Startup Fellowship. The Commonwealth Startup Fellowship (CSF) is a six-month programme designed to ignite and elevate high potential startups from low and middle-income countries across the Commonwealth.

This six-month programme is designed to fuel high-potential startups through intensive in-person and online learning. You’ll gain essential skills, tailored coaching, and access to a powerful global network to help you overcome barriers and scale up your business. The programme begins in November 2025 with a fully funded two-week bootcamp in Accra, Ghana, plus ongoing online support with business coaching, expert-led sessions, and valuable peer connections.

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) and Imperial College London intend that by the end of the programme, entrepreneurs will be equipped to build thriving businesses, scale operations effectively, and drive job creation in their home countries. A cohort of 20 early stage start-ups will be recruited.

Benefits

• One founder from each selected team will participate in-person, while co-founders and team members can access the remote portion, connecting with global mentors and industry experts from across the Commonwealth.
• Travel, accommodation, and meals are covered for one founder per team for the duration of the in-person bootcamp in Ghana. This support also includes costs for visas and necessary vaccinations to ensure participants can fully engage in the programme.
• In addition to the training and mentorship, participating teams can apply for financial support from the Fellows Fund, a pot of £35,000 in equity free grants. This funding is available to cover business related costs to help you develop and grow your startup.
• Select participants will be invited to a Capstone in London, UK, where they will have the chance to pitch to investors and industry leaders.
• There is no cost to participate, the programme will cover your visa costs, flights, accommodation, meals and travel in country where it is part of the scheduled programme.
• If a Fellow declares a disability, a full assessment of needs and eligibility for additional financial support will be offered by the CSC.

Eligibility

To be eligible for these Fellowships, prospective Fellows must:

• Be of at least graduate level;
• Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible low- or middle-income Commonwealth country;
• Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country;
• Eligible Caribbean countries that can participate: Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines;
• Be fluent in written and spoken English.
• Not have undertaken a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship within the last five years (at the time of taking up the award);
• Be available to undertake their fellowship from the prescribed start date;
• In addition, they must demonstrate
  • Evidence of innovation, in terms of product, service, or market
  • Active development for at least six-months and demonstrable commitment from team members
  • A working minimum viable ‘product’, service and/or prototype
  • Significant evidence of customer engagement or traction in the form of early sales or pre-sales. proof of interest or demand, signed contracts or other relevant evidence.

For more information, please visit Commonwealth Startup Fellowship

Apply here