Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship 2026

The Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship offers African students and recent graduates an opportunity to access world-class entrepreneurial training, mentorship, seed funding, and a global network of innovators. The 8-month fully virtual program helps young Africans turn ideas into scalable ventures that create social and financial impact.

Summary

1. Application Deadline: December 15, 2025
2. Value: Training, mentorship, $500 stipend, $15,000 CAD, and opportunity for additional seed funding
3. Study Level: Students and recent graduates (all disciplines)
4. School: Queen’s University
5. Sponsor: Mastercard Foundation
6. Course to Study: Entrepreneurship and Innovation
7. Eligible Country: All African countries

Eligibility Criteria for Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship 2026

1. Must be a current student or recent graduate (from any African university)
2. Must be committed to developing entrepreneurial skills and building a venture
3. English proficiency required (mentorship available in English/French)
4. Must commit at least 10 hours weekly during the 8-month program

Benefits of Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship 2026

1. Up to 60 Fellows will be selected in the final phase to receive a stipend of $500 CAD
2. Opportunities to pitch for prizes of up to $15,000 CAD in the pitch competition at the end of the program
3. Liaise with mentors and speakers leading innovation and entrepreneurship in North America
4. Access a Global Network of Queen’s entrepreneurial alumni
5. Business bootcamp delivered by Queen’s University faculty and industry leaders who bring decades of combined entrepreneurship and C-Suite experience
6. The Disciplined Entrepreneurship framework, a proven step-by-step framework for scalable startups developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

How to Apply

Apply online through the official Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship portal.

Complete all required information, including personal and business idea details.

The program runs through three phases:

1. Explore (Jan–Feb): Foundational entrepreneurship training.
2. Ignite (Mar–Apr): Business model development and pitch selection.
3. Launch (May–Aug): Incubation, $500 stipend, mentorship, and pitch competitions.

Up to 60 fellows are selected for the final incubation phase.

The program concludes with a graduation and post-fellowship network in August.

For more details, visit Queen's University Scholarship webpage

Application Deadline

December 15, 2025

Application Link(s)

• Apply for Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship 2026