Call for Applications: The Commonwealth Startup Fellowship 2025

The Commonwealth Startup Fellowship will run for six months and is designed to ignite and elevate high-potential startups from low and middle income Commonwealth countries. The programme is made up of a combination of immersive in-person experiences and online learning, to provide participants with essential skills, cutting-edge knowledge, and a robust global network.  

The 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. 

• Table of Content
• About The Commonwealth
• Startup Fellowship
• Aim and Benefits of Startup Fellowship
• Requirements for Startup Fellowship Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About The Commonwealth

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 54 independent and equal countries. It is home to 2.4 billion people, and includes both advanced economies and developing countries. 32 of our members are small states, including many island nations. Our member governments have agreed to shared goals like development, democracy and peace. Our values and principles are expressed in the Commonwealth Charter. The Commonwealth's roots go back to the British Empire. But today any country can join the modern Commonwealth. The last country to join the Commonwealth wa... continue reading

Startup Fellowship

Aim and Benefits of Startup Fellowship

• A cohort of 20 early stage start-ups will be recruited. One person from each business must be available to attend a two-week bootcamp in Accra, Ghana at the end of March 2025.
• There is also the possibility for representatives from outstanding organisations to travel to London in the UK later in the year for a series of exciting capstone events.

Financial assistance

Each Fellowship provides: 

• Approved return travel from the Fellow’s home country to the in-person bootcamp in Accra, Ghana. 
• Accommodation, travel and catering for the duration of the in-person bootcamp in Accra, Ghana. 
• Reimbursement of the standard visa application fee. 
• Reimbursement of vaccination costs 
• Access to a Fellow’s Grant Fund for business or participation-related costs 
• If a Fellow declares a disability, a full assessment of needs and eligibility for additional financial support will be offered by the CSC. 

Requirements for Startup Fellowship Qualification

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;
• 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. 

Check also:
Commonwealth Master's Scholarship to Study in UK 2027/2028
Mandela Washington Fellowship for Africans 2027 (Fully Funded to USA)

Application Deadline

How to Apply

Applications for Commonwealth Startup Fellowships are now open. You can access the application form here.

For more details, visit The Commonwealth fellowship website.