The Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship 2026 offers African students and recent graduates a remarkable opportunity to gain access to training, resources, financial support, and a powerful network of mentors to strengthen their entrepreneurial skills and begin building their own ventures.
Through this program, participants can compete for up to $15,000 in cash prizes during the pitch competition and receive a $500 stipend at the end of the program.
Program Summary
- Host: Mastercard Foundation
- Category: Competitions
- Eligible Countries: African Countries
- Reward: $15,000 Cash Prize | $500 Stipend | Training | Mentorship
- No IELTS Required
- Deadline: December 15, 2025
Program Details
The Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship is strategically designed to support busy entrepreneurs in successfully navigating a rigorous and transformative training schedule.
A key highlight of the program is the access to a vast network of experienced coaches and mentors, offering participants practical guidance and insights to strengthen and grow their enterprises.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship 2026, applicants must:
- Be students or recent graduates from any academic discipline in African post-secondary institutions.
- Be working on a business or planning to start one.
- Be committed to developing their entrepreneurial mindset and leveraging the resources provided to grow their venture.
Additional details:
- The program is delivered virtually and can be completed at the participant’s own pace, though the most dedicated participants typically commit at least 10 hours per week.
- Progression through the program phases requires online assignment submissions and meeting strict deadlines.
- The program content is in English, but mentorship may be available in English and French.
- Assignments and pitches must be completed in English. Applicants with limited English proficiency are encouraged to form teams with members who can fulfill language requirements.
- Participants may also work with their local universities to access resources that help them overcome language-related challenges.
Program Benefits
Successful applicants of this scholarship will receive:
- Business Bootcamp: Delivered by Queen’s University faculty and seasoned industry leaders with vast entrepreneurship and executive experience.
- Disciplined Entrepreneurship Framework: A proven, step-by-step system for building scalable startups, developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
- Pitch Coaching and Mastery: Guidance to perfect your pitch and storytelling.
- Live Workshops: Covering marketing, goal setting, and team building.
- Micro-Credentials: Earn Queen’s University entrepreneurship certificates upon successful course completion.
- Mentorship & Networking: Connect with mentors and innovators leading entrepreneurship in North America.
- Global Network: Access a vibrant network of Queen’s entrepreneurial alumni.
- Community: Join a cohort of thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs across Africa.
- Personalized Guidance: Receive feedback at key startup milestones.
- Financial Support:
- Up to 60 fellows in the final phase will receive a $500 CAD stipend.
- Pitch competition prizes of up to $15,000 CAD.
- Opportunities to travel to the Dunin-Deshpande Queen’s Innovation Centre to build lasting business connections.
How to Apply
To apply for the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship, interested and qualified candidates should:
- Visit the official fellowship application page.
- Complete and submit the online application form before the deadline.
Application Deadline: December 15, 2025
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