Application Deadline: January 15, 2025

Applications are now open for the 2025 Commonwealth Startup Fellowship. 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. 

Fellow 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;  
• 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. 

Benefits

• 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. 

Eligible countries

Bangladesh 
Belize 
Botswana 
Cameroon 
Dominica 
Eswatini 
Fiji 
Gabon 
The Gambia 
Ghana 
Grenada 
Guyana 
India 
Jamaica 
Kenya 
Kiribati 
Lesotho 
Malawi 
Malaysia 
Maldives 
Mauritius 
Montserrat 
Mozambique 
Namibia 
Nauru 
Nigeria 
Pakistan 
Papua New Guinea 
Rwanda 
St Helena 
St Lucia 
St Vincent and The Grenadines 
Samoa 
Sierra Leone 
Solomon Islands 
South Africa 
Sri Lanka 
Tanzania 
Togo 
Tonga 
Tuvalu 
Uganda 
Vanuatu 
Zambia 

How to apply

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

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Commonwealth Startup Fellowship