MIT Kuo Sharper Center Foundry Fellowship
The Foundry Fellowship is a transformative experience for accomplished entrepreneurs committed to accelerating and interconnecting Africa’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems.
🌍 About the Fellowship
The MIT Kuo Sharper Center for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship was founded on the belief that entrepreneurs and their market-driven solutions are critical to advancing sustainable prosperity across global growth markets.
The Foundry Fellowship embodies this belief by creating a community of Africa-based entrepreneurs who share a vision for a continent where:
- People, ideas, and resources move across borders.
- Ecosystems enable innovation-driven entrepreneurs to thrive and scale.
This eight-month program is designed for principled leaders who aim to catalyze systems transformation and inclusive growth across Africa.
🗓️ Key Dates
- June 11, 2025: Application Opens
- July 6, 2025: Application Deadline
- July-August 2025: Interviews with Kuo Sharper Center staff, community, and Foundry Fellow Alumni
- September 2025: Acceptance letters sent; commitments made
- October 2025: Orientation (virtual)
- November 2025: Africa ecosystem tour (location TBD; ~1 week)
- January/February 2026: Africa ecosystem tour (location TBD; ~1 week)
- April/May 2026: US ecosystem tours (first location TBD; second location in Boston/Cambridge; ~2 weeks) and fellowship celebration event
🎯 Eligibility Criteria
The fellowship is open to Africa-based entrepreneurs who meet the following criteria:
- Founded and scaled a for-profit, innovation-driven company.
- Are at an inflection point in their leadership journey and are preparing to transition into one of the following roles:
- Launching a venture capital fund, starting an accelerator, or pursuing a policymaking path.
- Founding a venture or support organization to build innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems across Africa.
- Expanding their innovation-driven enterprise across the continent while focusing on ecosystem development.
🌟 Benefits
This unique program prepares fellows to:
- Lead initiatives that accelerate the development of ecosystems within their home markets and across the continent.
- Participate in personal leadership seminars, coursework with MIT faculty, and experiential tours of multiple innovation ecosystems (both in Africa and the US).
- Join a highly selective cohort of 10-15 fellows, fostering deep transformation and collaboration.
📋 Fellowship Requirements
As a Foundry Fellow, you must:
- Confirm English proficiency: The program is delivered in English, and fellows must be comfortable communicating complex ideas in writing and verbally.
- Attend all sessions: This includes online sessions and in-person meetings, as well as four ecosystem tours (each lasting 5-7 days).
- Cover some travel expenses: While the program covers most costs (hotels, group meals, group transport), fellows are responsible for flights to/from ecosystem tours and certain travel-related expenses.
- Participate fully: Engage actively in all sessions and discussions.
- Present post-fellowship plans: Share your next steps with peers and supporters of the fellowship.
📝 Application Process
The application includes:
- Personal information: Demographic and contact details.
- Details about your role: Information about your role as a founder and your company.
- Essay questions: Addressing your interest in the program, your role as an ecosystem builder, and your perspective on entrepreneurial leadership.
- Resume: Highlighting educational background, professional experience, leadership roles, and community engagement.
- 2-minute video: Summarizing key points of your application (in English).
- Two letters of recommendation: From individuals familiar with your work as a co-founder, mentor, board member, or senior manager.
Application Instructions
- Complete the online application.
- Record and upload your 2-minute video.
- Check off the acknowledgment section of the application.
- Ensure your two letters of recommendation are submitted before the July 6, 2025 deadline.
Applications will be reviewed by an evaluation committee, and finalists will participate in at least one panel interview.
📌 Application Deadline
July 6, 2025
🔗 Additional Information
- View details about the fellowship on the MIT Kuo Sharper Center Foundry Fellowship website.
- Apply directly via the application portal.
This fellowship is sponsored by Legatum and aims to empower the next generation of innovation-driven entrepreneurs across Africa.
- Lead initiatives that accelerate the development of ecosystems
- Access to personal leadership seminars
- Coursework with MIT faculty
- Experiential tours of multiple innovation ecosystems
