Queen's University-Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship 2026

📖 About the Fellowship

The Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship provides African students and recent graduates with access to training, resources, financial support, and a network of mentors to develop their entrepreneurial skills and start building their own ventures.

This 8-month program is designed to develop an exceptional entrepreneurial skillset and mindset for leaders to drive social and financial impact.

🎯 Opportunity Details

• Date Published: October 21, 2025
• Application Deadline: December 15, 2025
• Category: Fellowship, Training, Entrepreneurs, Grants
• School: Dunin-Deshpande Innovation Centre at Queen's University

💡 Benefits of the Fellowship

1. Best-in-Class Training

• Business bootcamp delivered by Queen’s University faculty and industry leaders with decades of combined entrepreneurship and C-Suite experience.
• The Disciplined Entrepreneurship framework, a proven step-by-step framework for scalable startups developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
• Pitch coaching and mastery.
• Live workshops on marketing, goal setting, and recruiting held throughout the program.
• Opportunity to earn micro-credentials in Entrepreneurship awarded by Queen's University upon successful completion of the courses.

2. Mentorship & Networking

• Liaise with mentors and speakers leading innovation and entrepreneurship in North America.
• Access a Global Network of Queen’s entrepreneurial alumni.
• Join a cohort of thousands of like-minded students and recent graduates from across Africa.
• Fellows are matched to industry leaders and entrepreneurs in the final phase of the program.
• Receive feedback at important startup milestones.

3. Financial Support & Opportunities

• Up to 60 Fellows will be selected in the final phase to receive a stipend of $500 CAD.
• Opportunities to pitch for prizes of up to $15,000 CAD in the pitch competition at the end of the program.
• Opportunities to travel to the Dunin-Deshpande Queen's Innovation Centre to build lasting connections that will help further your business venture.

4. Inclusivity

• Committed to eliminating barriers to entrepreneurship and making the program inclusive to as many people as possible.
• Constantly iterating and improving the courses in response to user needs.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

• Open to all academic disciplines from any African post-secondary institution.
• English is the primary language; teamwork encouraged for non-English speakers.
• Participants must commit at least 10 hours/week and meet assignment deadlines.

📅 Application Date and Process

• Application Deadline: December 15, 2025
• Click on the link to the application website to apply.

🌐 Application Portal

• View details of the fellowship on the Queen's University Innovation Centre Website.
• Apply directly via Queen's University Application Form.

This fellowship is a unique opportunity to gain entrepreneurial skills, connect with industry leaders, and access financial support to kickstart your venture. Don't miss out!

• Best-in-class training
  • Business bootcamp delivered by Queen’s University faculty and industry leaders who bring decades of combined entrepreneurship and C-Suite experience
  • The Disciplined Entrepreneurship framework, a proven step-by-step framework for scalable startups developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Pitch coaching and mastery
  • Live workshops on marketing, goal setting, and recruiting are held throughout the program
  • Opportunity to earn micro-credentials on Entrepreneurship awarded by Queen's University for successful completion of the courses
• Mentorship & Networking
  • Liaise with mentors and speakers leading innovation and entrepreneurship in North America
  • Access a Global Network of Queen’s entrepreneurial alumni
  • Join a cohort of thousands of like-minded students and recent grads from across Africa
  • Fellows are matched to industry leaders and entrepreneurs in the final phase of the program
  • Receive feedback at important startup milestones
• Financial Support & Opportunities
  • Up to 60 Fellows will be selected in the final phase to receive a stipend of $500 CAD
  • Opportunities to pitch for prizes of up to $15,000 CAD in the pitch competition at the end of the program
  • Opportunities to travel to the Dunin-Deshpande Queen's Innovation Centre to build lasting connections that will help further your business venture
• Inclusivity
  • Committed to eliminating barriers to entrepreneurship and making the program inclusive to as many people as possible. Constantly iterating and improving the courses in response to user needs.