The Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship gives African students and recent graduates the opportunity to access training, resources, financial support and a network of mentors to develop their entrepreneurial skills and start building their own venture. The 8-month program develops the exceptional entrepreneurial skillset and mindset of leaders to drive social and financial impact.
Table of Content- Mastercard Foundation Jim Leech Fellowship
- Benefits of Mastercard Foundation Jim Leech Fellowship
- Requirements for Mastercard Foundation Jim Leech Fellowship
- Selection Process
- Application Deadline
- How to Apply
Mastercard Foundation Jim Leech Fellowship
| Application Deadline | December 4, 2024 |
| Funding Type | Partially Funded |
| Type | Fellowship |
| Sponsor | Mastercard Foundation |
| Gender | Men and Women |
Benefits of Mastercard Foundation Jim Leech Fellowship
- 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 the courses
Mentorship and 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 and 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 your further your business venture
Requirements for Mastercard Foundation Jim Leech Fellowship
- The program accepts students and recent graduates from all academic disciplines, and from any African post-secondary institution. Whether you are already working on a business or you are looking to start something new, we can help you.
- The program is looking for participants who are committed to developing their entrepreneurial mindset and taking advantage of the resources provided to develop their own enterprise. The program is delivered virtually and can be completed at any pace, however the most committed participants will commit at least 10 hours per week. In order to progress through the program phases, participants will submit assignments online, adhering to strict deadlines.
- The program content is delivered in English.
- Mentorship may be offered in English and French. Assignments and pitches must be completed in English. Prospective fellows who are unable to speak or write English are still encouraged to apply and form teams with someone who can fulfill all the requirements of the program in English.
- Prospective fellows may also work with their local university to come up with a strategy to make sure they are able to access university resources that will help them navigate the challenge related to language ability.
Selection Process
Program Timeline
- Phase 1 – Explore Entrepreneurship January 2025 – February 2025
- Phase 2 – Ignite Entrepreneurship March 2025 – April 2025
- Phase 3 – Launch Entrepreneurship May 2025 – August 2025
Founded in 1841, Queen's University is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the large town of Kingston (population range of 50,000-249,999 inhabitants), Ontario. Officially accredited and/or recognized by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, Ontario, Queen's University (QU) is a large (uniRank enrollment range: 20,000-24,999 students) coeducational higher education institution. Queen's University (QU) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor degrees, master degrees, doctorate degrees in several areas of study. See the uniRank degree levels and areas of study matrix below for further details. This 178 years old higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on students' past academic record and grades. The admission rate range is 40-50% making this Canadian higher education organization a averagely selective institution. International students are welcome to apply for enrollment.