Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship 2026: Apply by Dec 1 (Fully Virtual)

Are you an African student or recent graduate with a business idea you want to turn into a real, working venture? The Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship offered by the Dunin-Deshpande Innovation Centre at Queen's University (DDQIC), Canada, is now open for applications, and the deadline is December 1, 2026.

This 8-month, fully virtual program gives young African entrepreneurs access to world-class training, mentorship, financial support, and a powerful global network, all designed to help them build ventures that create both social and financial impact.

Whether you already run a small business or you are only just exploring an idea, this fellowship is built to help you take the next step.

Fellowship at a Glance

• Fellowship name: Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship
• Host institution: Dunin-Deshpande Innovation Centre (DDQIC), Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
• Open to: African students and recent graduates from any academic discipline and any post-secondary institution in Africa
• Program format: Fully virtual, self-paced within deadlines
• Duration: 8 months (January to August)
• Time commitment: At least 10 hours per week
• Language: English (mentorship also available in French)
• Financial support: Stipend for up to 60 Fellows, plus the chance to win pitch competition prizes of up to $15,000 CAD
• Application deadline: December 1, 2026

About the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship

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 so they can develop their entrepreneurial skills and start building their own ventures.

The program is designed to develop the entrepreneurial skillset and mindset of leaders who want to drive both social and financial impact. It is aimed at young people who want to solve pressing problems in their communities and bring bold entrepreneurial ideas to life.

The fellowship is run by the Dunin-Deshpande Innovation Centre at Queen's University, one of Canada's leading university innovation hubs, and is delivered entirely online, which means you can take part from anywhere in Africa without relocating.

Benefits of the Fellowship

The program is intended for participants who show a willingness to learn, take risks, and commit fully to the process. In return, they receive the best that the innovation centre has to offer. The benefits fall into three main areas.

1. Best-in-Class Training

• A 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 approach to building scalable startups, developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
• Pitch coaching and mastery to help you present your venture with confidence.
• Live workshops on marketing, goal setting, and recruiting held throughout the program.
• The opportunity to earn micro-credentials in Entrepreneurship awarded by Queen's University for successfully completing the courses.

2. Mentorship and Networking

• Connect with mentors and speakers who are leading innovation and entrepreneurship in North America.
• Gain access to a global network of Queen's entrepreneurial alumni.
• Join a cohort of thousands of like-minded students and recent graduates from across Africa.
• Be matched with industry leaders and entrepreneurs in the final phase of the program.
• Receive feedback at important startup milestones.

Some of the mentors involved in the program include:

• Christine Kamala, founder of Christie's Crisp
• Kora Sabi Janvier, founder of Allo Veto
• Oluwasegun Oluwaleti, founder of Water Boy
• Duncan Asamoah, founder of Mr. Neat Company
• ...and many others

3. Financial Support and Opportunities

• Up to 60 Fellows are selected in the final phase to receive a stipend of $500 CAD.
• Fellows can pitch for prizes of up to $15,000 CAD in the pitch competition at the end of the program.
• Fellows also gain access to seed funding opportunities during the summer incubation phase.

Note: The program's benefits overview lists the stipend as $500 CAD, while its Phase 3 description mentions a USD 350 stipend. Please confirm the exact amount on the official page or in the FAQ before applying.

A Program Built on Inclusivity

The organizers believe the best work happens when problems are tackled from diverse perspectives. They are committed to removing barriers to entrepreneurship and making the program accessible to as many young people as possible, and they keep refining the courses based on participant feedback. Here is how that commitment shows up in practice:

• Gender inclusion: 55% of participants identified as women. The team actively encourages women to apply and offers flexible learning opportunities, which have resulted in a 30% increase in female retention between the Explore and Ignite stages.
• Accessible learning: The program has been adapted for participants with limited internet access, with downloadable content and language support for French-speaking learners.
• Student-driven design: After surveying students about the most convenient and affordable ways to learn online, the team added more live Zoom seminars, lower-resolution pre-recorded lessons, mobile-friendly coursework, and screen-reader-compatible content for visually impaired learners.
• Open credentials: All Queen's University digital badges and certificates are free of charge and available online at any time, from anywhere. Each credential carries a unique Blockchain ID for permanent, verifiable recognition.
• Personalized support: Every participant is paired with a program coach for one-on-one guidance and has access to a community of more than 15 mentors.

Who Can Apply?

The fellowship welcomes students and recent graduates from all academic disciplines and any post-secondary institution in Africa. You do not need to study business, and you do not need an established company. You can be building a business already or just starting to explore a new idea.

What the Selection Team Is Looking For

The program seeks participants who are:

• Committed to developing their entrepreneurial mindset.
• Ready to make the most of the program's resources and mentorship.
• Willing to dedicate at least 10 hours per week to their entrepreneurial journey.

The program is fully virtual and can be completed at your own pace over the 8-month cycle. However, participants must meet assignment deadlines in order to advance from one phase to the next.

Language Requirements and Support

• Program content is delivered in English.
• Mentorship may be offered in English and French.
• Assignments and pitches must be completed in English.

If you are not fully fluent in English, you are still encouraged to apply. You can:

• Form a team with someone who can meet the English-language requirements, or
• Work with your university or local organizations to access language support and resources.

Program Timeline: The Three Phases

The fellowship runs from January to August and moves through three competitive phases, followed by graduation. At each stage, the number of participants narrows as the strongest and most committed entrepreneurs advance.

Phase 1: Explore (January to February)

More than 1,000 exceptional candidates receive access to a curated list of online entrepreneurship courses and work through the first 11 steps of the Disciplined Entrepreneurship framework workbook. Candidates demonstrate their commitment by completing the training and progressing on their ideas' milestones.

Guiding questions: Who is my customer? What can I do for them?

Milestones:

• Make observations through interviews or other means.
• Clearly define and validate the problem you are solving by speaking to end users.
• Validate or invalidate the key assumptions behind the solution you want to build.
• Ideate and generate solutions to the problem.
• Create a journey map of your end users' experience with your solution.

Phase 2: Ignite (March to April)

More than 180 finalists who excelled at the Phase 1 milestones are selected to join this phase. They complete an additional curated set of online entrepreneurship courses and work through the remaining steps of the Disciplined Entrepreneurship workbook. At the end of the phase, participants pitch their ideas and compete for the fellowship. The most advanced and promising business ideas become the finalists who receive the fellowship.

Guiding questions: How does your end user acquire your solution? How will this be funded or become financially sustainable?

Milestones:

• Develop channels to market and reach out to any necessary partners.
• Create a business model or a plan for funding your solution.
• Prototype your solution in the simplest way possible that still generates meaningful feedback from end users.
• Validate all critical assumptions by creating experiments and testing your prototype.

Phase 3: Launch and Fellowship (May to August)

Up to 60 Fellows are selected to join DDQIC's summer incubation program. During this phase, Fellows work on their ideas, access seed funding, and take part in weekly 3-2-1 pitch presentations about their progress as they transform ideas into scalable startups. They also receive a stipend and are supported by dedicated coaches and mentors from DDQIC's global network of industry experts and entrepreneurs. At the end of the program, Fellows can compete in a pitch competition for additional seed funding.

Guiding questions: How do you execute your solution? How can you scale it?

Milestones:

• Pilot your solution in a more real-life scenario.
• Generate expressions of interest, end users, or customers.
• Create a plan to scale.

Graduation (August)

Fellows complete their incubation at the end of August. After graduation, they continue to receive post-incubation services, support, and pitch competition opportunities through DDQIC's network. High-performing Fellows may also be invited to serve as ambassadors and mentors for future cohorts of the fellowship.

Program Outcomes and Impact

DDQIC regularly interviews and surveys participants to evaluate the program and gather feedback. Some of the reported results include:

• 84% of 2023 participants said their venture has hired at least one young person since starting the program.
• 97% of 2022 Fellows rated the program "very" or "extremely" helpful in advancing their venture.
• A 100% increase in participants reporting paying users or customers from before the program to after it.

The ventures supported by the fellowship primarily contribute to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:

• Goal 1: No Poverty
• Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
• Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

What Past Fellows Say

Fellows from the 2026 cohort describe the program as practical, structured, and life-changing:

• Loise Kioko (Founder of Nutri Shrooms, University of Eldoret, Kenya) called it one of the most practical entrepreneurship experiences she has had, praising how each phase led naturally into the next, taking participants from an idea to building and testing a real venture.
• Paballo Sekoto (Founder of Youthrive Ruaella Pty Ltd, Johannesburg, South Africa) said that she came in with a strong vision but lacked a structured framework. The coaches, mentors, workshops, and community of fellows gave her the push and accountability to test hypotheses, analyze market feedback, and refine her model.
• Abdalgaffar Mayadda (Founder of Sonocare, Entebbe, Uganda) explained that he learned to see opportunities where he once saw only problems, and to understand the people he serves, validate ideas, and communicate his vision.

Meet the 2026 Award Recipients

The 2026 cohort produced some remarkable ventures. These Fellows won prizes at the DDQIC African Initiatives Final Pitch Competition:

• Natamba Evalyne, Feathered Fortune (Makerere University, Uganda) – $7,000 prize. A layer poultry farm in Kazo district that tackles low-protein diets by producing affordable eggs.
• Joseph Turay, Route 360 Solutions Initiative (African Leadership University, Rwanda) – $6,000 prize. Manufactures affordable, sustainable eco-bricks from recycled plastics for outdoor pavement projects.
• Chelimo Nasta, Nana Enterprise (Makerere University, Uganda) – $4,500 prize. Produces high-quality Irish potato crisps and potato flour from locally grown potatoes, creating income opportunities for farmers in the Sebei sub-region of Eastern Uganda.
• Edom Getnet Melak, LarvaNova (Debre Tabor University, Ethiopia) – $4,500 prize. Turns organic waste into Black Soldier Fly larvae to produce protein-rich animal feed for poultry farmers, reducing reliance on soybeans and maize while improving waste management.
• Olando Erick Opiyo, Rentpilot Kenya (University of Nairobi, Kenya) – $4,500 prize. A PropTech platform that automates rental management for landlords and connects tenants with verified "mama fua" (domestic cleaners), creating stable income for underserved women.
• Basuta Milanzi, MkulimaLink (Mzumbe University, Tanzania) – $3,500 prize. A mobile platform using an app, SMS, and USSD to connect smallholder farmers in Dodoma with verified buyers, making agricultural markets more efficient and inclusive.

Success Stories from Past Fellows

The fellowship has supported entrepreneurs across the continent over the years. A few highlights:

• Judith Onza Eyoa (AfriShoe Uganda): Inspired by her father's struggle to find suitable shoes for his walking disability, Judith founded AfriShoe Uganda at age 25. The venture crafts affordable, durable, customized footwear for people with walking disabilities using locally available materials. Read her story.
• Enoch Muwangezi (Ugabrush / Deploy Resource Africa): Enoch runs Ugabrush and its parent company, Deploy Resource Africa, which oversees ventures that create eco-friendly products while providing employment for young people in the community. Learn more.
• Eunice Kloe (BidiGreen Ghana): A smokeless charcoal production and distribution company that has grown its team, mostly women, to increase output of charcoal briquettes.
• Dennis Ssekimpi (Hya Bioplastics): Hya Bioplastics is changing the packaging landscape in Africa with a patent-pending process that re-engineers plant fibers into bioplastics. It used $10,000 in seed funding from the DDQIC Summer Pitch Competition to scale production from 500 to 10,000 units daily.
• Titose Chembezi (Altery and Nautilus): Titose joined the 2021 program to grow Altery, a digital platform helping SMEs and the informal sector access credit. She won $10,000 at the Summer Pitch Competition, later won the Mandela Washington Fellowship, and is becoming a leading figure in South Africa's FinTech industry. She now focuses on Nautilus, a company that helps clients run code over highly sensitive datasets without exposing the data. She says competing against ventures from Canada and winning a prize helped her move past the stigma that African startups are less competent than Western ones.

Want the full picture? You can download the 2025 Final Impact Report here. An accessible version is available on request by emailing the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship team.

Partners

The fellowship is supported by a network of partners that includes Future Perspectives, UNESCO, the Republic of Botswana, the EGO Foundation, Wotaboy, the University of Botswana, Strathmore University, Botho University, and the University of Kigali.

How to Apply

Follow these steps to submit your application:

1. Read the program details carefully and make sure you meet the eligibility requirements (African student or recent graduate, able to commit at least 10 hours per week, and able to complete work in English or with a teammate who can).
2. Check the Frequently Asked Questions page for answers to common questions about the process.
3. Prepare your idea or venture details so that you can clearly explain the problem you want to solve and who you want to serve.
4. Complete the online application form before the December 1, 2026 deadline.

APPLY NOW (Deadline: December 1, 2026)

Not ready yet? Sign up to be notified when applications launch.

For the official program page, visit: Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship.

Tips for a Strong Application

• Start with a real problem. The program is built around speaking to end users and validating problems, so show that you understand the people you want to help.
• Show commitment. Selection in each phase rewards participants who consistently complete courses, meet milestones, and stay engaged.
• Be ready for the time commitment. Plan your schedule so you can give at least 10 hours a week alongside your studies or work.
• Be open to feedback. Coaches and mentors will challenge your assumptions, and the strongest Fellows use that feedback to improve.
• Think about impact. Ventures that address poverty, health, and decent work are especially aligned with the fellowship's focus.
• Consider forming a team if English fluency is a concern, or if your idea would benefit from complementary skills.

Important: Beware of Fraud

Queen's University has issued an advisory about a fraud alert targeting international students. Always apply only through official Queen's University channels, and never pay anyone for a place in the program. You can read the university's fraud advisory here.

Contact Information

Dunin-Deshpande Innovation Centre at Queen's University
Rose Innovation Hub, 69 Union St, Kingston, ON K7L 2N9, Canada
Telephone: 613 533 6000
Email: innovation.centre@queensu.ca

Follow the centre on social media: X (Twitter) | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube

Final Thoughts

The Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship is a rare chance for young Africans to learn from MIT-developed frameworks, Queen's University faculty, and experienced founders, all without leaving home. With free training, free verifiable credentials, one-on-one coaching, stipends, and the chance to win up to $15,000 CAD in pitch prizes, it can be the push your idea needs to become a real, scalable business.

If you have an idea, the drive to work on it every week, and the willingness to learn, do not wait for the deadline. Apply before December 1, 2026, and share this opportunity with a friend or classmate who could benefit from it.

Disclaimer: This post is for information purposes only and is based on the official program page at the time of writing. Dates, benefits, and requirements may change, so always confirm details on the official Queen's University website before applying.