Jim Leech Mastercard Entrepreneurship Fellowship

The Dunin-Deshpande Innovation Centre at Queen's University in Canada runs this free, fully virtual 8-month entrepreneurship programme for African students and recent graduates, backed by the Mastercard Foundation. You learn the MIT Disciplined Entrepreneurship framework, get coaching and mentors, and build your own venture step by step. Participants who progress through the first two phases compete to become one of up to 60 Fellows, who receive a stipend, incubation support and a shot at pitch prizes.

What you get:

• Free access to online entrepreneurship courses, a business bootcamp and live workshops led by Queen's University faculty and industry leaders
• Training in the Disciplined Entrepreneurship framework developed at MIT, plus pitch coaching
• Queen's University micro-credentials and digital badges, free of charge
• A one-on-one program coach and access to more than 15 mentors, plus Queen's entrepreneurial alumni network
• For up to 60 Fellows selected for the final Launch phase: a stipend, stated as $500 CAD in the benefits section and FAQ and as USD 350 in the programme timeline, with no reporting required on how it is spent
• A chance to pitch for non-equity prizes of up to $15,000 CAD at the end of the programme

What you'll do:

• Explore (January to February 2027): work through online courses and the first 11 steps of the Disciplined Entrepreneurship workbook, interviewing users and validating the problem you are solving
• Ignite (March to April 2027): for about 180 finalists, build a business model, prototype and test your solution, then pitch to compete for the fellowship
• Launch and Fellowship (May to August 2027): up to 60 Fellows join DDQIC's virtual summer incubation, give weekly 3-2-1 pitches, pilot their solution and plan to scale
• Graduate in August 2027 and keep access to post-incubation support and pitch opportunities
• Commit at least 10 hours a week and meet assignment deadlines to advance between phases

Key dates:

• Applications close December 1, 2026 at 12:59 pm Eastern Time
• Decisions by the end of December 2026
• Explore phase: January to February 2027
• Ignite phase: March to April 2027
• Launch phase and fellowship: May to August 2027

More information:

• Programme FAQ: https://www.queensu.ca/innovationcentre/african-entrepreneurship-faq-page
• Questions go to jimleechfellowship@queensu.ca, the only address official communications come from

• Citizen of an African country
• Currently enrolled at a post-secondary institution, or graduated within the past five years
• Any academic discipline
• A desire to solve pressing problems and bring an entrepreneurial idea to life
• Able to commit to all three phases of the online programme and at least 10 hours a week
• Reliable internet access and a device for virtual sessions and assignments
• Assignments and pitches must be completed in English; applicants who are not fluent can team up with someone who meets the English requirement
• Teams and co-founders are welcome
• Previous participants may reapply, but anyone who reached the Launch phase before cannot receive the stipend again