The Commonwealth Startup Fellowship will run for six months and is designed to ignite and elevate high-potential startups from low and middle-income Commonwealth countries. The programme is made up of a combination of immersive in-person experiences and online learning, to provide participants with essential skills, cutting-edge knowledge, and a robust global network.  

The CSC and Imperial College London intend that by the end of the programme, entrepreneurs will be equipped to build thriving businesses, scale operations effectively, and drive job creation in their home countries. 

A cohort of 20 early-stage start-ups will be recruited. One person from each business must be available to attend a two-week boot camp in Accra, Ghana at the end of March 2025. There is also the possibility for representatives from outstanding organizations to travel to London in the UK later in the year for a series of exciting capstone events.

Fellow benefits:

Each Fellowship provides: 

• Approved return travel from the Fellow’s home country to the in-person boot camp in Accra, Ghana. 
• Accommodation, travel, and catering for the duration of the in-person boot camp in Accra, Ghana. 
• Reimbursement of the standard visa application fee. 
• Reimbursement of vaccination costs 
• Access to a Fellow’s Grant Fund for business or participation-related costs 
• If a Fellow declares a disability, a full assessment of needs and eligibility for additional financial support will be offered by the CSC. See the CSC disability support statement for more information. 

Fellow Eligibility 

To be eligible for these Fellowships, prospective Fellows must: 

• Be of at least graduate level;  
• Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible low or middle-income Commonwealth country;  
• Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country;  
• Be fluent in written and spoken English.  
• Not have undertaken a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship within the last five years (at the time of taking up the award) 
• Be available to undertake their fellowship from the prescribed start date 

In addition, they must demonstrate:  

• Evidence of innovation, in terms of product, service, or market   
• Active development for at least six months and demonstrable commitment from team members   
• A working minimum viable ‘product’, service, and/or prototype   
• Significant evidence of customer engagement or traction in the form of early sales or pre-sales . Proof of interest or demand signed contracts or other relevant evidence. 

The CSC aims to identify talented individuals who have the potential to make change. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination and encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates. For further information on the support available to fellows with a disability, see the CSC disability support statement. 

Eligible countries

1. Bangladesh 
   
2. Belize 
   
3. Botswana 
   
4. Cameroon 
   
5. Dominica 
   
6. Eswatini 
   
7. Fiji 
   
8. Gabon 
   
9. The Gambia 
   
10. Ghana 
    
11. Grenada 
    
12. Guyana 
    
13. India 
    
14. Jamaica 
    
15. Kenya 
    
16. Kiribati 
    
17. Lesotho 
    
18. Malawi 
    
19. Malaysia 
    
20. Maldives 
    
21. Mauritius 
    
22. Montserrat 
    
23. Mozambique 
    
24. Namibia 
    
25. Nauru 
    
26. Nigeria 
    
27. Pakistan 
    
28. Papua New Guinea 
    
29. Rwanda 
    
30. St Helena 
    
31. St Lucia 
    
32. St Vincent and The Grenadines 
    
33. Samoa 
    
34. Sierra Leone 
    
35. Solomon Islands 
    
36. South Africa 
    
37. Sri Lanka 
    
38. Tanzania 
    
39. Togo 
    
40. Tonga 
    
41. Tuvalu 
    
42. Uganda 
    
43. Vanuatu 
    
44. Zambia 

How to apply

Applications for Commonwealth Startup Fellowships are now open. You can access the application form here.

Please note: Your personal information will be used to conduct necessary due diligence checks to the CSC’s satisfaction before the CSC proceeds with any type of formal agreement or contractual relationship. In most cases, the due diligence checks will be straightforward, however further information may be requested, so we ask for your full cooperation to speed up the process. 

If you do not agree to your personal data being used for the purpose of conducting due diligence, unfortunately, the CSC will not be able to proceed further with the application process. 

Official Link