Are you a business entrepreneur from a Commonwealth nation with low or middle incomes hoping to expand internationally, get professional mentoring, and get access to capital and international networks? The Commonwealth Startup Fellowship 2025 offers you the chance to scale your idea and make a significant impact back home. It is organized by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) in collaboration with Imperial College London.
This six-month hybrid fellowship blends immersive, hands-on experiences with virtual learning. A fully financed two-week bootcamp in Accra, Ghana, from November 14–30, 2025, will be held for a chosen group of participants as part of the program. For capstone activities, they may also travel to London, UK. The fellowship, which is intended to assist early-stage businesses with significant development potential, seeks to give entrepreneurs real-world business experience, international mentorship, and chances to expand their businesses and create jobs in local communities.
The program chooses 20 exceptional entrepreneurs from throughout the Commonwealth each year and gives them access to professional mentoring, global networks, and essential business development resources. More than just an educational opportunity, the Commonwealth Startup Fellowship 2025 serves as a springboard for entrepreneurs prepared to drive revolutionary change at home and pitch their ideas to a worldwide audience.
Host Country: UK
University: UK Universities
Opportunity Type: Fellowship
Eligibility Country: International Students
Financial Coverage: Fully Funded
Eligibility Criteria:
- must be a citizen or officially recognized refugee of a Commonwealth nation with a low or intermediate income.
- must live in that nation permanently.
- must possess at least a graduate-level degree.
- English proficiency, both in writing and speaking, is required.
- Commonwealth Professional Fellowships shouldn’t have been awarded in the previous five years.
- Attending the in-person bootcamp in Ghana requires availability.
- A startup should be actively developing for at least six months.
- A working MVP (Minimum Viable Product) is required.
Benefits:
- Traveling back and forth from your home country to Accra, Ghana
- During the bootcamp, lodging, meals, and local transportation
- reimbursement for necessary vaccines and visa expenses
- Having access to the Fellow’s Grant Fund to pay for qualified beginning costs
- Additional financial support targeted for fellows with disabilities, if needed
Deadline: 30 June 2025
