Be empowered with quality information. Discover more about “Empowering African Students through the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship 2025.”
The Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship offers training, resources, financial support, and mentorship to empower African students and recent graduates to cultivate entrepreneurial skills and launch their own businesses. This 8-month fellowship is designed to build entrepreneurial expertise and develop a mindset geared towards creating social and financial impact.
Applicants are welcome from all fields of study and postsecondary institutions across Africa. This program is open to those who are already running a business or those who aspire to start one. The Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship aims to attract candidates dedicated to building an entrepreneurial outlook and making full use of the program’s resources to launch their own business ventures. Delivered entirely online, the program can be completed at an individualized pace, though participants who dedicate at least 10 hours weekly will gain the most from the experience. Progressing through the program requires participants to meet deadlines by completing assignments online.
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The program’s primary language is English, though mentorship is available in both English and French. Assignments and presentations are required in English, so applicants who do not speak English are encouraged to apply with a partner fluent in English to meet program requirements. Applicants can also work with their local institution to access additional resources that can support language-related challenges.
Empowering African Students through the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship 2025
This fellowship program was made possible by an endowed grant from the Mastercard Foundation to Queen’s University, commemorating Jim Leech, the former Chair of the Mastercard Foundation’s Board and Chancellor Emeritus (14th Chancellor) of Queen’s University. In 2014, Mr. Leech was named a Member of the Order of Canada for his contributions to pension innovation, financial literacy, and community service.
Location: Canada
Program Benefits
The Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship program offers a range of valuable benefits in the following areas:
Training:
- A business bootcamp led by Queen’s University faculty and business experts with extensive entrepreneurial and executive experience.
- Training in the Disciplined Entrepreneurship framework, a step-by-step model for scalable startups developed at MIT.
- Guidance in pitch delivery and mastery.
- Live workshops focused on key skills such as marketing, goal-setting, and team recruitment.
- Participants who successfully complete the program will receive entrepreneurial micro-credentials awarded by Queen’s University.
Mentorship and Networking:
- Direct engagement with mentors and industry leaders in North American entrepreneurship.
- Access to an extensive network of Queen’s entrepreneurial alumni.
- Opportunities to join a large cohort of peers across Africa.
- In the final program phase, fellows are matched with experienced industry professionals for guidance.
- Constructive feedback at crucial stages of startup development.
Financial Support and Awards:
- Up to 60 participants will receive a stipend of $500 CAD in the final phase.
- Opportunities to compete for pitch competition prizes of up to $15,000 CAD at the program’s conclusion.
- Potential travel opportunities to the Dunin-Deshpande Queen’s Innovation Centre for networking that supports long-term business goals.
Eligibility Requirements
The Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship is open to students and recent graduates from any field and African postsecondary institutions. This program supports participants who are either managing an existing business or seeking to establish one.
Ideal candidates are those motivated to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset and make use of the resources available to build their ventures. The program is offered online, with a flexible schedule, though dedicated participants are encouraged to allocate at least 10 hours per week. Participants must meet assignment deadlines to advance through each level.
Eligible Regions: Africa
