The Commonwealth Startup Fellowship (CSF) is a 6-month programme designed to ignite and elevate high potential startups from low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries. The programme is made up of a combination of in-person and online learning to provide participants with essential skills, tailored support, and a global network.
Rationale
The World Bank estimates that 600 million jobs will be needed by 2030 to absorb the growing global workforce. (World Bank, 2019). The CSF helps to address this problem by supporting early stage entrepreneurs to grow their businesses and become the next generation of business leaders and job creators.
The Programme
The programme is delivered in partnership with the Imperial College London Enterprise Lab, global leaders in this field. 40 businesses will be supported in total, across 2 cohorts of 20 businesses.
Cohort 2 will start in November 2025. Applications are open from 2–30 June 2025.
We are holding an information session for anybody interested in hearing more about the programme this Thursday at 11.30 am. If you would like to attend, please register here.
The Fellowship is made up of 3 stages
Stage 1: Fully funded in-person bootcamp in Accra, Ghana
- Here, the programme will be launched with intensive, hands-on training. Participants will refine their business plans, develop targeted growth strategies, and build a strong network of fellow entrepreneurs and experts
Stage 2: Five months of bespoke online learning and business coaching
- Learning modules will continue remotely for the next 5 months, giving fellows the opportunity to apply what they are learning in real time. They will each be supported by a personal mentor and have monthly ‘venture review panels’ with industry and country experts who will provide feedback and guidance on the progress and choices they are making
Stage 3: Fully funded Capstone Week in London
- At the end of the programme, businesses will have the opportunity to travel to London to take part in an international investor event and other networking opportunities
Who we’re looking for
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 6 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.
Links
- imperialenterpriselab.com/programmes/commonwealth-startup-fellowship/
- cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/entrepreneurship-innovation-and-job-creation/
