The Commonwealth Startup Fellowship 2025 is a fully funded six-month program designed for early-stage startup founders from low and middle-income Commonwealth countries. This unique opportunity, organized by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) and Imperial College London, helps entrepreneurs grow their businesses with expert coaching, immersive learning, and global networking.
The program starts in November 2025 with a two-week, in-person bootcamp in Accra, Ghana. Throughout the six months, selected fellows will join online workshops, receive one-on-one coaching, and build strong connections across the Commonwealth. Some outstanding fellows may even be invited to London, UK, for a capstone event to pitch their startups to investors.
The program accepts 20 innovative startups, with one founder from each startup attending the bootcamp. This is your chance to learn from industry leaders, meet other entrepreneurs, and scale your business for long-term impact in your home country.
Quick Overview of Commonwealth Startup Fellowship 2025
- Host Country: Ghana (Bootcamp), United Kingdom (Capstone event)
- Organizers: Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) and Imperial College London
- Deadline: 30 June 2025, 4:00 PM (BST)
- Program Duration: 6 months (November 2025 – May 2026)
- Value: Travel, accommodation, visa, meals, coaching, and grant fund access
- Age Limit: No specific limit, but applicants must be graduates
- Eligibility: Citizens or refugees from eligible low and middle-income Commonwealth countries
Perks of the Entrepreneurship Fellowship Program 2025
- Fully funded bootcamp in Accra, Ghana (14–30 November 2025)
- Covered travel, accommodation, and meals for one founder per startup
- Reimbursement for visa and vaccination costs
- Access to £35,000 in equity-free grants through the Fellows Fund
- Online coaching, workshops, and expert mentorship
- Possibility of travel to London for the capstone pitching event
- Personalized business coaching and monthly check-ins
- Peer networking across the Commonwealth startup community
Benefits of the Fully Funded Startup Fellowships 2025
- Learn how to scale your startup, refine your model, and implement lean strategies.
- Discover your leadership style, improve team building, and enhance diversity in your company.
- Understand local and global entrepreneurial ecosystems and build meaningful partnerships.
- Develop strong brand messaging, financial planning, and sales strategies to drive revenue.
- Learn how to prevent burnout and create a healthy startup culture.
- Gain insights and tools that continue to support your business after the program ends.
Exclusions of the Commonwealth Startup Fellowship 2025
- Only one founder receives full financial coverage for the bootcamp
- Applicants must already have a working product or prototype
- Startups must be based in eligible Commonwealth countries
- The program does not support businesses that are still at the idea stage
- Those who’ve done a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship in the last 5 years are ineligible
- Employees with no equity in the business cannot apply
Eligibility Criteria of Leadership Development Fellowship 2025
To apply, you must:
- Be a graduate or equivalent
- Be a citizen of, or have refugee status in, an eligible low or middle-income Commonwealth country
- Be permanently resident in an eligible country
- Be fluent in English (spoken and written)
- Not have received a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship in the past 5 years
- Be available for the in-person bootcamp and six-month program
In addition, your startup must:
- Have been actively developed for at least six months
- Show innovation in product, service, or market
- Have a working MVP (Minimum Viable Product)
- Provide proof of customer traction (sales, pre-sales, contracts, user metrics, etc.)
Important Dates of Commonwealth Startup Fellowship 2025
- Applications Open: 2 June 2025
- Application Deadline: 30 June 2025
- Bootcamp in Ghana: 14–30 November 2025
- Online Programming: 30 November 2025 – 15 May 2026
- Capstone Event in London: May 2026
How to Apply to the Commonwealth Startup Fellowship 2025
- Visit the official Apply Now page
- Fill in your personal, academic, and professional details
- Provide startup information (registration, team, traction, etc.)
- Upload a 1-minute elevator pitch video
- Answer application questions about your product, solution, goals, IP, and motivation
- List two referees who can comment on your capacity to benefit from the fellowship
- Upload a valid passport or national ID card
- Submit your application before the deadline
Required Documents for Fellowship Program for Entrepreneurs 2025
- Completed online application form
- One-minute pitch video (hosted online with viewable link)
- Scan of a valid passport or national ID
- Contact details of two referees
- Details of qualifications and work experience
- Information about your startup (progress, traction, IP, goals, etc.)
Eligible Countries for the Startup Fellowship for Developing Countries
Africa:
- Botswana
- Cameroon
- Eswatini
- Ghana
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Mauritius
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nigeria
- Rwanda
- Sierra Leone
- South Africa
- Tanzania
- The Gambia
- Uganda
- Zambia
Asia:
- Bangladesh
- India
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Pakistan
- Sri Lanka
Caribbean:
- Belize
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Jamaica
- Montserrat
- St. Helena
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Pacific:
- Fiji
- Kiribati
- Nauru
- Papua New Guinea
- Samoa
- Solomon Islands
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu
