2025 Commonwealth Startup Fellowship

Summary

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.

Benefits:

Each Commonwealth Startup Fellowship provides:

• Approved return travel from the Fellow’s home country to the in-person bootcamp in Accra, Ghana.

• Accommodation, travel and catering for the duration of the in-person bootcamp 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.

Eligibilities

To be considered for the 2025 Commonwealth Startup Fellowship, 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.

Deadline June 30, 2025

To learn more, click here.