Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship 2026: Fully Funded Program for African Entrepreneurs

Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship 2026: Fully Funded Program for African Entrepreneurs

The Mastercard Foundation Jim Leech Fellowship on Entrepreneurship 2026 is an intensive, eight-month programme that empowers African students and recent graduates to turn early-stage ideas into viable social enterprises. Delivered in partnership with Queen’s University’s Dunin-Deshpande Queen’s Innovation Centre (DDQIC), this fellowship combines online learning, mentorship, seed funding opportunities and a summer incubation to help founders build sustainable ventures that create social and economic value.

If you’re an African student or recent graduate with an idea that addresses a real problem — in education, health, agriculture, climate, or any sector with social impact — this fellowship is designed to accelerate your pathway from idea to early traction. Join our WhatsApp channel for fast alerts and peer support: Jobs Connect ZA. You can also find more fellowship and scholarship calls on Wikihii.co.za.

Introduction — what the Jim Leech Fellowship actually is

The Jim Leech Fellowship on Entrepreneurship is funded by the Mastercard Foundation and run by Queen’s University’s innovation hub, DDQIC. The programme runs in three phases: Explore (online training), Ignite (a more selective virtual accelerator), and Launch (an in-person summer incubation for up to 60 Fellows). Over eight months Fellows receive structured training based on the Disciplined Entrepreneurship framework, mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs, a CAD $500 stipend during incubation, and opportunities to pitch for additional seed funding (up to CAD $15,000).

This isn’t academic theory — it’s a practical, deadline-driven process that asks you to do customer interviews, build prototypes, test assumptions, and prove early demand. The fellowship is delivered primarily in English and is open to students and recent graduates from across Africa. It’s an excellent fit for founders who want to grow ideas that produce measurable social impact.

Why it matters — opportunities this fellowship creates

Many great social ventures fail not because the idea is weak but because founders lack access to the right training, networks, and early funding. The Jim Leech Fellowship aims to fill this gap by offering:

• Structured entrepreneurship training using proven frameworks that reduce guesswork and accelerate product-market fit.
• Mentorship and coaching from entrepreneurs, investors and sector specialists who can shorten your learning curve.
• Access to seed funding through pitch competitions and potential follow-on investment networks.
• In-person incubation at DDQIC (for selected Fellows), where you prototype, test, and pilot in a focused environment.
• Networking into a pan-African cohort and global entrepreneurship ecosystem — critical for partnerships and scaling.

For South African and other African founders, the fellowship offers both credibility (a recognised brand behind your idea) and practical resources to move from concept to pilot. Even if you don’t win the seed prize, the learning and connections you gain can unlock local grants, incubators and investor interest.

Aim and benefits — what winners receive

The programme’s central aim is to nurture entrepreneurial leadership that delivers both social and financial returns. Here are the concrete benefits for selected Fellows:

• Phase-based training: Free access to online courses and step-by-step tasks guided by the Disciplined Entrepreneurship workbook.
• Stipend: Up to 60 Fellows selected for the Launch phase receive a CAD $500 stipend during the summer incubation.
• Pitch prizes: Opportunities to compete for prizes up to CAD $15,000 to kickstart your venture.
• In-person experience: Travel to the Dunin-Deshpande Queen’s Innovation Centre (subject to selection and programme rules) to access labs, mentors and investor meetings.
• Coaching & mentor network: Dedicated coaches from DDQIC’s global mentorship pool throughout the Launch phase.
• Post-incubation support: Continued access to networks, possible ambassador roles and additional pitch opportunities.

Note: The fellowship is offered at no cost. Official communications come from jimleechfellowship@queensu.ca and the application form is hosted on Queen’s application portal (e.g., queensu.qualtrics.com as the application endpoint referenced in the call).

Who should apply — the ideal candidate profile

The Jim Leech Fellowship looks for curious, resilient and action-oriented applicants. Ideal candidates typically have:

• Student or recent graduate status from any African post-secondary institution (undergraduate or recently graduated).
• A clear idea or early-stage project addressing a social problem (education, health, agriculture, climate, inclusive finance, etc.).
• Willingness to commit at least 10 hours per week to the programme during the virtual phases and full-time participation for the Launch incubation if selected.
• Evidence of persistence and early traction (pilot users, prototypes, community validation) — though raw ideas with clear user insights are also welcome.
• Comfort with English as the primary delivery language; some mentorship may be available in French.

Importantly, the programme values diversity of background — technical founders, creatives, social scientists and non-technical operators all have a place if they demonstrate commitment and a sound approach to testing their idea.

Programme structure & timeline — what to expect

The 2026 programme is organised into three phases with clear milestones and selection gates:

Phase 1 — Explore (January–February)

Open to 1,000+ applicants who gain access to curated online entrepreneurship training. During this phase you will:

• Work through the first 11 steps of the Disciplined Entrepreneurship workbook.
• Conduct customer interviews, map user journeys and validate core problems.
• Submit assignments demonstrating progress (these determine who moves forward).

Phase 2 — Ignite (March–April)

Approximately 180+ finalists are selected for deeper work. Activities include:

• Advanced coursework and cohort-based coaching.
• Building prototypes, testing value propositions and creating a business model.
• Interim pitch rounds — strongest teams progress to Launch.

Phase 3 — Launch & Fellowship (May–August)

Up to 60 Fellows join the summer incubation at DDQIC. Here you will:

• Receive hands-on coaching and a CAD $500 stipend.
• Refine go-to-market strategy, pilot your solution and pursue customer commitments.
• Compete in pitch competitions for seed awards (up to CAD $15,000).
• Graduate in August with momentum, mentors and potential investor connections.

Successful candidates are notified by the end of December 2025 for the 2026 cohort, and the program phases run from January through August 2026. High-performing Fellows may become future ambassadors or mentors.

Application requirements — documents and readiness

Before you apply, prepare the following items to strengthen your submission:

• Personal information: ID, contact details and academic status.
• Short pitch / idea summary: A concise description of the problem, your solution, target users and early evidence.
• CV or résumé: Highlight leadership, projects, volunteer work and any entrepreneurial experience.
• Video or written motivation: Many cohorts ask for a short video pitch or written answers explaining why you’re committed to the idea.
• Optional attachments: Prototype links, screenshots, user testimonials or pilot results (if you have them).

The application is free. Use the official application form on the Queen’s portal (the call references a Qualtrics form: queensu.qualtrics.com). Ensure communications come from jimleechfellowship@queensu.ca before acting on any requests for funds or personal data.

How selection is decided — what the judges look for

The selection committee evaluates candidates on a combination of:

• Commitment & capacity to execute: Are you likely to follow through when things get hard?
• Evidence of validation: Have you talked to users, tested assumptions and iterated based on feedback?
• Potential for impact: Does the idea address a meaningful social problem and have a plausible path to scale?
• Team composition: Are the founders complementary and capable of executing the plan?
• Quality of application: Clear, concise and evidence-based submissions score higher.

Be realistic in your claims — founders who overpromise and underdeliver are often deprioritised. Judges reward honesty, learning and measurable steps forward.

Common challenges applicants face

Many otherwise strong applicants stumble on avoidable mistakes. Watch out for these common pitfalls:

• Generic applications: Vague statements like “we want to help people” without specifics on who, how and why will not progress.
• No evidence of user research: The programme demands proof you’ve tested the idea with real users.
• Poor pitch structure: Long, unfocused videos or essays decrease clarity. Keep answers structured and results-focused.
• Language & accessibility: The programme is delivered in English; poor language clarity can hinder evaluation. Get a reviewer if you need help.
• Last-minute submissions: Deadlines are strict — upload early to avoid technical problems.

Practical tips for success — how to make your application stand out

1. Start with a clear problem statement: Who exactly is affected, and how large or painful is the problem? Use numbers when you can.
2. Show what you’ve learned: Provide specific examples from user interviews — quotes, behaviour changes, or willingness to pay demonstrate validation.
3. Build a minimal prototype: Even a simple mock-up, WhatsApp flow or landing page that collects signups proves capability.
4. Be coachable: Indicate what you want to learn from mentors and what support matters to you most.
5. Prepare a one-minute pitch: Be able to explain your idea, user, and business model crisply — judges often decide quickly.
6. Leverage local networks: Partner with campus incubators, entrepreneurship clubs or NGOs to test pilots and get referee support.
7. Proofread and polish: Have a mentor or peer review your answers and pitch before submission.

What to expect if you’re selected — day-to-day during Launch

Launch is intense and practical. Expect:

• Daily sprint work: short deadlines, rapid iteration and regular feedback sessions.
• Mentor check-ins: scheduled coaching to unblock product, go-to-market and fundraising issues.
• Peer critique: cohort reviews where you test assumptions and refine messaging.
• Pitch prep: rehearsals for investor and prize pitches, with constructive critique.
• Networking events: meetings with sector experts, potential partners and funders.

Be prepared to share progress publicly with your cohort — transparency and rapid learning are core to the fellowship’s pedagogy.

Post-fellowship pathways — turning momentum into sustainable ventures

Graduation is a milestone, not the finish line. Successful Fellows typically pursue a mix of:

• Seed funding from prize competitions or local investors.
• Admissions to local incubators, accelerators or venture studios for continued support.
• Grants from development organisations (DFIs, foundations) for social impact pilots.
• Partnerships with NGOs, government agencies or corporates for pilot deployments.

Leverage the fellowship’s network aggressively: mentors and peers often open doors to pilot sites, customers or follow-on funding.

Useful resources & official links

• Mastercard Foundation: mastercardfdn.org
• Jim Leech Fellowship application (Queens portal): application forms and updates are shared via the Queen’s application pages and the Qualtrics form referenced in the call (check official announcements on Queen’s channels and the fellowship email jimleechfellowship@queensu.ca).
• Dunin-Deshpande Queen’s Innovation Centre (DDQIC): ddqic.ca — host of the Launch incubation.
• Apply page (example endpoint used in the call): https://queensu.qualtrics.com (use official links in the programme announcement to locate the live form).
• Wikihii Scholarships hub: Wikihii.co.za/scholarships — curated calls and support for African applicants.
• WhatsApp community (alerts & peer help): Jobs Connect ZA.

Conclusion — final encouragement and checklist

The Mastercard Foundation Jim Leech Fellowship on Entrepreneurship 2026 is an outstanding opportunity for African students and recent graduates who want to build revenue-generating solutions with measurable social impact. It combines theory, mentorship and in-person incubation to accelerate startup development at early stages — and provides both small seed funding and pathways to larger investment.

If you’re serious about applying, start now: gather evidence of user interviews, build a minimal prototype, refine a one-minute pitch, and secure a referee or mentor who understands your idea. Use the tips above to make a clear, honest and evidence-based application.

Quick application checklist:

• ✅ Clear one-paragraph problem statement and solution
• ✅ Short CV highlighting leadership or project work
• ✅ Evidence of user interviews or pilot (even 10–20 conversations help)
• ✅ Short pitch video or written motivation (check the form requirements)
• ✅ Application submitted via the official Queen’s form before 15 December 2025

Need help polishing your pitch or reviewing your application? Join our WhatsApp community for feedback and reminders: Jobs Connect ZA. For more scholarship and fellowship guides relevant to South Africa and Africa, visit our hub at Wikihii.co.za.

Prepared by Wikihii Media — practical, human-centered guides to scholarships, fellowships and career pathways for African jobseekers and entrepreneurs.