Application Deadline: 1 September 2026
LOCATION: United Kingdom
Commonwealth Startup Fellowships run for six months and are 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 scale their businesses successfully, pitch fluently, and drive job creation in their home countries.
ELIGIBILITY:
To be eligible for this fellowship, candidates 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 a permanent 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 the fellowship from the prescribed start date (16 November 2026)
Be available to attend the Bootcamp in Accra, Ghana (estimated 25 January – 4 February 2027)
Be available to attend the Capstone Week in London, UK (estimated 14 – 21 May 2027)
In addition, they must:
Have a startup that has been registered as a legal entity in accordance with local regulations;
Demonstrate evidence of innovation, in terms of product, service, business model or approach to addressing a market need.
Have progressed beyond the idea, prototype, and pilot stages;
Have been actively operating their business for at least twelve months and be able to demonstrate meaningful progress;
Have a product or service that is available to customers;
Have demonstrated customer demand through paying customers and evidence of ongoing customer adoption (such as repeat purchases, contract renewals, recurring revenue, or sustained usage);
Operate through a sustainable business model and is not primarily dependent on donations, philanthropy, or grant funding;
Create positive economic, social, or environmental outcomes through its core activities;
Have evidence of commercial traction, growth, and the potential to scale;
Be seeking to scale their customer base, operations, impact, or geographic reach.
The CSC aims to identify talented individuals who have the potential to make change. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination and encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates. For further information on the support available to Fellows with a disability, please see the CSC disability support statement.
Please note that personal information will be used to conduct necessary due diligence checks by the CSC. These checks will be carried out before proceeding with any type of formal agreement or contractual relationship. In most cases, the due diligence checks will be straightforward, but further information may be requested, so we ask for full cooperation from candidates to speed up the process.
If candidates do not agree to their personal data being used for the purpose of conducting due diligence, the CSC will not be able to proceed further with the selection process.
BENEFIT:
Each fellowship provides:
Approved return travel from the Fellow’s home country to the in-person bootcamp in Accra, Ghana, including accommodation, travel, and catering.
Approved return travel from the Fellow’s home country to the in-person Capstone Week in London, UK, including accommodation, travel, and catering.
Reimbursement of the standard visa application fee.
Up to £2,000 in equity-free grants 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. See the CSC disability support statement for more information.
