Deadline: Monday, 30 June 2025
The Commonwealth Startup Fellowship (CSF) is a six-month programme designed to ignite and elevate high-potential startups from low and middle-income countries across the Commonwealth. It combines intensive in-person and online learning, helping founders gain essential skills, tailored coaching, and access to a powerful global network to overcome barriers and grow their businesses.
A cohort of 20 early-stage startups will be recruited. The programme kicks off in November 2025 with a fully funded two-week bootcamp in Accra, Ghana, from 14–30 November 2025. One founder from each selected team will attend the bootcamp in person, while co-founders and team members can join the remote portion. Travel, accommodation, meals, visa costs, and required vaccinations are covered for one founder. The rest of the programme includes online expert-led sessions, business coaching, peer learning, and support for internet and data costs.
Startups can also apply for financial support from the Fellows Fund, a £35,000 equity-free grant pool available to cover business-related costs during the programme. Applications for the grant are reviewed on a rolling basis, and funds are distributed based on the specific needs of participants.
Some selected startups will also be invited to a Capstone event in London in early 2026, where they’ll pitch to investors and industry leaders. The programme welcomes startups from all sectors. Founders must hold equity in the business to be eligible. The CSF does not take any equity, and all intellectual property remains with the founders.
All sessions and materials are in English, and about 6–7 hours of online commitment per month is expected. The programme also supports participants with accessibility needs. If you’re ready to grow your startup and connect with a community of innovators across the Commonwealth, this fellowship is for you.
Location:
Ghana, United Kingdom
Benefits
By the end of the programme, you will:
- Refine business plans, scale operations, implement lean practices, and develop go-to-market strategies to drive sustainable growth.
- Identify and develop your leadership style, enhance team dynamics, address skills gaps, and promote diversity to build effective teams.
- Understand and navigate local and global entrepreneurial ecosystems, identify key players, and leverage partnerships to support venture growth.
- Develop compelling branding, effective sales strategies, and robust financial forecasts to achieve business goals and secure funding.
- Build resilience, prevent burnout, foster team well-being, and cultivate a supportive entrepreneurial network for long-term success.
- Articulate goals, measure progress, and create actionable plans for continuous personal and professional development beyond the programme.
Eligibilities
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 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.
Eligible Regions: Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Montserrat, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, The Gambia, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia
How to apply
Application Process
Applications must be made using the Commonwealth Startup Fellowship online application form.
In the application form, prospective Fellows are asked to:
- List up to two undergraduate and postgraduate university qualifications obtained (where applicable)
- Provide details of up to two entries of previous employment history and explain how each job is relevant to the programme you wish to undertake in the UK (up to 100 words per employment)
- List names and positions of up to three referees who are qualified to comment on both your capacity to benefit from your proposed fellowship and your ability to deliver development impact afterwards. One of your referees must be your current or most recent employer
- List information about your business, including if and where it’s registered and your role within it.
- Describe any progress or traction you have made on your startup. (up to 250 words). You should include any notable achievements, measurable outcomes (such as number of users, sign-ups), revenue to date, number of prototypes tested, etc. You should also include any market, and technological research you have completed.
- Describe what competitor research have you done to understand your direct and indirect competitors. (up to 150 words)
- Describe your idea’s Intellectual Property (IP) protection and ownership status, if any. (up to 150 words)
- Provide a 1 minute video elevator pitch, clearly explaining the problem your business is solving, the solution it offers, the progress so far and what difference taking part in this programme will make.
- Explain the problem your business is aiming to solve (up to 150 words)
- Explain your solution, how it works and how it is innovative (up to 150 words)
- Explain why you are the right team (or solo founder) to grow your startup. You should include your collective skills, knowledge, competencies, qualifications, commitment. Identify any gaps in your team. (up to 150 words)
- Describe your motivation for joining the programme. You should include your goals, reasons, or objectives you want to achieve on the programme. (up to 150 words)
- Provide a scan of your passport or national identity card
Click here for more information on the fellowship.