The Commonwealth Startup Fellowship is a 6-month immersive program which is offered to support high-potential startups. This fully funded opportunity is exclusively for individuals who belong to low and middle income Commonwealth countries. The Commonwealth fellowship will be a combination of both in-person and online learning sessions. The hybrid approach of this fellowship is designed to provide entrepreneurs with critical skills, advanced knowledge, and a strong global network.
The selection committee will recruit 20 early-stage startups. The Commonwealth fellowship program will begin with a two-week in-person bootcamp in Accra, Ghana. One person from each startup will attend an intensive fully funded entrepreneurship program in Ghana. This program is offered jointly by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) and Imperial College London. At the end of the program, participants will be prepared to scale their businesses successfully and pitch fluently. Selected participants will attend a weeklong series of capstone events in London, UK.
During this international fellowship, participants will get tailored coaching which will help them overcome challenges and expand their businesses. The entrepreneurship fellowship aims to attract talented individuals who have the potential to bring change through innovation. Along with getting training and mentorship, selected Fellows can also receive up to £2,000 in equity-free grants for business or participation-related costs.
Commonwealth Startup Fellowship 2026-27:
Host Countries:
- Ghana and UK
Host Organizations:
- Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC)
- Imperial College London
Fellowship Locations:
- Accra, Ghana
- London, UK
Fellowship Duration and Dates:
- Duration: 6 months (online + in-person components)
- Fellowship starts: 16 November 2026
- Bootcamp in Accra: Estimated 25 January – 4 February 2027
- Capstone Week in London: Estimated 14 – 21 May 2027
Benefits of the Commonwealth Fellowship 2026-27:
- Fellows will get airfare for attending in-person bootcamp in Accra, Ghana.
- Accommodation and meals will be provided during the boot camp.
- The applicants will get the ppproved return travel from the Fellow’s home country to London, UK
- Visa application fee will be reimbursed.
- Vaccination costs will be reimbursed.
- Up to £2,000 in equity-free grants for business or participation-related costs
- CSC will provide support to fellows who have a disability.
Eligibility Criteria for Commonwealth Startup Fellowship:
- Applicants should be citizens of eligible low- or middle-income Commonwealth countries or should have been given refugee status.
- The individuals should live permanently in an eligible Commonwealth country.
- You must be fluent in spoken and written English.
- Applicants should not have availed a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship during the last 5 years.
- You must be available to start their fellowship from the declared starting date.
- The fellows must have evidence of innovation in their product, service, business model, or approach to addressing a market need.
- The applicants should have been actively operating their business for a minimum of 12 months.
- Applicants should have a product or service that is available to customers.
- Fellows should have sufficient evidence of customer demand through paying customers and ongoing customer adoption.
List of Eligible Countries:
- Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Montserrat, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, St Helena, St Lucia, St Vincent and The Grenadines, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia..
How to apply for Commonwealth Startup Fellowship 2026-27:
- Applicants have to apply through the online application form.
- Provide details of up to two undergraduate or postgraduate university degrees obtained (if applicable)
- Mention details of up to 2 entries of your previous jobs.
- Write the names and positions of 2 referees who are qualified to comment on your capacity to benefit from the fellowship.
- Mention the details of your business and your role in it.
- Write the progress of your startup. (Mention the achievements, current revenue, traction, and any research conducted).
- Explain the competitor research you have done.
- Mention your startup’s IP and ownership status.
- Make a 1-minute video to explain the problem that your business is solving, its solution, progress made so far, and the advantage you will have after attending this fellowship.
- Explain how your solution is innovative.
- Describe why you think you are the right team or single owner to grow your business. Mention your skills, competencies, qualifications, and any gaps in your team.
- Explain your motivation to attend this program. List the goals you expect to achieve in this program.
- Upload a scanned copy of your passport or national identity card.
Commonwealth Fellowship Deadline:
- The last date to apply is 31 August 2026.
