Apply Commonwealth Startup Fellowship 2025 (Undergraduate Students)

Apply Commonwealth Startup Fellowship 2025 | The Commonwealth Startup Fellowship 2025 is a six-month programme, designed to fuel high-potential startups through intensive in-person and online learning. You’ll gain essential skills, tailored coaching, and access to a powerful global network to help you overcome barriers and scale up your business. Read more

About The Programme

The programme begins in November 2025 with a fully funded two-week bootcamp in Accra, Ghana, plus ongoing online support with business coaching, expert-led sessions, and valuable peer connections.

One founder from each selected team will participate in-person, while co-founders and team members can access the remote portion, connecting with global mentors and industry experts from across the Commonwealth.

In addition to the training and mentorship, participating teams can apply for financial support from the Fellows Fund, a pot of £35,000 in equity free grants. This funding is available to cover business related costs to help you develop and grow your startup.

Select participants will be invited to a Capstone in London, UK, where they will have the chance to pitch to investors and industry leaders.

Read:

• Managed Funds Association (MFA)
• Digital Marketing Funnel: The Ultimate Guide to Building a High-Converting 2025

Fellow eligibility 

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 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 

Benefit:

Each 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

Requirement:

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) If you are unsure about your IP see the following guidance: https://www.gov.uk/intellectual-property-an-overview   
• 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 

How to Apply Commonwealth Startup Fellowship 2025

Applications must be made using the Commonwealth Startup Fellowship online application form.