Up to £35,000 + Free Trip to Accra and London: Apply for the Commonwealth Startup Fellowship 2025

Are you a visionary entrepreneur from a Commonwealth country ready to scale your startup? Applications are now open for the 2025 Commonwealth Startup Fellowship (CSF) — a fully funded 6-month program designed to equip innovative startups with the skills, funding, and networks needed to thrive.

Hosted by the Imperial Enterprise Lab, this prestigious fellowship blends immersive in-person learning with expert-led virtual programming. It includes a fully funded bootcamp in Accra, Ghana, ongoing mentorship, and a chance to pitch in London at the final Capstone Event.

Fellowship Overview

Host Countries: Ghana (Accra) & the United Kingdom (London)
Organizer: Imperial Enterprise Lab
Duration: 6 months (starting November 2025)
Format: Hybrid (in-person + virtual)
Funding Available: Up to £35,000 in non-dilutive grants
Application Window: 2nd – 30th June 2025

What You’ll Gain

Fully Funded Experience Includes:

Round-trip travel, meals, accommodation, visa, and vaccinations (for one founder)
A two-week residential bootcamp in Accra, Ghana
Access to a global network of mentors and peers
Eligibility to apply for up to £2,000 in operational funding per startup
Up to £35,000 in total Fellow Fund grants
A chance to showcase your startup in London to investors and leaders

Program Highlights

🔹 In-Person Bootcamp (Ghana)

Leadership & team development
Fundraising and sales strategies
Personalized business coaching
Exposure to Ghana’s startup ecosystem

🔹 Virtual Learning Phase

Monthly one-on-one coaching
Peer-to-peer collaboration
Business performance reviews
Interactive expert-led workshops

🔹 Capstone Event (London)

Final showcase of startups to global stakeholders
Continued access to alumni support and networks

Who Can Apply?

Eligibility Criteria

Graduate-level qualification required
Citizen, refugee, or permanent resident of an eligible low- or middle-income Commonwealth country
Fluency in English (spoken and written)
Startup must be legally registered in the applicant’s home country
Minimum of 6 months of active development
Functional MVP (product/service/prototype)
Evidence of traction (early sales, partnerships, interest)
Strong innovation in product/service/market
NOTE: Only one application per startup allowed.

⚠️ Not Eligible If:

Your startup is still in the idea or pre-registration stage
You’ve participated in a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship in the past 5 years

Eligible Countries Include:

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.

Important Dates