Applications are currently open for the 2026/2027 Commonwealth Startup Fellowship, a six-month program designed to ignite and elevate high-potential startups from low and middle-income Commonwealth countries. This initiative combines immersive in-person experiences with online learning to provide participants with essential skills, cutting-edge knowledge, and a robust global network. Through a partnership between the CSC and Imperial College London, the program aims to equip entrepreneurs to successfully scale their businesses, pitch fluently, and drive job creation in their home countries.
Program Structure and Key Dates
• Program Duration: Six months
• Start Date: 16 November 2026
• Format: A combination of immersive in-person experiences and online learning.
• In-person Bootcamp: A two-week event in Accra, Ghana (estimated 25 January – 4 February 2027).
• In-person Capstone Week: A weeklong series of events in London, UK (estimated 14 – 21 May 2027).
• Attendance Requirement: One person from each participating business must be available to attend both the bootcamp and the capstone events.
Fellow Eligibility Criteria
• Must be of at least graduate level.
• Must be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible low or middle income Commonwealth country.
• Must be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.
• Must be fluent in written and spoken English.
• Must not have undertaken a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship within the last five years (at the time of taking up the award).
• Must be available to undertake the fellowship from the prescribed start date.
• Must be available to attend the Bootcamp in Accra, Ghana.
• Must be available to attend the Capstone Week in London, UK.
Startup Eligibility Criteria
• Must have a startup that has been registered as a legal entity in accordance with local regulations.
• Must demonstrate evidence of innovation, in terms of product, service, business model or approach to addressing a market need.
• Must have progressed beyond the idea, prototype, and pilot stages.
• Must have been actively operating their business for at least twelve months and be able to demonstrate meaningful progress.
• Must have a product or service that is available to customers.
• Must have demonstrated customer demand through paying customers and evidence of ongoing customer adoption (such as repeat purchases, contract renewals, recurring revenue, or sustained usage).
• Must operate through a sustainable business model and not be primarily dependent on donations, philanthropy, or grant funding.
• Must create positive economic, social, or environmental outcomes through its core activities.
• Must have evidence of commercial traction, growth, and the potential to scale.
• Must be seeking to scale their customer base, operations, impact, or geographic reach.
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
Fellowship Benefits
• 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.
• A full assessment of needs and eligibility for additional financial support will be offered by the CSC if a Fellow declares a disability.
Application Details
• Application Deadline: September 1st, 2026
Entrepreneurs and startup leaders who meet the specified criteria are encouraged to review the complete program details. For further information and to access application materials, please visit the official webpage for the Commonwealth Startup Fellowship.