Fellowship opportunities

Opportunity details

Who can apply

Uganda is an eligible low- or middle-income Commonwealth country. Applicants must be at least graduate level, be a citizen of or hold eligible refugee status in an eligible country, be permanently resident in an eligible country, be fluent in written and spoken English, and not have undertaken a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship within the previous five years. The startup must be legally registered, have operated for at least 12 months, be beyond the idea or prototype stage, have a product or service available to customers, show customer adoption or commercial traction, and have a scalable, financially sustainable model with positive economic, social or environmental impact.

Key information

Funding and support provided

other

About this opportunity

Commonwealth Startup Fellowships provide a six-month entrepreneurship programme for founders from eligible low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries. Cohort Three combines online development with in-person activities in Accra and London and focuses on scaling established early-stage businesses with measurable impact.

Benefits
The programme covers approved return travel, accommodation and programme catering for the Accra bootcamp and the London capstone, reimburses the standard visa fee where applicable, and provides six months of structured online and in-person entrepreneurship support delivered with Imperial College London. Fellows may access up to £2,000 in equity-free grant funding for approved business or participation costs, along with mentoring, skills development, peer learning and Commonwealth networks.

Requirements
Complete the fellowship application with personal, education, business, founder-role and team information and provide two suitable referees. Submit the required one-minute video elevator pitch explaining the problem, solution, progress and expected value of the fellowship, plus a scan of a valid passport or national identity document. The application must demonstrate registration, operating history, customer traction, impact and a credible path to sustainable growth.

How to apply
Use the online application form linked from the Commonwealth Startup Fellowship candidate page, complete all personal and startup sections, upload the required identity document and one-minute pitch, provide the referee details and submit by the Cohort Three deadline. Applicants must be available for the full six-month programme and the prescribed in-person components.