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Jim Leech Mastercard Fellowship For Students and Graduates 2027: $15,000 Opportunity

Published: September 24, 2026;5 min read;By Scholars World

Apply for the 2027 Jim Leech Mastercard Fellowship for African students and graduates.

The Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship gives African students and recent graduates the opportunity to access training, resources, financial support, and a network of mentors to develop their entrepreneurial skills and start building their own venture.

The Jim Leech Fellowship 2026 provides opportunities to pitch for prizes of up to $15,000 in the pitch competition and receive a stipend of $500 at the end of the program.

In this post, the full details of the eligibility, benefits, timeline, and application procedure will be provided

Host: Mastercard Foundation
Category: Fellowships || Trainings 
Benefits: Full Sponsorship• $15,000 Cash Prizes • Training• Mentorship
Eligibility: Students from 50+ African Countries
Deadline: December 1, 2026

The Jim Leech Mastercard Fellowship provide participants who demonstrate a willingness to learn, take risks, and commit themselves fully to the best that our innovation center has to offer.

The Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship is brilliantly structured to help busy entrepreneurs successfully go through the rigorous training schedule.

One of the most beneficial elements of the program is access to a network of experienced coaches and mentors we can rely on for practical advice relating to our enterprises.

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The Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship is an unparalleled opportunity to;

  • Business Bootcamp delivered by Queen’s University faculty and industry leaders who bring decades of combined entrepreneurship and C-Suite experience
  • The Disciplined Entrepreneurship framework, a proven step-by-step framework for scalable startups developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Pitch coaching and mastery
  • Live workshops on marketing, goal setting, and recruiting are held throughout the program
  • Opportunity to earn micro-credentials on Entrepreneurship awarded by Queen’s University for successful completion of the courses.
  • Liaise with mentors and speakers leading innovation and entrepreneurship in North America
  • Access a Global Network of Queen’s entrepreneurial alumni
  • Join a cohort of thousands of like-minded students and recent grads from across Africa
  • Fellows are matched to industry leaders and entrepreneurs in the final phase of the program
  • Receive feedback at important startup milestones
  • Up to 60 Fellows will be selected in the final phase to receive a stipend of $500 CAD
  • Opportunities to pitch for prizes of up to $15,000 CAD in the pitch competition at the end of the program
  • Opportunities to travel to the Dunin-Deshpande Queen’s Innovation Centre to build lasting connections that will help your further your business venture

To be considered for the 2027 Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship, applicants must satisfy the following criteria:

  • Are between the ages of 25 and 35 on or before the application deadline, although exceptional applicants ages 21-24 may be considered;
  • Are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States;
  • Are eligible to receive a United States J-1 visa;
  • be students and recent graduates from all academic disciplines, and from any African post-secondary institution. 
  • be already working on a business or are looking to start something new
  • be committed to developing their entrepreneurial mindset and taking advantage of the resources provided to develop their own enterprise.
  • The program is delivered virtually and can be completed at any pace, however the most committed participants will commit at least 10 hours per week. In order to progress through the program phases, participants will submit assignments online, adhering to strict deadlines.
  • The program content is delivered in English. Mentorship may be offered in English and French. Assignments and pitches must be completed in English. Prospective fellows who are unable to speak or write English are still encouraged to apply and form teams with someone who can fulfill all the requirements of the program in English.
  • Prospective fellows may also work with their local university to come up with a strategy to make sure they are able to access university resources that will help them navigate the challenge related to language ability.

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The step-by-step guide to apply for the 2027 Jim Leech Mastercard Fellowship is as follows;

  • Begin your application by clicking on the button below.
  • Applications for the 2026 cohort will close on December 1, 2026
Application Deadline: December 1, 2026