Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship 2027 at Queen’s University: Free Online Entrepreneurship Training, Mentorship and Startup Funding for African Students

Overview of the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship

The Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship at Queen’s University in Canada is an entrepreneurship development programme designed to help African university students and recent graduates turn innovative ideas into viable businesses and impactful social enterprises. Delivered through the Dunin-Deshpande Innovation Centre at Queen’s University (DDQIC), the programme provides structured business training, mentorship, entrepreneurial resources, networking opportunities, and the opportunity to compete for financial support to develop promising ventures.

The eight-month fellowship is intended for young Africans who want to address pressing social, economic, environmental, agricultural, technological, and community challenges through entrepreneurship. Applicants do not necessarily need to have an established business. Those who are still exploring an idea can participate in the early stages of the programme, learn how to identify a problem worth solving, understand potential customers, test assumptions, and develop a practical solution.

The programme follows a structured entrepreneurship framework that takes participants from exploring an idea to testing a business model and preparing to launch or scale a venture. Participants who demonstrate commitment and progress can advance through successive stages, with a selected group receiving additional incubation support, coaching, mentorship, and opportunities to compete for startup funding.

The fellowship is delivered virtually, making it accessible to eligible students and recent graduates across Africa without requiring them to relocate to Canada. Participants can work through the programme remotely, although they must complete assignments and meet deadlines to progress through the different phases.

The programme is offered by the Dunin-Deshpande Innovation Centre at Queen’s University in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. Its wider purpose is to strengthen entrepreneurship among young Africans, encourage innovative responses to pressing challenges, and support ventures capable of creating social and financial value.

Application deadline: December 1, 2026, according to the current official programme webpage. Applicants should confirm the deadline and application status directly on the official website before submitting an application.

What Is the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship?

The Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship is an entrepreneurship education and venture-development programme that equips African students and recent graduates with the knowledge and practical skills required to develop entrepreneurial ideas. It is designed for individuals who want to create businesses, develop social enterprises, or build innovative solutions to challenges affecting their communities.

Rather than focusing only on traditional classroom learning, the programme emphasises practical experimentation. Participants are expected to investigate real problems, speak with potential customers or end users, evaluate their assumptions, test proposed solutions, and improve their ideas using feedback.

This approach helps participants understand that entrepreneurship involves more than having a good idea. Successful venture development also requires a clear understanding of the people being served, a realistic plan for delivering value, a sustainable financial model, and the ability to adapt when evidence challenges initial assumptions.

Through the fellowship, participants can develop skills in:

• Identifying social and economic problems that could be addressed through entrepreneurship.
• Conducting customer and market research.
• Validating business ideas through interviews, observations, and experiments.
• Designing and testing prototypes.
• Developing business models and financial sustainability strategies.
• Identifying potential customers, partners, and distribution channels.
• Preparing business pitches and communicating entrepreneurial ideas.
• Developing strategies for launching and scaling a venture.
• Understanding the relationship between entrepreneurship, employment creation, and social impact.

The programme is particularly relevant to students and graduates who want to apply their education to practical challenges but need guidance, mentorship, and a structured process to turn their ideas into workable ventures.

Benefits of the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship

The fellowship provides a combination of entrepreneurship education, mentoring, networking, and opportunities to pursue financial support. The specific benefits depend on the stage participants reach and their performance throughout the programme.

1. Free Online Entrepreneurship Training

Participants receive access to structured online entrepreneurship learning resources designed to help them develop their ideas and strengthen their business knowledge.

The programme incorporates the Disciplined Entrepreneurship framework, a step-by-step approach to venture development associated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This framework guides participants through important questions about customers, problems, solutions, marketing, business models, and growth.

The training is intended to help participants move beyond assumptions and develop ideas supported by evidence from potential users and customers.

2. Business Bootcamps and Expert-Led Workshops

The programme offers entrepreneurship learning facilitated by Queen’s University faculty and experienced industry professionals. Participants can learn from people with experience in business development, leadership, innovation, and venture creation.

Workshops and learning activities cover areas such as:

• Marketing and customer acquisition.
• Business planning and goal setting.
• Recruiting and building a team.
• Testing business ideas and prototypes.
• Developing entrepreneurial leadership.
• Preparing and delivering effective business pitches.

These learning opportunities help participants understand the practical decisions involved in establishing and growing a business.

3. Mentorship and Professional Networking

Mentorship is an important part of the fellowship. Participants can connect with experienced entrepreneurs, industry professionals, programme coaches, and other people working in innovation and business development.

In the final programme phase, selected fellows receive access to dedicated coaches and mentors from DDQIC’s global network of industry experts and entrepreneurs.

The programme also creates opportunities to connect with fellow students, recent graduates, and aspiring entrepreneurs from different African countries. Such relationships can help participants exchange ideas, learn from different experiences, and identify potential collaborators.

4. Financial Support and Startup Funding Opportunities

The fellowship provides opportunities for selected participants to access financial support as they advance through the programme.

According to the current official programme webpage, up to 60 fellows are selected for the final phase, which includes a CAD 500 stipend and opportunities to compete for pitch competition prizes of up to CAD 15,000.

Additional seed-funding opportunities may be available to eligible ventures through programme-related funding initiatives. The availability, amount, and conditions of any funding depend on the specific award, selection process, and applicable programme rules.

Important: Financial support is not guaranteed to every applicant or participant. Applicants should distinguish between the benefits available to all eligible programme participants and the additional support reserved for selected fellows or winning ventures.

5. Opportunity to Earn Entrepreneurship Micro-Credentials

Participants may have the opportunity to earn entrepreneurship micro-credentials awarded by Queen’s University after successfully completing designated courses and programme requirements.

These credentials can help participants demonstrate that they have completed structured entrepreneurship learning. They may also provide evidence of professional development when seeking business opportunities, partnerships, further training, or support for their ventures.

Applicants should check the programme’s current requirements to understand which courses or stages lead to specific credentials.

6. Pitching and Business Presentation Skills

The programme prepares participants to explain their ideas clearly, demonstrate the problem they are solving, communicate the value of their solutions, and present their business models to an audience.

Participants develop their pitches as they progress through the programme. Selected fellows also have the opportunity to participate in a final pitch competition, where promising ventures can compete for additional financial support.

These experiences can help entrepreneurs improve their ability to communicate with potential customers, partners, investors, funders, and other stakeholders.

7. Fully Virtual Participation

The programme is delivered online and can be completed remotely from an eligible African country. Participants do not need to relocate to Canada to take part.

This arrangement can make the fellowship particularly useful for students and recent graduates who are studying, working, or developing ideas in their home countries.

However, virtual delivery does not mean that participants can ignore the programme schedule. They must complete required activities and assignments within the designated timeframes to progress through the stages.

8. Post-Programme Support and Networking

After completing the final incubation phase, fellows can continue to access post-incubation services, support, and pitch competition opportunities through the DDQIC network, subject to the programme’s arrangements.

High-performing fellows may also be invited to serve as ambassadors or mentors for future cohorts.

This continuing engagement can help successful participants maintain connections with the entrepreneurship community and contribute their experience to other aspiring entrepreneurs.

Learn More HERE

Who Can Apply for the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship?

The programme welcomes students and recent graduates from all academic disciplines and post-secondary institutions across Africa.

Applicants may be studying or have studied subjects such as business administration, economics, engineering, computer science, agriculture, education, public health, environmental studies, social sciences, technology, or other fields.

An applicant does not need to have a business degree to be considered. The programme is designed to help people from different academic backgrounds learn how to develop entrepreneurial ideas and build ventures.

It is also open to people who are at different stages of their entrepreneurial journey. An applicant may already be developing a business, testing a product, exploring a social enterprise, or considering a new idea for addressing a problem in their community.

What the Programme Looks for in Applicants

The programme identifies three important qualities in prospective participants:

1. Commitment to developing an entrepreneurial mindset

Applicants should be willing to learn how to identify opportunities, investigate problems, test ideas, respond to feedback, and improve their solutions. An entrepreneurial mindset involves curiosity, resilience, critical thinking, and a willingness to learn from setbacks.

2. Readiness to use the programme’s resources and mentorship

Participants should be prepared to engage with the learning materials, complete the assigned activities, seek guidance, and apply what they learn to their ventures or business ideas.

3. Ability to dedicate at least 10 hours per week

Applicants must be willing to spend a minimum of 10 hours per week working on their entrepreneurial journey. This commitment includes engaging with the training, completing assignments, researching potential customers, testing assumptions, and developing their ideas.

Prospective applicants should consider this time commitment carefully before applying, especially if they have other academic, professional, or personal responsibilities.

Do Applicants Need an Existing Business?

No. The programme welcomes people who are already building a business as well as those who are exploring a new idea.

Applicants do not need to have a fully established company before joining. The early stages are intended to help participants understand a problem, identify their potential customers, and determine whether their proposed solution addresses a genuine need.

Having an idea that can be investigated and developed is therefore more important than presenting an already successful business. Participants must nevertheless demonstrate commitment and make progress through the programme’s required milestones.

Programme Language and Accessibility

The fellowship’s programme content is delivered in English. Assignments and business pitches must also be completed in English, while mentorship may be offered in English and French.

Applicants who are not fully fluent in English are still encouraged to consider applying. The programme page suggests that they may form a team with someone who can meet the English-language requirements or seek language support through their university or local organisations.

This provision recognises that language ability can present a barrier to participation, while maintaining English as the required language for core assignments and pitches.

Applicants should review the current programme instructions to understand how team participation, language support, and assessment requirements apply to their circumstances.

Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship Programme Timeline

The fellowship follows a three-phase structure: Explore, Ignite, and Launch and Fellowship. The programme cycle described on the official page runs from January through August, followed by graduation and continued post-incubation engagement.

The phases are designed to help participants move from identifying a problem to validating a solution and developing a venture that can be launched or scaled.

Phase 1: Explore Entrepreneurship — January to February

The Explore phase introduces a broad group of aspiring entrepreneurs to structured entrepreneurship learning. According to the programme description, more than 1,000 candidates receive access to curated online courses and work through the first 11 steps of the Disciplined Entrepreneurship framework workbook.

This stage gives participants time to demonstrate their commitment to entrepreneurship by completing training, investigating their ideas, and making progress against specified milestones.

The central questions are:

• Who is the customer?
• What problem does the customer face?
• What can the entrepreneur do to address that problem?

Participants are expected to work on several practical activities.

Identify and investigate a problem. Candidates begin by observing their environment, speaking with people, conducting interviews, or using other appropriate methods to understand the challenge they want to solve.

Define and validate the problem. Rather than assuming that a problem exists, participants must investigate whether it is real, relevant, and important to the people affected by it.

Test key assumptions. Candidates identify the assumptions underlying their ideas and gather evidence to determine whether those assumptions are supported.

Generate possible solutions. Participants develop different approaches to addressing the problem and consider how potential users might benefit from them.

Map the user journey. Candidates consider the experience a person would have when discovering, accessing, using, and benefiting from the proposed solution.

The Explore phase is important because it helps participants establish a clear foundation before investing too much time or money in an untested business idea.

Phase 2: Ignite Entrepreneurship — March to April

The Ignite phase builds on the work completed during Explore. According to the programme description, more than 180 finalists with strong commitment and progress are selected to continue to the next stage.

Participants access additional curated entrepreneurship courses and work through the remaining steps of the Disciplined Entrepreneurship framework workbook.

The focus shifts towards developing a practical business model, testing a prototype, understanding how the solution will reach customers, and determining how the venture can become financially sustainable.

The central questions are:

• How will the intended user acquire or access the solution?
• How will the solution be funded?
• How can the venture generate sufficient revenue or secure sustainable funding?

Key milestones include the following.

Develop routes to market. Participants identify how they will reach customers or users and determine which channels, partners, or distribution methods may be appropriate.

Build a business or funding model. Candidates explore how their ventures will generate revenue, cover operating costs, attract financial support, or otherwise sustain their activities.

Create a prototype. Participants develop the simplest version of their solution that can generate meaningful feedback from potential users.

Test critical assumptions. Entrepreneurs design experiments, collect feedback, and use evidence to determine whether their proposed solution is practical and valuable.

At the end of this phase, participants pitch their ideas. The most advanced and promising ventures are selected to become fellows and advance to the final phase.

Phase 3: Launch and Fellowship — May to August

The Launch and Fellowship phase is intended for a selected group of up to 60 fellows. It provides more intensive support as participants work towards turning their ideas into operational ventures.

During this stage, fellows can access the summer incubation programme, dedicated coaching, mentorship, and opportunities to develop their business ideas.

The programme also includes weekly 3-2-1 pitch presentations, through which fellows discuss their progress, communicate their plans, and demonstrate how their ventures are developing.

The main guiding questions are:

• How will the solution be implemented in practice?
• How can the venture grow and reach more people?
• What resources, partnerships, or capabilities are required to scale?

The main milestones include:

Pilot the solution. Participants test their ideas in a more realistic environment, allowing them to assess how the solution performs beyond early planning or prototype development.

Generate interest from users and customers. Fellows work towards obtaining expressions of interest, attracting customers, or engaging the people who will use their solutions.

Develop a scaling plan. Participants identify how they can expand the reach, effectiveness, or commercial sustainability of their ventures.

Compete for additional funding. Fellows may have the opportunity to pitch for additional financial support through the programme’s final pitch competition.

According to the current programme page, selected fellows receive a CAD 500 stipend and may compete for pitch competition prizes of up to CAD 15,000. The precise funding conditions should be confirmed in the applicable programme documentation.

Graduation and Post-Incubation Support — August Onwards

The formal incubation programme concludes at the end of August. Fellows who complete the programme graduate from the incubation phase and can continue to access post-incubation services, support, and pitch competition opportunities through the DDQIC network, subject to programme arrangements.

High-performing fellows may also be invited to become ambassadors or mentors for future cohorts.

Graduation does not automatically guarantee that every venture will become profitable or receive further funding. Instead, it marks the completion of a structured development process intended to help entrepreneurs improve their ventures and prepare for continued growth.

Programme Outcomes and Impact

The Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship seeks to support entrepreneurship as a way of addressing economic and social challenges. Its impact is assessed through participant feedback, surveys, interviews, and information about the ventures developed by programme participants.

The programme information supplied for this article reports the following outcomes:

• 84% of 2023 participants stated that their venture had hired at least one young person since they started the programme.
• 97% of 2022 fellows considered the programme very or extremely helpful in advancing their ventures.
• The proportion of participants reporting that they had paying users or customers increased by 100% from before the programme to after the programme.

These figures reflect reported outcomes from specific cohorts. They should not be interpreted as a guarantee that every participant will establish a business, hire employees, attract paying customers, or receive funding.

The programme identifies three primary United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that its work supports.

SDG 1: No Poverty

Entrepreneurship can create opportunities for people to generate income, establish businesses, and develop products or services that respond to unmet needs. Ventures that create sustainable livelihoods may contribute to reducing poverty in their communities.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being

Entrepreneurs can develop products, services, and business models that address health-related challenges, improve access to services, or support healthier communities.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The programme encourages venture creation and the development of businesses that may generate employment, improve productivity, and contribute to economic activity.

These goals illustrate how the fellowship connects entrepreneurship education with broader development priorities.

Examples of Ventures Developed by 2026 Fellows

The programme highlights fellows whose ventures address challenges in agriculture, recycling, food processing, property technology, and waste management. These examples illustrate the range of ideas that can be developed through an entrepreneurship programme.

1. Feathered Fortune — Uganda

Founded by Natamba Evalyne of Makerere University, Feathered Fortune is a layer poultry farming venture in Kazo District, Uganda. Its stated objective is to help address low-protein diets by producing affordable eggs.

Evalyne received a reported prize of $7,000 at the DDQIC African Initiatives Final Pitch Competition.

The venture illustrates how agricultural entrepreneurship can connect food production with nutrition and local economic activity.

2. Route 360 Solutions Initiative — Rwanda

Founded by Joseph Turay of the African Leadership University, Route 360 Solutions Initiative manufactures eco-bricks from recycled plastics for outdoor pavement projects.

The venture combines waste recycling with the production of construction materials, demonstrating how an environmental challenge can become the basis of a potential business opportunity.

Turay received a reported prize of $6,000 at the DDQIC African Initiatives Final Pitch Competition.

3. Nana Enterprise — Uganda

Founded by Chelimo Nasta of Makerere University, Nana Enterprise processes locally grown Irish potatoes into potato crisps and potato flour.

The venture aims to add value to agricultural products, create market-ready food products, and generate income opportunities for farmers in Uganda’s Sebei sub-region.

Nasta received a reported prize of $4,500 at the DDQIC African Initiatives Final Pitch Competition.

4. LarvaNova — Ethiopia

Founded by Edom Getnet Melak of Debre Tabor University, LarvaNova converts organic waste into Black Soldier Fly larvae for protein-rich animal feed.

The venture aims to help poultry farmers reduce their dependence on conventional feed ingredients such as soybeans and maize while improving organic waste management.

Melak received a reported prize of $4,500 at the DDQIC African Initiatives Final Pitch Competition.

5. Rentpilot Kenya — Kenya

Founded by Olando Erick Opiyo of the University of Nairobi, Rentpilot Kenya is a property technology platform designed to automate rental management and help landlords manage cash flow.

The venture also connects tenants with verified domestic service providers, including women offering laundry services, with the aim of supporting more stable income opportunities.

Opiyo received a reported prize of $4,500 at the DDQIC African Initiatives Final Pitch Competition.

6. MkulimaLink — Tanzania

Founded by Basuta Milanzi of Mzumbe University, MkulimaLink is a mobile platform that connects smallholder farmers in Dodoma with verified buyers through an application, SMS, and USSD services.

The venture seeks to make agricultural markets more accessible and efficient, particularly for farmers who may face barriers to finding reliable buyers.

Milanzi received a reported prize of $3,500 at the DDQIC African Initiatives Final Pitch Competition.

The amounts above are reproduced as reported in the supplied programme information; the currency is not specified there.

Previous Fellows and Success Stories

The programme also highlights ventures developed by earlier participants. These examples show how entrepreneurship training and venture support can contribute to business development across different sectors.

AfriShoe Uganda

Judith Onza Eyoa founded AfriShoe Uganda after being inspired by her father’s difficulty finding suitable footwear for his walking disability. The venture produces affordable, durable, customised footwear for people with walking disabilities using locally available materials.

The story demonstrates how a personal experience can reveal an unmet need and inspire a business that seeks to improve accessibility and inclusion.

Deploy Resource Africa and Ugabrush

Enoch Muwangezi runs Ugabrush and its parent company, Deploy Resource Africa. The ventures focus on environmentally friendly products and employment opportunities for young people in the community.

This example illustrates how entrepreneurship can connect product development with environmental sustainability and job creation.

BidiGreen Ghana

Founded by Eunice Kloe, BidiGreen Ghana produces and distributes smokeless charcoal briquettes. The business has grown its team, with many of its employees being women, while increasing production and distribution.

The venture demonstrates how a business can respond to energy-related challenges while creating employment and income opportunities.

Hya Bioplastics

Dennis Ssekimpi’s Hya Bioplastics is developing plant-fibre-based bioplastics as an alternative approach to packaging. The venture used seed funding from a DDQIC summer pitch competition to support increased production capacity.

Its development illustrates the potential for entrepreneurship programmes to help ventures pursue environmentally focused innovation and scale their operations.

Altery and Nautilus

Titose Chembezi participated in the programme to develop Altery, a digital platform designed to improve access to credit for small and medium-sized enterprises and businesses in the informal sector.

After participating in the programme and related entrepreneurship activities, Chembezi received recognition through pitch competitions and continued to pursue technology-focused ventures, later shifting her focus to Nautilus, which works on secure computing and data confidentiality.

Her experience demonstrates how entrepreneurial training and pitching opportunities can support professional development and continued innovation.

These stories are illustrative examples rather than guaranteed outcomes for future participants. Prospective applicants should use them to understand the variety of challenges that entrepreneurs can address, not as a promise of funding or business success.

How to Apply for the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship

Applicants should begin by visiting the official Queen’s University programme page and reviewing the current application instructions.

Official application and programme information:
https://www.queensu.ca/innovationcentre/programs/jim-leech-mastercard-foundation-fellowship-entrepreneurship

The current programme page lists December 1, 2026, as the application deadline. Applicants should verify the date and application status on the official page before submitting their materials.

Step 1: Review the Eligibility Requirements

Confirm that you are a student or recent graduate of a post-secondary institution in Africa and that you can meet the programme’s participation requirements.

You should also consider whether you can dedicate at least 10 hours per week to entrepreneurship-related activities throughout the programme.

Step 2: Identify a Problem Worth Solving

Consider a challenge affecting your community, industry, or potential customers. It may relate to agriculture, healthcare, education, environmental sustainability, technology, financial access, employment, or another area.

The programme does not require every applicant to have a fully developed business, but being able to explain the problem you want to investigate can help you approach the entrepreneurial process more clearly.

Step 3: Think About Your Potential Users or Customers

Identify the people who experience the problem and consider how you could learn about their needs. Strong entrepreneurial ideas begin with an understanding of the people who may benefit from the solution.

Step 4: Prepare to Participate Actively

Be ready to engage with online learning materials, complete assignments, conduct research, test assumptions, and use feedback to improve your idea.

Because progression depends on meeting milestones, applicants should ensure they can manage the time commitment alongside their other responsibilities.

Step 5: Submit Through the Official Process

Follow the application instructions published by Queen’s University and DDQIC. Provide accurate information and use only the official application channels.

Do not pay an individual who claims to guarantee admission, a stipend, or funding. Queen’s University has published a fraud alert concerning people who falsely solicited application fees for this fellowship. Applicants should verify any unusual request through the university’s official channels.

Step 6: Track Programme Communications

After applying, monitor the email address used in the application and follow any official instructions regarding selection, onboarding, programme activities, and deadlines.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship fully online?

Yes. The programme is delivered virtually, allowing eligible participants to take part remotely from across Africa. Participants must still complete the required work and meet deadlines to advance through the programme.

Is the fellowship open to all academic disciplines?

Yes. The programme welcomes students and recent graduates from all academic disciplines and post-secondary institutions across Africa. Applicants do not need to have studied business or entrepreneurship.

Do I need an existing business to apply?

No. The programme welcomes people who are exploring an idea as well as those already developing a business. The early stages focus on identifying problems, understanding customers, and testing potential solutions.

How much time must I dedicate to the programme?

Participants are expected to dedicate at least 10 hours per week to their entrepreneurial journey. They must also meet assignment deadlines to progress through the programme phases.

Is the fellowship free?

The official programme page describes free access to the programme’s entrepreneurship training for accepted participants. Selected fellows may receive additional benefits, including a stipend and opportunities to compete for pitch competition prizes. Applicants should review the current terms to confirm the precise conditions.

Does every participant receive startup funding?

No. Financial support is not guaranteed to every participant. The programme selects a limited number of fellows for the final phase, and pitch competition prizes are awarded through a competitive process.

Can applicants who are not fluent in English apply?

The programme encourages applicants who are not fully fluent in English to consider applying. However, the programme content, assignments, and pitches are in English. The official page suggests forming a team with someone who meets the language requirements or seeking language support through a university or local organisation.

What is the application deadline?

The current official programme page lists December 1, 2026. Applicants should confirm the date and whether applications remain open on the official Queen’s University webpage.

Visit HERE to learn more about the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship at Queen’s University.

Conclusion

The Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship at Queen’s University offers African students and recent graduates a structured opportunity to develop entrepreneurial skills, test innovative ideas, access mentorship, and work towards launching or scaling ventures. Through its Explore, Ignite, and Launch phases, the programme guides participants from identifying a problem to validating a solution, developing a business model, and preparing for growth.

The programme is relevant to aspiring entrepreneurs across disciplines, including those who have not yet established a business. Its virtual format, practical learning framework, mentoring opportunities, and competitive financial support can help committed participants strengthen their ideas and develop a clearer understanding of entrepreneurship.

However, admission to the programme, selection as a fellow, receipt of a stipend, and winning pitch competition funding are separate outcomes and are not guaranteed to every applicant.

Interested students and recent graduates should review the eligibility requirements, assess whether they can commit at least 10 hours per week, and prepare to engage seriously with the programme’s learning activities.

Application deadline: December 1, 2026, according to the current official programme page.

For the latest application instructions, eligibility details, and programme updates, visit the official website:

https://www.queensu.ca/innovationcentre/programs/jim-leech-mastercard-foundation-fellowship-entrepreneurship

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