Commonwealth Startup Fellowship

Benefits & funding

• The programme has no participation fee and covers approved return travel, accommodation, travel during the programme, and catering for the Accra bootcamp and London capstone.
• The standard visa application fee is reimbursed; the programme also supports required visa documentation.
• Each selected startup may apply for up to £2,000 in equity-free grant funding for business or participation-related costs.
• Online participation includes business coaching, peer sessions, expert meetings, and venture reviews; internet and data support is also available.
• Fellows who declare a disability receive a needs assessment for possible additional support.

Eligibility

• Applicants must hold a qualification equivalent to at least a UK undergraduate degree and be fluent in written and spoken English.
• They must be citizens of, or hold refugee status from, and permanently reside in one of these 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, Saint Helena, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, or Zambia.
• Applicants must not have undertaken a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship within the five years before taking up the award and must be available from 16 November 2026, for the Accra bootcamp from 25 January to 4 February 2027, and for the London capstone from 14 to 21 May 2027.
• The startup must be legally registered, have operated actively for at least 12 months, and have progressed beyond the idea, prototype, and pilot stages.
• Its product or service must be available to customers, with paying customers and evidence of continued adoption, commercial traction, growth, positive economic, social, or environmental outcomes, and potential to scale.
• The venture must use a sustainable business model and not depend primarily on donations, philanthropy, or grants.
• The programme’s institutional employee, former-employee, and family conflict-of-interest exclusions apply; former employees of the named organisations become eligible three years after leaving.

Application process

1. 1
   Confirm that both the founder and startup meet all eligibility requirements and can attend the required in-person dates.
2. 2
   Create an account in the official online application portal and complete the business, founder, and team information.
3. 3
   Name two suitable referees, upload a one-minute video elevator pitch, and provide a scan of a passport or national identity card.
4. 4
   Check that every document, reference, and link is complete, then submit by 1 September 2026 at 16:00 BST; a submitted application cannot be edited.
5. 5
   Cooperate with the CSC’s due-diligence checks if the application progresses.

Program timeline

1. Applications open.

   3 August 2026

2. Final online applicant information session.

   21 August 2026, 10:00–11:00 GMT

3. Applications close.

   1 September 2026, 16:00 BST

4. Cohort 3 starts.

   16 November 2026

5. Online programming.

   26 November 2026–21 May 2027

6. In-person bootcamp in Accra.

   25 January–4 February 2027

7. In-person capstone in London; the fellowship ends.

   14–21 May 2027