The Global Centre for Fintech Innovations (GCFI) is a registered Canadian organization based in Ontario that works on fintech education, research and investment support. Its NextGen Leaders Fellowship is a fully online program for emerging leaders in fintech, artificial intelligence and innovation. Month one covers the foundations of fintech systems and AI technologies, together with leadership workshops on vision building and systems thinking.
Month two is given to a capstone project on a real fintech or AI problem, developed with mentors and presented as a final pitch. The 2026 cohort ran from 1 June to 31 August 2026, after applications closed on 17 May 2026.
The inaugural cohort ran from 1 October to 30 November 2025 and included 23 fellows from Africa, Asia, North America and Europe. GCFI describes the intake as highly competitive.
Benefits & funding
- No participation fee. GCFI calls the fellowship fully funded and the program 100% online and free of charge.
- Core training in fintech systems and emerging AI technologies, led by industry experts.
- Leadership development sessions throughout the first month.
- Mentorship from global practitioners while the capstone project is built.
- A final pitch presentation; the 2025 cohort pitched to international judges.
- Certificate of fellowship on successful completion.
- Lifetime membership of the alumni network.
- The site publishes no stipend, travel budget or equipment allowance.
Eligibility
- Open to applicants from any country. No nationality or residency requirement is published.
- Open to applicants from all backgrounds. The application form lists education levels from high school diploma through doctoral and professional degrees.
- Students and employed professionals may both apply; the form records work experience from under one year to more than ten years.
- No age limit is published. The form asks for date of birth.
- Applications must carry meaningful work by the applicant. GCFI states that submissions fully generated by AI without meaningful human input will be rejected.
- Selection is based on vision, leadership potential and alignment with the fellowship’s mission.
Can you apply?
Open to all applicants
No nationality, residency, education, or experience limits are listed.
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Application process
- 1Open the fellowship page and go to the online application form.
- 2Enter personal details: name, phone, email, date of birth, country of residence, LinkedIn profile, and whether you have taken part in a fellowship before.
- 3Complete the professional section: highest education level, organization or institution, current status, years of experience, and area of specialization.
- 4Write the short answers: leadership and fintech achievements, awards and certifications, leadership goals in fintech and AI (250 words), expectations of the fellowship (250 words), and the case for your selection (250 words).
- 5Describe the innovation project you want to develop, in up to 400 words.
- 6Give the names and email addresses of two referees and upload a CV in Word or PDF format.
- 7Submit before the deadline and wait for the cohort announcement.
Program timeline
Applications open for the 2026 cohort
Feb 15, 2026
Application deadline
May 17, 2026
Cohort announced
May 28, 2026
Program starts
Jun 1, 2026
Program ends
Aug 31, 2026
Dates for the next cycle are not yet published.