In the last three decades, participation in higher education has seen unprecedented growth around the globe. Whilst the number of skilled graduates has grown, huge population growth in parts of the Commonwealth has meant many of these young graduates can’t access well-paid jobs. With over sixty percent of the population being under 30, youth unemployment is a growing issue in several member countries.
In recognition of this growing need for jobs, the CSC is introducing a new programme to run for both the 2024-25 and 2025-26 Time Limited Programmes (TLP), known as the Commonwealth Start-Up Fellowship (CSF).
The Programme
The CSF, designed to ignite and elevate high-potential startups from low-and- middle income Commonwealth countries, will have two cohorts, running for 6 months each, with the first beginning in March 2025.
The programme will be delivered in partnership with the Imperial College London Enterprise Lab and will offer a blend of immersive in-person experiences and online learning, starting with a two week in-person bootcamp at the new Imperial Global Campus in Accra, Ghana. Here, the programme will be launched with an intensive, hands-on training where participants will refine their business plans, develop targeted growth strategies, and build a strong network with fellow entrepreneurs and experts.
Following this, Fellows will take part in five months of bespoke online learning and business coaching. Each business will have access to tailored mentorship throughout the programme, as well being able to benefit from subject experts who can offer personalised advice on areas such as fundraising, branding, go-to-market strategies, team growth, and financial planning.
At the end of the programme, fellows will take part in an international investor event, where they will get the opportunity to pitch to a global audience of investors, mentors, and partners as well as hear from high-profile speakers from across the Commonwealth.
Finally, all participants will receive a minimum of 3 months of post-programme support, including continued access to the programme community, resource library, expert network, and optional follow-up coaching sessions for ongoing business support.
The Fellows
We are looking to recruit 20 early-stage businesses for each cohort of the programme. One representative from each organisation must be available to take part in the in-person bootcamp at the start of the programme in order to be eligible to apply.
In addition to this, applicants must:
- Evidence of innovation, in terms of product, service, or market
- Active development for at least six-months and demonstrable commitment from team members
- A working minimum viable ‘product’, service and/or prototype
- Significant evidence of customer engagement and traction in the form of early sales or pre-sales
- Through the programme, the CSC and Imperial College London aim to empower commonwealth entrepreneurs to build successful businesses, scale their operations efficiently, and foster job creation in their home countries. Participants will gain access to a global network of entrepreneurs, providing support, peer mentorship, and opportunities for business development and join a vibrant community of over 31,000 Commonwealth alumni.
Join an information session
Join an information session to find out more about the programme, meet the team and find out what will make your application stand out.
Information sessions are running on Monday 6 January at 10am (GMT) and 5pm (GMT).
- 10am session – book here.
- 5pm session – book here.
