Overview

The Commonwealth Startup Fellowship will run for six months and is designed to ignite and elevate high-potential startups from low and middle income Commonwealth countries. The programme is made up of a combination of immersive in-person experiences and online learning, to provide participants with essential skills, cutting-edge knowledge, and a robust global network.  

The CSC and Imperial College London intend that by the end of the programme, entrepreneurs will be equipped to build thriving businesses, scale operations effectively, and drive job creation in their home countries. 

A cohort of 20 early stage start-ups will be recruited. One person from each business must be available to attend a two-week bootcamp in Accra, Ghana at the end of March 2025. There is also the possibility for representatives from outstanding organisations to travel to London in the UK later in the year for a series of exciting capstone events.

How to apply

Applications for Commonwealth Startup Fellowships are now open. You can access the application form here.

Fellow eligibility 

To be eligible for these Fellowships, prospective Fellows must: 

• Be of at least graduate level;  
• Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible low or middle income Commonwealth country;  
• Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country;  
• Be fluent in written and spoken English.  
• Not have undertaken a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship within the last five years (at the time of taking up the award) 
• Be available to undertake their fellowship from the prescribed start date 

In addition, they must demonstrate:  

• 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 or traction in the form of early sales or pre-sales . proof of interest or demand, signed contracts or other relevant evidence. 

The CSC aims to identify talented individuals who have the potential to make change. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination and encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates. For further information on the support available to fellows with a disability, see the CSC disability support statement. 

Please note: Your personal information will be used to conduct necessary due diligence checks to the CSC’s satisfaction, before the CSC proceeds with any type of formal agreement or contractual relationship. In most cases, the due diligence checks will be straightforward, however further information may be requested, so we ask for your full co-operation to speed up the process. 

If you do not agree to your personal data being used for the purpose of conducting due diligence, unfortunately the CSC will not be able to proceed further with the application process. 

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 
St Helena 
St Lucia 
St Vincent and The Grenadines 
Samoa 
Sierra Leone 
Solomon Islands 
South Africa 
Sri Lanka 
Tanzania 
Togo 
Tonga 
Tuvalu 
Uganda 
Vanuatu 
Zambia 

Completing the application form

Applications for Commonwealth Startup Fellowships are now open. You can access the application form here.

In the application form, prospective Fellows are asked to: 

• List up to two undergraduate and postgraduate university qualifications obtained (where applicable) 
• Provide details of up to two entries of previous employment history and explain how each job is relevant to the programme you wish to undertake in the UK (up to 100 words per employment) 
• List names and positions of up to three referees who are qualified to comment on both your capacity to benefit from your proposed fellowship and your ability to deliver development impact afterwards. One of your referees must be your current or most recent employer 
• List information about your business, including if and where it’s registered and your role within it.  
• Describe any progress or traction you have made on your startup. (up to 250 words).  You should include any notable achievements, measurable outcomes (such as number of users, sign-ups), revenue to date, number of prototypes tested, etc. You should also include any market, and technological research you have completed. 
• Describe what competitor research have you done to understand your direct and indirect competitors. (up to 150 words) 
• Describe your idea’s Intellectual Property (IP) protection and ownership status, if any. (up to 150 words) If you are unsure about your IP see the following guidance: https://www.gov.uk/intellectual-property-an-overview   
• Provide a 1 minute video elevator pitch, clearly explaining the problem your business is solving, the solution it offers, the progress so far and what difference taking part in this programme will make. 
• Explain the problem your business is aiming to solve (up to 150 words) 
• Explain your solution, how it works and how it is innovative (up to 150 words) 
• Explain why you are the right team (or solo founder) to grow your startup. You should include your collective skills, knowledge, competencies, qualifications, commitment. Identify any gaps in your team. (up to 150 words) 
• Describe your motivation for joining the programme. You should include your goals, reasons, or objectives you want to achieve on the programme. (up to 150 words)” 
• Provide a scan of your passport or national identity card 

Financial assistance

Each Fellowship provides: 

• Approved return travel from the Fellow’s home country to the in-person bootcamp in Accra, Ghana. 
• Accommodation, travel and catering for the duration of the in-person bootcamp in Accra, Ghana. 
• Reimbursement of the standard visa application fee. 
• Reimbursement of vaccination costs 
• Access to a Fellow’s Grant Fund for business or participation-related costs 
• If a Fellow declares a disability, a full assessment of needs and eligibility for additional financial support will be offered by the CSC. See the CSC disability support statement for more information. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

For a full list of FAQs, visit the Imperial Enterprise Lab Programme Page

General conditions

• In order for the CSC to administer a Fellow’s application effectively and efficiently after they have submitted, it will be necessary to create a record in their name. The details of Fellows who are nominated to the CSC will be kept on file. Basic anonymised demographic data for all applicants will be kept for analytical research. The CSC is committed to protecting personal information and to being transparent about the information we are collecting about individuals and what we do with it. To find out more, see our privacy notice. 
• An award may be terminated at any time for reasons of unsatisfactory conduct, progress, attendance, or violation of visa conditions, or if the delivery partner decides it is unable to proceed with the fellowship for any reason before or during the award 
• Applicants and selected Fellows must adhere to the CSC’s code of conduct for award holders and disciplinary policy and procedure which states: 

As a Commonwealth Scholar or Fellow, you are an ambassador for both the CSC and your home country, and your actions and remarks will have an impact on the reputation of both. You are therefore expected to adhere to high standards of conduct and behaviour and to show respect to others and your surroundings at all times. 

The CSC aims to enable a free exchange of ideas during all its activities in order to achieve the maximum potential impact for all participants. Recognising the diversity of backgrounds among our award holders – in terms of race, religion, gender, sexuality and cultural values – you are reminded to always be respectful to others. 

The CSC is committed to proactively safeguarding and promoting the welfare of Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows, and to protecting all those with whom the CSC comes into contact. The CSC requires Commissioners, Secretariat staff, Scholars and Fellows to fulfil their role and responsibilities in a manner consistent with requirements for safeguarding. 

• The following are not eligible to apply for a Commonwealth Scholarship or Fellowship; an employee, a former employee, or relative of an employee of the Government of the United Kingdom; or a staff member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, the British Council or Imperial College London; or a Commonwealth Scholarship Commissioner, former Commonwealth Scholarship Commissioner or a relative of a Commonwealth Scholarship Commissioner. Former employees of the organisations listed above are eligible to apply three years after ceasing their employment with them 
• In line with the UK Bribery Act 2010, any applicant convicted of bribery will be banned from reapplying for a Commonwealth Scholarship or Fellowship for a period of up to five years 
• The CSC is committed to administering and managing its Scholarships and Fellowships in a fair and transparent manner. For more information, see the CSC anti-fraud policy and procedure and the FCDO guidance on reporting fraud. 
• All terms and conditions of award are subject to UK local law and practices and are subject to change by the CSC. 

For more information, see the handbook for Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows. Please note that the conditions outlined in the handbook are subject to change 

Enquiries

If you have any queries about the Commonwealth Start-up Fellowship, please email CSF@Imperial.ac.uk  

General enquiries about applying for Commonwealth Scholarships sent to this email address will not be answered; please use the contact us form instead.