Applications for the Commonwealth Startup Fellowship (CSF) 2025 are now open. The Commonwealth Startup Fellowship (CSF) is a six-month programme designed to ignite and elevate high potential startups from low and middle-income countries across the Commonwealth. This six-month programme is designed to fuel high-potential startups through intensive in-person and online learning. You’ll gain essential skills, tailored coaching, and access to a powerful global network to help you overcome barriers and scale up your business.
The programme begins in November 2025 with a fully funded two-week bootcamp in Accra, Ghana, plus ongoing online support with business coaching, expert-led sessions, and valuable peer connections. One founder from each selected team will participate in-person, while co-founders and team members can access the remote portion, connecting with global mentors and industry experts from across the Commonwealth.
Benefits
- In addition to the training and mentorship, participating teams can apply for financial support from the Fellows Fund, a pot of £35,000 in equity free grants. This funding is available to cover business related costs to help you develop and grow your startup.
- Select participants will be invited to a Capstone in London, UK, where they will have the chance to pitch to investors and industry leaders.
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.
Application
Applications for Cohort Two are now open and will close on 30 June 2025 at 04:00pm (BST).
