Commonwealth Startup Fellowship 2025 (Funded to Ghana) – YOA

Deadline: January 15, 2025

Applications are open for the Commonwealth Startup Fellowship 2025. The Commonwealth Startup Fellowship will run for six months and is designed to ignite and elevate excessive-potential startups from low- and center-revenue Commonwealth nations. The programme is made up of a mixture of immersive in-individual experiences and on-line studying, to present contributors with important abilities, reducing-edge data, and a sturdy international community.

The CSC and Imperial College London intend that by the tip of the programme, entrepreneurs might be geared up to construct thriving companies, scale operations successfully, and drive job creation of their home nations. 

A cohort of 20 early-stage begin-ups might be recruited. One individual from every enterprise should be out there to attend a two-week bootcamp in Accra, Ghana on the finish of March 2025. There can be the chance for representatives from excellent organisations to journey to London within the UK later within the yr for a collection of thrilling capstone occasions.

Benefits

Each Fellowship gives: 

• Approved return journey from the Fellow’s home nation to the in-individual bootcamp in Accra, Ghana. 
• Accommodation, journey and catering in the course of the in-individual bootcamp in Accra, Ghana. 
• Reimbursement of the usual visa application charge. 
• Reimbursement of vaccination prices 
• Access to a Fellow’s grant Fund for enterprise or participation-associated prices 
• If a Fellow declares a incapacity, a full evaluation of wants and eligibility for added monetary assist might be supplied by the CSC.

Eligibility

To be eligible for these Fellowships, potential Fellows should: 

• Be of no less than graduate degree;  
• Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee standing by an eligible low or center revenue Commonwealth nation;  
• Be completely resident in an eligible Commonwealth nation;  
• Be fluent in written and spoken English;
• Not have undertaken a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship inside the final 5 years (on the time of taking over the award);
• Be out there to undertake their fellowship from the prescribed begin date.

In addition, they need to reveal:  

• Evidence of innovation, when it comes to product, service, or market;
• Active growth for no less than six-months and demonstrable dedication from group members;
• A working minimal viable ‘product’, service and/or prototype;   
• Significant proof of buyer engagement or traction within the type of early gross sales or pre-gross sales proof of curiosity or demand, signed contracts or different related proof.

Application

In the application kind, potential Fellows are requested to: 

• List up to two undergraduate and postgraduate college {qualifications} obtained (the place relevant). 
• Provide particulars of up to two entries of earlier employment historical past and clarify how every job is related to the programme you would like to undertake within the UK (up to 100 phrases per employment).
• List names and positions of up to three referees who’re certified to touch upon each your capability to profit out of your proposed fellowship and your potential to ship growth influence afterwards. One of your referees should be your present or most up-to-date employer.
• List details about your enterprise, together with if and the place it’s registered and your function inside it.  
• Describe any progress or traction you will have made in your startup. (up to 250 phrases).  You ought to embrace any notable achievements, measurable outcomes (comparable to variety of customers, signal-ups), income to date, variety of prototypes examined, and so forth. You must also embrace any market, and technological analysis you will have accomplished. 
• Describe what competitor analysis have you ever finished to perceive your direct and oblique rivals. (up to 150 phrases).
• Describe your concept’s Intellectual Property (IP) safety and possession standing, if any. (up to 150 phrases)
• Provide a 1 minute video elevator pitch, clearly explaining the issue your enterprise is fixing, the answer it gives, the progress up to now and what difference taking part on this programme will make. 
• Explain the issue your enterprise is aiming to resolve (up to 150 phrases).
• Explain your resolution, the way it works and the way it’s progressive (up to 150 phrases).
• Explain why you’re the proper group (or solo founder) to develop your startup. You ought to embrace your collective abilities, data, competencies, {qualifications}, dedication. Identify any gaps in your group. (up to 150 phrases) 
• Describe your motivation for becoming a member of the programme. You ought to embrace your objectives, causes, or goals you need to obtain on the programme. (up to 150 phrases)
• Provide a scan of your passport or nationwide identification card.

Click here to apply

For extra info, go to Commonwealth Startup Fellowship.