The MIT Kuo Sharper Center for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship Foundry Fellowship 2025/2026 for Africa-based entrepreneurs

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Application Deadline: July 6, 2025

Applications at the moment are open for the 2025/2026 MIT Foundry Fellowship. The MIT Kuo Sharper Center for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship was based on the idea that entrepreneurs and their market-driven options are vital to advancing sustainable prosperity throughout international development markets.   

The Foundry Fellowship is an eight-month, transformative expertise for completed entrepreneurs who’re dedicated to main the acceleration and interconnection of Africa’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems.   

The fellowship is designed for principled leaders who search to catalyze techniques transformation and inclusive development throughout Africa. Applicants select to apply to the fellowship for the next causes:  

• They are looking for to determine methods to assist the expansion and evolution of entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems throughout Africa.  
• They have had success in scaling an innovation-driven enterprise,  
• They are at an inflection level of their management journeys, AND  

The fellowship is a cohort-based program, with 10-15 fellows accepted into the cohort annually. Going by way of the fellowship as a cohort offers fellows the supportive context to maneuver past present inflection factors to outline the subsequent stage of their entrepreneurial and management journeys. The small variety of fellows in every cohort, the emphasis on a selective profile, and the distinctive curation of the curriculum, results in a studying surroundings that’s extremely supportive for deep transformation.  

ELIGIBILITY 

The fellowship is open to Africa-based entrepreneurs who’ve: 1) based and scaled a for-profit, innovation-driven firm, AND 2) who at the moment are at an inflection level and are getting ready to transition into management in one of many following methods:    

By transitioning from operating your innovation-driven enterprise to taking over a brand new management function inside the ecosystem; for instance, you might be launching a enterprise capital fund, beginning an accelerator, or pursuing a path in policymaking;   

By founding a enterprise or assist group that may particularly assist construct innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems throughout Africa; or 

By increasing your innovation-driven enterprise throughout the continent, and by way of that growth, deal with ecosystem improvement to succeed in your development objectives.  

APPLICATION DETAILS  

The application consists of:  

• Personal demographic info and contact info;  
• Details about your function as a founder and your organization;  
• Essay questions in your curiosity within the Fellowship program, questions on your function as an ecosystem builder, and what entrepreneurial management means to you;  
• A resume outlining your academic background, skilled expertise, management positions held, and neighborhood engagement;  
• A 2-minute video (in English), summarizing the important thing factors of your application, and;  
• Two letters of advice from individuals who know you as co-founder, mentor, board member, or senior supervisor in your organization (be aware: you might be accountable for giving recommenders adequate time to finish the advice letters earlier than the application deadline).  
   

Applications will probably be reviewed by an analysis committee. Finalists will probably be invited to take part in at the least one panel interview.  

Program Details

Typically, the fellowship program consists of 4 ecosystem excursions, every lasting between 5 and seven days. In the spring we mix two excursions, bringing the whole time away from work and home to about two weeks. 

Providing your personal transportation to and from ecosystem tour areas and protecting a few of your journey bills. Note that the fellowship program covers most prices related to ecosystem excursions, together with motels, group meals, group transport, and many others.; nonetheless, fellows are accountable for their very own flights to and from ecosystem excursions in addition to sure travel-related bills.   

KEY DATES* 

• June 11: Application Opens.  
• July 6: Application interval closes.  
• July-August: Interviews with Kuo Sharper Center employees, neighborhood, and Foundry Fellow Alumni.  
• September: Acceptance letters despatched; commitments made.  
• October: Orientation (digital).  
• November: Africa ecosystem tour (location TBD; roughly one week of journey).  
• January/February: Africa ecosystem tour (location TBD; roughly one week of journey).  
• April/May: US ecosystem excursions (first location TBD; second location will probably be Boston/Cambridge; roughly two weeks of journey) and fellowship celebration occasion. 

*Dates will probably be confirmed and shared with finalists when acceptance letters are despatched out. 

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the MIT Foundry Fellowship