MIT Kuo Sharper Foundry Fellowship For African Entrepreneurs

The MIT Kuo Sharper Foundry Fellowship was founded on the belief that entrepreneurs and their market-driven solutions are critical to advancing sustainable prosperity across global growth markets.   

The Foundry Fellowship embodies this belief through its creation of a community of Africa-based entrepreneurs who share a vision for a continent where people, ideas, and resources move across borders, and where ecosystems enable innovation-driven entrepreneurs to thrive and scale. This community plays a critical role in shifting the narrative of Africa to one of abundance, opportunity, innovation, and dynamism.   

ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP 

The Foundry Fellowship is an eight-month, transformative experience for accomplished entrepreneurs who are committed to leading the acceleration and interconnection of Africa’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems.   

The fellowship is designed for principled leaders who seek to catalyze systems transformation and inclusive growth across Africa. Applicants choose to apply to the fellowship for the following reasons:  

• They have had success in scaling an innovation-driven business,  
• They are at an inflection point in their leadership journeys, AND  
• They are seeking to identify ways to support the growth and evolution of entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems across Africa.  

The fellowship is a cohort-based program, with 10-15 fellows accepted into the cohort each year. Going through the fellowship as a cohort gives fellows the supportive context to move beyond current inflection points to define the next stage in their entrepreneurial and leadership journeys.

ELIGIBILITY  CRITERIA

The fellowship is open to Africa-based entrepreneurs who have: 1) founded and scaled a for-profit, innovation-driven company, AND 2) who are now at an inflection point and are preparing to transition into leadership in one of the following ways:    

By transitioning from running your innovation-driven enterprise to taking on a new leadership role within the ecosystem; for example, you may be launching a venture capital fund, starting an accelerator, or pursuing a path in policymaking;   

By founding a venture or support organization that will specifically help build innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems across Africa; or 

By expanding your innovation-driven enterprise across the continent, and through that expansion, focus on ecosystem development to reach your growth goals.  

IMPORTANT REQUIREMENTS 

As a MIT Kuo Sharper Foundry Fellow, The Center asks that you seriously consider the following program requirements before applying:  

Confirming your English language ability: The Foundry Fellowship programming is delivered in English; all fellows should feel comfortable communicating complex ideas in writing, and verbally, in English.  

Attending all Foundry Fellowship online sessions and in-person meetings.

Providing your own transportation to and from ecosystem tour locations and covering some of your travel expenses. Note that the fellowship program covers most costs associated with ecosystem tours, including hotels, group meals, group transport, etc.; however, fellows are responsible for their own flights to and from ecosystem tours as well as certain travel-related expenses.   

Participating fully in all sessions by giving your full attention to the discussion and topic. 

Presenting the next steps you will take after completing the Foundry Fellowship program to your peers and other supporters of the fellowship. 

Application Deadline: July 6, 2025

Learn more and Apply for the MIT Kuo Sharper Foundry Fellowship

Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!