Kickstart your entrepreneurial journey with the Mastercard Foundation FAST program

Introducing the Mastercard Foundation Fund for Alumni Start-ups in Transition (FAST) Program

The Mastercard Foundation, in collaboration with various partners including CCHub Nigeria, MDF Global, Concree, Scale up, Savannah Innovations Lab, the Center for Enterprising Organizations, Inkomoko, and the Africa Leadership Academy (ALA), is thrilled to announce the launch of the Mastercard Foundation Fund for Alumni Start-ups in Transition (FAST) program.

Overview & Eligibility

The Mastercard Foundation FAST program aims to support and empower the next generation of entrepreneurs by offering up to $15,000 in support for each venture. This program is open to aspiring entrepreneurs or individuals in the early stages of their entrepreneurship journey.

The Mastercard Foundation Fund for Alumni Start-ups in Transition is awarded to (proposed or established) businesses that are majority owned by alumni of at least one of the following programs:

• Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
• African Leadership Academy (ALA)
• Anzisha Prize
• Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI)

Applicants must be able to receive coaching and other program activities in one of the following languages: Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, or Spanish.

Program Benefits

Participants in the Mastercard Foundation FAST program will have access to

• funding,
• business development training,
• and a supportive network of like-minded entrepreneurs and mentors.

The program is structured to provide support in two key stages to cater to entrepreneurs at different points in their journey:

1. Idea Phase: Up to $5,000 to assist in developing and refining initial ideas.
2. Build Phase: $10,000 to $15,000 to transform ideas into viable business models.

Application Process

Interested individuals can apply via the program’s official website.

The deadline for all applications will be 16:00 GMT on Sunday, 15th September. 

About the Mastercard Foundation

The Mastercard Foundation is a registered Canadian charity and one of the largest foundations globally. It collaborates with visionary organizations to promote education and financial inclusion, enabling young people in Africa and Indigenous youth in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work. Founded in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard, the Foundation operates independently from the company and has offices in Toronto, Kigali, Accra, Nairobi, Kampala, Lagos, Dakar, and Addis Ababa. The Foundation’s policies, operations, and program decisions are determined by its Board of Directors and leadership.