At DDQIC, we believe that everyone has the potential for creative problem-solving. Our mission is to catalyze this potential, developing entrepreneurial mindsets and fostering a culture of innovation across Queen’s University, the Kingston community, and globally.
As we transition into the Launch Phase of this year’s Pan-African cohort of the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship, we are happy to share key insights and cohort data with our global community and partners. Forty-two percent of this year’s Ignite phase were young women building startups across sectors in different African countries.
Decisions for the launch of the program will be released in the coming days; we are excited to welcome a pool of talented and most innovative entrepreneurs across Africa to this year’s Launch phase of the program.
Check out our 2025 impact report here: https://lnkd.in/eDQvitCX
Read more about our work in Africa: https://lnkd.in/d-Px5_kY
#YoungAfricaWorks
#DDQICAfricanInitiatives
#GlobalImpact
@queensuniversity@mastercardfoundation
We are excited to share and congratulate our Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship alumnus Victor Mugambe and current fellow Musau Immanuel Afrika on winning the Best Overall Pitch at the Science, Technology, and Innovation Secretariat of Uganda Future Makers Hackathon 2026, securing 300 million Uganda shillings (approximately USD $81,000) for their venture!
ZuulaCare GastroDx is a dual-target molecular diagnostic platform designed to simultaneously detect Helicobacter pylori and Salmonella Typhi from a single stool sample, helping expand access to rapid, accurate, and affordable diagnostics in underserved communities across the African continent.
Over the last five years, we have been proud to see innovators from the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship continue to create impactful, community-driven solutions.
Read more about the fellowship here: https://www.queensu.ca/innovationcentre/programs/jim-leech-mastercard-foundation-fellowship-entrepreneurship
#YoungAfricaWorks
#GlobalImpact
#DDQICAfricanInitiatives
As we wrap up the Ignite Phase of this year’s Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship(Pan-African Cohort), we are happy to host the last Pitching Den this week on Thursday at 10am.
At this stage of the program, fellows are invited to submit a 4-minute pitch for a chance to advance to the launch phase of the program. To help them prepare, our Pitching Dens offer a supportive space where fellows can present their ideas live and receive real-time, constructive feedback from our team, mentors, and peers.
These sessions serve as an opportunity to refine storytelling, strengthen clarity of vision, and build the confidence needed to submit a compelling pitch.
#DDQICAfricanInitiatives
#YoungAfricaWorks
#GlobalImpact
#SDGs
#IgniteWorkshopSpotlight
Our guest speaker this week is Eva Barasa, a Chevening Scholar at the University of Sussex who will be hosting a workshop, Growing from Zero.
Eva is a multifaceted professional currently focused on improving livelihoods by leading change through practical, scalable, and innovative solutions. With over five years of experience across multiple roles, primarily in B2B settings, she has developed strong expertise in grant management, fundraising, marketing, communications, research, and partnerships.
Her career spans diverse industries, including insurance, non-profits, tech, and digital commerce, having worked with startups, scale-ups, and international organizations. This breadth of experience has shaped her systems-thinking approach, allowing her to connect ideas across sectors and drive meaningful impact.
She holds a BA (Honours) in International Business and Trade from The African Leadership University
Eva is also one of our dedicated Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship alumni program coaches, leveraging her fellowship experience to mentor and support the next generation of business leaders across Africa.
At the core of everything she does is a belief in growth, connection, and creating meaningful change.
#DDQICAfricanInitiatives
#YoungAfricaWorks
#Impact
#SDGs
#WorkshopSpotlight
Innovation in healthcare is often slow, complex, and challenging, largely due to evolving regulatory standards and systemic hurdles. Yet, it remains one of the most critical areas for meaningful impact in every society.
We are excited to host Dr. Nevan Clancy Hanumara, PhD, a research scientist and healthcare entrepreneur from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, for an insightful session on innovation in healthcare.
Dr. Hanumara will share practical insights and best practices on navigating the healthcare innovation landscape, from overcoming regulatory barriers to scaling impactful solutions. His work focuses on healthcare and human-centered design, with applications in clinical settings, emerging markets, and anywhere people and machines interact. He is well known for his collaborative, application-driven, and translational approach in teaching and research focused on medical device designs.
#HealthcareInnovation
#HumancentredDesigns
#RegulatoryCompliances
#MedicalDevices
We are seeking a 2026 SparQ Studios Development Director for part-time work over the summer, with the possibility of an extension into the 2026-2027 academic year.
Find out more at the link in our bio.
In our Ignite workshop series this week, we are excited to host Duncan Asamoah, a serial entrepreneur and alumnus of the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship, to share practical insights on how to build high-performance teams for startups.
Duncan is the founder of MR. NEAT, a company dedicated to manufacturing high-quality car polish and shampoo. Through this venture, he has gained invaluable experience in building and managing multidisciplinary teams.
Duncan brings 5 years of experience as a program coach, mentoring and supporting different early-stage entrepreneurs across Africa.
#YoungAfricaWorks
#HighPerformanceTeams
#EntreprenuerialMindset
#DDQICAfricaIniatives
We are happy to host the Founder and CEO of Deploy Resource Africa Ltd, Enoch Muwanguzi, for a workshop on unit economics for startups.
Enoch is an agricultural engineer by profession; a Mandela Washington Fellow in the Leadership in Business Track; and an alumnus of the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship.
He brings over 5 years of business leadership, coaching experience, and mentorship that has accumulated over the years through his business and coaching career.
#YoungAfricaWorks
#BusinessMaths
#PitchingExcellence
#StartUps
In this week’s #IgniteWorkshopSeries, we are happy to host Naturinda Emmanuel for the Storytelling in Entrepreneurship and Business workshop.
Naturinda Emmanuel commonly known as Emma, is a three-time Mastercard Foundation Scholar, Health Informatics Specialist, and Entrepreneur with a strong passion for driving socio-economic transformation through storytelling, innovation, and coaching the next generation of business leaders in Africa.
Emma has been a program coach for the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship for the last 4 years. He brings deep expertise that sits at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and entrepreneurship. With a strong track record in securing academic scholarships & grants, Emma empowers changemakers to leverage storytelling as a tool for impact, investment, and scaling ventures.
#YoungAfricaWorks
#Storytelling
#PitchingExcellence
#linkinbio to get your ticket for Monday's Quest Fellowship final pitch competition. Demo Day is the culminating event of the Quest fellowship. Powered by xCelero Labs and the DDQIC, 20 founders will pitch the ventures they've spent 8 months building. Get your free ticket now!
#WorkshopSpotlight
On Friday this week, we will be hosting a Pitching Guide Workshop with Jennifer Stefanopoulos,MBA.
Jennifer has been a Program Coach for the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship for the past five years. She is a seasoned operations and events leader with over 7 years of delivering high-impact programs across academic, nonprofit, and entrepreneurial ecosystems in Canada.
Her experience also includes senior leadership roles at Kingston WritersFest, as well as supporting entrepreneurs through the Ontario Centre of Innovation and Angel Investors Ontario. She brings deep experience and practical insights in supporting startups to build innovation-driven ventures.
In this session, Fellows will gain insights on how to structure compelling pitches, communicate their ideas with clarity, and confidently engage investors, key stakeholders, and end-users for their products/solutions to succeed in the market.
#YoungAfricaWorks
#EntreprenuerialMindset
#StartUps
#PitchingExcellence
@queensuniversity@mastercardfoundation
