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

The Mastercard Foundation Fund for Alumni Start-ups in Transition (FAST) Program is a grant from Mastercard Foundation that supports young African entrepreneurs through enterprise support, business development training, mentorship, and peer networking.

Open to alumni of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), African Leadership Academy, and Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, FAST offers tiered funding based on enterprise stage, with idea-phase grants up to $5,000 and build-phase grants up to $15,000. The program prioritizes inclusive participation for young women, refugees, displaced persons, and individuals with disabilities.

Applications are accepted in English, French, Portuguese, and Arabic, with near-graduates eligible for provisional acceptance.

The Mastercard Foundation Fund for Alumni Start-ups in Transition (FAST) Program | Mastercard Foundation Education and Transitions This information is available in the following languages: Read the Arabic translation Read the Portuguese translation Read the French translation Apply to the FAST Program Apply to the FAST Program by completing the application form available starting February 20, 2026.

The third application drive for the Mastercard Foundation Fund for Alumni Start-ups in Transition (FAST) program is now open. FAST supports and empowers the next generation of entrepreneurs by providing enterprise support and connecting participants to business development training and a supportive network of like-minded entrepreneurs and mentors.

FAST is a partnership of the Mastercard Foundation with CCHub Nigeria, MDF Global, Concree, Scale up, Savannah Innovations Lab, the Center for Enterprising Organizations, Inkomoko, and the Africa Leadership Academy (ALA). FAST is open to aspiring entrepreneurs or those in the early stages of their entrepreneurship journey.

It offers a unique opportunity for Alumni from the following programs: Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) African Leadership Academy (ALA) Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Note: Applicants who are nearing graduation can receive a provisional acceptance letter and, upon completing their studies, join the next cohort. The application and program are available in English, French, Portuguese, and Arabic.

Commitment to Inclusive Growth FAST aims to foster inclusivity and provide opportunities to a wide range young people, including young women, refugees and displaced persons, and young people living with disabilities. Financial Support and Disbursement Amounts Disbursement amounts are based on the needs of the entrepreneur and their enterprise and include considerations such as the stage at which the enterprise is at in its development.

Specific funding amounts will be determined on a case-by-case basis, and not all participants will receive funding to support their enterprise. Idea Phase: An average of USD $3000 (up to $5,000) to help develop and refine initial ideas. Build Phase: An average of USD $12,500 (up to $15,000) to transform the ideas into viable business models.

Participants will gain access to funding, business development training, and a supportive network of like-minded entrepreneurs and mentors. Read the frequently asked questions in English Read the frequently asked questions in French Read the frequently asked questions in Portuguese Read the frequently asked questions in Arabic Facilitating young people’s pathways from education to dignified and fulfilling work and entrepreneurship.