MEDIA RELEASE: Création Africa Top 12 Announced

France announces support for 12 cultural enterprises in final phase of Création Africa programme

Création Africa supports cultural and creative entrepreneurs in South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi as part of a broader initiative dedicated to creative economies across the continent

The Embassy of France in South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi and the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) revealed the top 12 entrepreneur finalists now entering Création Africa’s final incubation and immersion stage, at a media breakfast event hosted on 14 May 2024 in the presence of the Ambassador of France to South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi, David Martinon.

Création Africa falls within a continent-wide initiative launched in 2023 by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs focused on the cultural and creative industries in 16 African countries, as part of its renewed engagement to invest in entrepreneurship and creative industries on the continent. 

The R24-million Création Africa programme has been designed to reinforce cultural cooperation between France and Lesotho, Malawi and South Africa by supporting cultural and creative talents from these countries on their entrepreneurial journeys. Now, from a previous shortlist of 40 businesses selected to undergo month-long training and pitch their ideas, a dozen promising businesses have been selected to enter the incubation and immersion phase.

The 12 initiatives – one from Lesotho, two from Malawi and nine from South Africa – are led by talented entrepreneurs, one-third of whom are women, making waves in the areas of fashion, design, audio-visual, video games and music. 

The 12 finalists are:

• Ananta Design Studio – Viveka and Rucita Vassen, design – Cape Town, South Africa
• GIYA – Giyani Mashimbye and Cassandra Twala, design – Johannesburg, South Africa
• Kwacha Creative Studios – Chimwemwe Mkwezalamba and Rafik Seleman, audio-visual – Blantyre, Malawi
• LSJ Clothing and Merchandising – Julian Kubel, fashion – Johannesburg, South Africa
• Moodswing – Jimmy Muteba, music and media – Johannesburg, South Africa
• Pineapple on Pizza Studios – Kushal Jeethendra Sithlu, gaming – Johannesburg, South Africa
• Renaissance Design – Glorinah Khutso Mabaso, design – Pretoria, South Africa
• SourceCode Motion Pictures – Katleho Monyako, audiovisual – Maseru, Lesotho
• SpaceSalad Studios – Thabo Tsolo, gaming – Johannesburg, South Africa
• Tendalo Trading – Xolile Mabuza, fashion – Mbombela, South Africa
• Terry Made Designs – Terrence Thobani Ngulube, fashion – Blantyre, Malawi 
• THEBE MAGUGU – Thebe Magugu, fashion – Johannesburg, South Africa

Herewith the link to the 12 entrepreneur profiles: https://iqoqo.org/creation-africa-network/ 

During this phase, the finalists will embark on a five-month incubation journey designed to empower them and take their creative ventures to the next level. This includes not only strategic guidance and tailored training but also invaluable exposure and networking opportunities with French and international cultural and creative industry experts and investors, as well as financial grants ranging from €30 000 to €50 000. 

As part of the incubation programme, each business will be supported by three dedicated mentors through weekly one-on-one tailored mentorship sessions and will attend weekly group sessions with the cohort. They will complete entrepreneurship-on-demand training online to develop their human skills and master business fundamentals. The 12 finalists will also get an opportunity to learn from French and international industry leaders as part of a series of bespoke masterclasses to build their vision and support their growth.

Création Africa is a ground-breaking initiative that would not be possible without the support of key partnerships with the business development and incubation division of UVU Africa (UVU Accelerate) alongside the French public investment bank Bpifrance.

As the 12 entrepreneurs graduate from the initial stages and enter Création Africa’s incubation programme, Bpifrance will leverage its expertise to connect them with a global network of partners and investors to unlock investment opportunities to propel them forward.

“Congratulations to our cohort of 12 for reaching this stage in the programme. Their success through a very competitive field is a testament to their talent, dedication and great potential,” said Ambassador Martinon at the event. 

“Business acceleration programmes in the cultural and creative industries, such as Création Africa, are crucial for nurturing creative talent and I am convinced that investment in ecosystems, skills development and innovation can drive productivity and competitiveness, leading to sustainable economic growth and job creation across our nations.

“In this latest phase, we aim to develop a holistic support system that ensures these entrepreneurs gain the competitive edge they need as well as providing them with essential industry insights and networking opportunities that will open doors to further their growth and success,” he said.

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Media enquiries:

Khaya Thwala, senior account manager – Khaya Thwala +27 (0)78 349 0668.

Sarah Jenkins, communications and partnerships, IFAS – sarah.jenkins@frenchinstitute.org.za 

About IFAS

Since its creation in 1995, the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) has been working on a strong policy of cooperation between South Africa, France and the rest of the African continent. The cultural arm of the Embassy of France to South Africa, IFAS works in all fields of artistic creation, with priority given to the cultural and creative industries. Through actions based on co-creation, IFAS encourages and promotes collaboration with key players in the French cultural sector. IFAS actively promotes young talent and training and participates in the reflection on public policies by constantly pursuing the idea that arts and culture are powerful factors for inclusion and social cohesion. Each year IFAS organises or supports more than 100 projects, which are carried out with partners located in South Africa but also on the whole African continent, in France and in Europe.

About UVU Africa 

UVU Africa, a non-profit organisation dedicated to building future-fit, inclusive societies across Africa through technology and innovation, shares the vision of a united continent embracing innovation for positive, sustainable transformation.

UVU Accelerate, the entrepreneurial development, and incubation arm of UVU Africa, serves as a catalyst for African entrepreneurship success. Through tailored incubation programs, UVU Accelerate offers unparalleled training and support, including tech enablement, interactive workshops, industry-specific mentorship, access to online learning platforms, and networking opportunities. The vision at UVU Accelerate is to support business growth, job creation, and economic stimulation across the continent. Join UVU Africa in shaping the future of African economies. 

About Bpifrance

As a partner to entrepreneurs, the French public investment bank (Bpifrance) supports companies from their creation to their listing on the stock exchange, with credit, guarantees and equity capital. Through its action, Bpifrance promotes innovation, development, and internationalisation of target companies, by contributing to their financing in terms of loans, innovation aid and equity capital. 

Bpifrance has been active in Africa for 20+ years with the objective of contributing to the development of African innovation economies and creating bridges between African and European business ecosystems. Bpifrance’s engagement in the regions includes events like Inspire & Connect conferences in African cities, support for local female entrepreneurs, and export finance aid. The bank involvement also extends to equity investment in African funds, technical assistance for SMEs, and geographical presence through offices in Abidjan, Nairobi, Casablanca, and Dakar.