On May 14, 2024, the Embassy of France in South Africa, Lesotho, and Malawi, along with the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS), announced the top 12 entrepreneur finalists entering the final incubation stage of the Création Africa programme. The announcement was made at a media breakfast event attended by the French Ambassador to South Africa, Lesotho, and Malawi, David Martinon. Création Africa, launched in 2023 by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, supports the cultural and creative industries in 16 African countries, reinforcing France’s commitment to entrepreneurship on the continent.

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The R24-million programme aims to enhance cultural cooperation between France and the countries of Lesotho, Malawi, and South Africa by supporting local talents in their entrepreneurial journeys. From an initial shortlist of 40 businesses, 12 promising ventures—one from Lesotho, two from Malawi, and nine from South Africa—have been selected for the final phase. These initiatives, led by innovative entrepreneurs, including a significant number of women, are making strides in sectors such as fashion, design, audio-visual arts, 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.