A new virtual initiative aims to transform Africa’s creative economy by supporting early-stage founders.
A partnership between The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UVU Africa via UVU Accelerate, the entrepreneurial development and incubation arm, has launched the timbuktoo Creative Hub Ideation Incubation Programme, a virtual incubator designed for early-stage creative entrepreneurs across Africa.
The six-week intensive programme will provide structured support to help creative founders validate their business concepts, develop entrepreneurial capabilities, and prepare for market entry and investment opportunities.
This virtual incubation initiative forms a key component of UNDP’s flagship timbuktoo platform — a bold pan-African initiative designed to unlock Africa’s innovation potential by investing in youth-led startups across the continent. As one of ten sector-focused hubs under the timbuktoo umbrella, the Creative Hub specifically targets the creative economy, recognising its transformative power for inclusive growth and cultural preservation.
“Africa’s creative economy represents one of our continent’s greatest untapped resources,” says Lara Rosmarin, Head of Entrepreneur Development at UVU Accelerate. Despite incredible talent and innovation, African creatives contribute just 2.9% of global creative exports. “This programme aims to close that imagination gap by giving early-stage founders the business tools and connections they need to thrive.”
The fully virtual programme will accept 20-30 participants from ten African countries: South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, Senegal, Morocco, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Zambia. It is specifically designed for entrepreneurs at the ideation or early stage who need support transforming creative concepts into viable businesses.
Participants will benefit from online Interactive workshops covering entrepreneurial thinking, market research, solution design, branding, financial literacy, business modelling, and pitching. They will also be supported by mentorship from industry experts and entrepreneurs.
Further benefits of the incubation programme are peer networking with creative founders from across the continent and a final showcase demo day with exposure to potential investors and partners.
“In a moment where youth unemployment, digital exclusion, and cultural erasure remain urgent challenges – especially in South Africa – the creative economy offers a rare convergence of purpose and profit,” says Maxwell Gomera, Resident Representative, UNDP South Africa and Director, UNDP Africa Sustainable Finance Hub. “When imagination meets structured support and global market access, we don’t just preserve culture – we export it, scale it, and build sustainable economies around it.”
The timbuktoo Creative Hub Ideation Incubation Programme is set to begin in July 2025. Creative entrepreneurs working in audio-visual, design, music, multimedia, and cultural heritage preservation are encouraged to apply. The programme also encourages applications from those aged 18-35 and women-led ventures.
Applications will open on 2 June 2025 and close on 27 June 2025. Interested entrepreneurs can learn more and apply by clicking here
The initiative is part of UNDP’s broader timbuktoo platform to unlock Africa’s innovation potential. The timbuktoo Creative Hub Ideation Incubation Programme is implemented through contributions from the timbuktoo Creative Hub core partners, including UNDP, DEDAT, UVU Accelerate, the Craft and Design Institute, and Snake Nation.
