About the opportunity
What this programme is offering
Africa's creative economy is one of the continent's fastest-growing sectors, driven by expanding digital connectivity and a young population. Creative entrepreneurs are increasingly building innovative ideas across areas such as digital media, animation, gaming, creator economy platforms, immersive technologies, music, film, design, and cultural industries. However, many startups continue to face barriers in accessing mentorship, networks, investment opportunities, and structured business support.
Through the timbuktoo Creatives Hub, UNDP is supporting the next generation of CreativeTech entrepreneurs building scalable businesses that can contribute to innovation and economic growth across Africa.
Selected startups will join timbuktoo Launchpad, a distributed ecosystem of incubators, innovation hubs, mentors, and investors working together to support startup growth across the continent.
Startups admitted to the programme will receive structured incubation support delivered by accredited incubators within the timbuktoo ecosystem, alongside access to the timbuktoo Launchpad platform, powered by Seedstars' SIGMA platform, which provides mentorship matching, learning resources, progress tracking, and AI-powered guidance to accelerate startup growth and investment readiness.
Programme Benefits
CreativeTech startups selected for the programme will benefit from a combination of local incubation support and pan-African ecosystem access, including:
Structured incubation programmes delivered by leading African incubators
Access to experienced mentors, entrepreneurs, and industry experts
Participation in a pan-African network of founders, incubators, and ecosystem partners
Access to the Seedstars SIGMA platform for startup development and progress tracking
Investment readiness support, including pitch development and investor engagement
Opportunities to participate in demo days and ecosystem events across Africa
Potential pathways to acceleration programmes and early-stage investment opportunities
Who Should Apply
Eligible startups should:
Be based in Africa or building solutions targeting African markets
Have a prototype or Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
Have a committed founding team
Be developing a technology-enabled solution relevant to the creative economy
Demonstrate potential for growth and scalability
Solutions may address areas such as digital content creation, animation, gaming, music, film, design, creator economy platforms, immersive technologies, AI-enabled creative solutions, and other technology-driven innovations contributing to the growth of Africa's creative industries.
UNDP particularly encourages applications from women-led startups, youth entrepreneurs, and founders from underserved communities.
How to Apply
Applications are open on a rolling basis, with startups admitted through quarterly cohorts. The first cohort will begin in September 2026, with additional cohorts starting every three months. Interested startups can submit their applications via the dedicated platform
How to apply