CreativeTech startups across Africa are invited to apply for the timbuktoo Launchpad — a pan-African incubation programme by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the timbuktoo Creatives Hub, hosted in South Africa. The programme identifies and supports promising entrepreneurs building technology-enabled solutions for Africa’s creative economy, providing structured incubation, mentorship, investment readiness support, and access to a continent-wide ecosystem of founders, investors, and innovation partners.
UNDP particularly encourages applications from women-led startups, youth entrepreneurs, and founders from underserved communities.
About the Programme
Africa’s creative economy is one of the continent’s fastest-growing sectors — driven by expanding digital connectivity and a young, increasingly entrepreneurial population. Yet many CreativeTech startups continue to face significant barriers in accessing mentorship, networks, investment, and structured business support.
The timbuktoo Launchpad addresses that gap directly. Selected startups join a distributed ecosystem of accredited incubators, innovation hubs, mentors, and investors working together to support startup growth across the continent. Programme delivery is powered by Seedstars’ SIGMA platform — providing mentorship matching, learning resources, progress tracking, and AI-powered guidance to accelerate startup development and investment readiness.
Eligible Creative Economy Areas:
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.
Who Should Apply:
- Startups based in Africa or building solutions targeting African markets
- Teams with a prototype or minimum viable product
- A committed founding team developing a technology-enabled solution for the creative economy
- Ventures demonstrating clear potential for growth and scalability
What Selected Startups Receive:
- 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
Application Timeline:
Applications are open on a rolling basis with startups admitted through quarterly cohorts. The first cohort begins September 2026, with additional cohorts starting every three months.
