On April 16, we closed the incubation program MOZALISI-KIN. For one year, in partnership with Ingenious City, Africalia supported 12 young entrepreneurs working in the cultural and creative sector in Kinshasa. They presented their projects and their entrepreneurial journey during the Demo Day.
MOZALISI-KIN
In February 2024, Africalia and Ingenious City launched a call for applications for cultural and creative entrepreneurs based in Kinshasa. The MOZALISI-KIN incubation program then launched in March 2024. Its objective? To consolidate Kinshasa-based companies active in the creation, development, (re)production, promotion, dissemination, or marketing of cultural goods, services, and activities.
Throughout the program, entrepreneurs benefited from business and ICC training modules, group and individual coaching, creative mentoring, and access to experts in specific fields. This approach fostered the practical and theoretical integration of entrepreneurial training modules (such as HR, business planning, accounting, etc.) and creative training modules (such as business strategy and digital marketing, resource mobilization, etc.). Thus, Africalia aims to strengthen the essential role of cultural entrepreneurship in the development of the Congolese creative ecosystem. A pitch during the incubation phase determined the six incubatees who were able to receive a €3,000 grant.
Demo Day
On April 16, the 12 incubatees gathered in Kinshasa for the program's closing ceremony: Demo Day. In front of an audience of institutional representatives, partners, artists, and other industry stakeholders, they shared their lessons learned from MOZALISI-KIN and explained how the program boosted their entrepreneurial activities. It was a powerful moment, punctuated by the presentation of certificates and inspiring words from Dorine Rurashitse, Executive Director of Africalia, and Christian Kadiambiko, Program Manager at Ingenious City, who reaffirmed the importance of investing in cultural entrepreneurship, a sector that offers numerous opportunities for Congolese youth. At an information fair and networking reception, the 12 now certified entrepreneurs were able to present their creative activities in more detail to a very interested audience.
If this successful conclusion of MOZALISI-KIN has taught us one thing, it is that the future of cultural entrepreneurship in the DRC is more than promising!
Watch the Demo Day video report here.
Entrepreneurs
So who are the 12 entrepreneurs who will use the lessons learned from the Africalia and Ingenious City program to develop their businesses and, more broadly, the creative industry in Kinshasa? Discover them in this video !
MOZALISI-L'SHI
Following the completion of the entrepreneurship program in Kinshasa, it's time for the launch of MOZALISI-L'SHI. Implemented in partnership with the UKAMILI Digital City incubator, this program targets cultural and creative entrepreneurs in Lubumbashi. From April 23 to 29, the 15 preselected participants have already met for the first training of the program, dedicated to cultural administration and the SDGs and led by Luc Mayitoukou. Stay tuned for more information on the program and the Lubumbashi incubatees!
©Ingenious City
