Entertainment Week Africa (EWA) has announced a new grant pool for African creative businesses ahead of its 2026 edition. Through its Deal Room programme, the initiative aims to help promising businesses access funding, mentorship and investor connections.
The grant pool was announced at the EWA Deal Room Alumni Meetup in Lagos on October 7. At the event, founders from previous editions shared their progress and explored new business opportunities.
EWA expands Deal Room funding
The Deal Room launched in 2025 with an initial funding pool of N25 million. It received more than 178 company applications in its first cycle. Of these, nine businesses advanced to the accelerator stage, while four attracted live investor interest.
Participating businesses included Aktivate, Atsur, FriendnPal, Growwr, Prop’ly and Sports Reels. In addition, the programme offered mentorship and investment support through partners such as Future Africa, Catalyst Fund and Consonance Invest.
For the 2026 edition, founders will receive mentorship and undergo assessment by a jury. The panel will include Kemdi Ebi, the programme’s lead mentor. Businesses with strong growth potential will then be considered for grants. The awards are scheduled for EWA 2026 in November.
Ebi said the initiative would help creative entrepreneurs turn promising ideas into sustainable businesses.
“The ecosystem needs some level of acceleration and training,” he said.
“What you find a lot of times is people coming up with genuinely strong ideas, but without the commercial readiness and investor connections to scale them. The grant pool is our way of putting actual capital behind the businesses that show they can use it.”
Previous participants report business growth.
Meanwhile, some founders have used the EWA network to improve their operations and reach new markets.
Bukunola Bolajoko, founder of 1101 Technologies, said the programme broadened her company’s focus beyond technical execution. It also encouraged greater attention to business development and investor engagement.
Similarly, Tele Lawal, founder of Kouture Paradisé, used connections within the EWA ecosystem to expand sales into the United States, the United Kingdom and Sweden. She also established logistics partnerships to support international operations.
Beyond funding, EWA aims to strengthen the wider creative economy through initiatives such as the Content Market, Music Market, Sync & Licensing Desk, Rights & IP Desk, Distribution Desk and Pitch Rooms.
EWA 2026 to be held in November
EWA 2026 will take place in Lagos from November 17 to 22 under the theme ‘Closing the Gap’. The event will feature music, film and television, fashion and beauty, artificial intelligence and technology, art and animation, live events and production, and creative enterprise.
Interested African creative businesses can apply to the Deal Room through the EWA website.
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