In NewComma, African diaspora artists find a global audience and a sense of connection
NewComma: Empowering African Creatives on a Global Stage
NewComma, a London-based social recruitment startup founded in 2020 by British-Ghanaian childhood friends Natalie Narh and Nigel Atta-Mensah, is transforming the African creative industry. The mobile-first app connects African creatives, including writers, musicians, actors, photographers, videographers, and illustrators, to a global community of fellow creators and brands.
Since its launch in 2021, NewComma has been providing opportunities for creatives every month through the NewComma Creative Fund (NCF), a £100 micro grant to support their work. The platform offers a range of features to help creatives showcase their skills and connect with potential employers.
Newly-added features like 'Services' allow creatives to advertise their skills, and with a fully customisable 'Project Builder', partner brands can seamlessly sift through portfolios of creators all within the app. Organisations that need to hire talent can leverage NewComma's 17,000+ creator base and over 60,000 across their social networks from just £50 ($68).
The app also offers a community and networking space for creatives to connect with each other and brands worldwide. There are three subscription tiers: NC Lite, NC Plus, and NC Pro, each offering different tools and features to foster growth.
NewComma's emphasis is on authenticity, profitability, and visibility for African and Black creatives on major social media platforms. The platform differentiates itself by being a phygital platform, blending the best of physical and digital worlds to make the most sense for its community.
The startup has already made a significant impact, with over 400 creatives securing opportunities via the NewComma platform. In the last three years, the founders say they have disbursed over £8,000 to creators in their network.
Looking ahead, NewComma is continuing a roll-out of features to improve the earning potential of creators on their platform. For remote-working creatives on the continent, these micro grants can offer a lifeline and much-needed financial leeway to continue creating. Partner brands can advertise open roles on the platform's job board to a niche talent pool ready and able to deliver on projects.
NewComma operates on a freemium model, offering essential tools for free while unlocking advanced features through upcoming paid memberships. The startup is currently in its seed funding round, accelerating the next phase of its growth plans to strengthen the quality of its core features and significantly scale its marketing efforts.
Join the movement and be a part of Africa's creative revolution with NewComma. Don't miss out on the Moonshot event in Lagos on October 15-16, where you can connect with Africa's top founders, creatives, and tech leaders for 2 days of keynotes, mixers, and future-forward ideas. Early bird tickets are now 20% off!
[1] NewComma Official Website [2] TechCrunch [3] Forbes Africa [4] The Africa Report [5] The Guardian Nigeria [6] SFC Capital Press Release
- To further their work, NewComma is currently in its seed funding round, inviting investment to accelerate the growth of its core features and marketing efforts.
- The mobile-first platform, NewComma, offers three subscription tiers - NC Lite, NC Plus, and NC Pro - providing various tools and features for creatives to showcase their skills and connect with potential employers, all while seeking funding for future development.
- NewComma is leading the way in African entrepreneurship, using technology to connect mobile creatives with a global community, offering micro grants through the NewComma Creative Fund (NCF), and providing resources that can offer a lifeline for remote-working creatives in Africa.