Global creators of African descent generating income and fostering relationships on the international platform, NewComma
In the heart of London, a social recruitment startup named NewComma is making waves in the African creative sector. Founded in 2020 by childhood friends Natalie Narh and Nigel Atta-Mensah, NewComma aims to build digital infrastructure to connect African creatives with a global community of fellow creators and brands.
Since its inception, NewComma has disbursed over £8,000 to creators in its network, a testament to its commitment to fostering community and creating economic opportunities for African creatives and diasporans. The platform, which is mobile-first, aligns with the continent’s rapidly expanding creative sector, projected to swell to a $20 billion annual market and generate around 20 million jobs by 2030.
NewComma's unique offering includes a freemium model, with essential tools available for free and advanced features through upcoming paid memberships. Creators can access a range of benefits for just $6 a month, including discounted event tickets, co-working spaces, equipment rentals, studio time, and restaurant vouchers.
Partner brands can also advertise open roles on the platform's job board to a niche talent pool ready and able to deliver on projects. Organisations can hire talent from NewComma's 17,000+ creator base and over 60,000 across their social networks for £50 ($68).
NewComma is more than just a digital platform. It offers opportunities for creatives to meet in-person with their potential collaborators and employers, making it a unique 'phygital' platform. The app allows creatives to set up free profiles, engage with other creators on an intuitive social feed, and upload multimedia resumes to demonstrate their skills.
In a bid to further support the creative community, NewComma offers a monthly opportunity for creatives to apply for the NewComma Creative Fund (NCF), a £100 micro grant to support their work. This initiative, along with their partnerships with leading companies such as Google, Getty Images, London School of Economics, Adjaye Associates, and Stratcomm Africa, underscores NewComma's commitment to empowering African creatives on a global stage.
The founders of NewComma, who are still active in the underground artistic scene in Ghana, launched the platform in response to the theory that African creatives are not typically perceived as commercially-viable until they have the attention of Western media. By providing a platform that connects African creatives directly with a global community, NewComma is helping to challenge this narrative and unlock economic diversification.
As governments in Africa set up policy strategies to engineer GDP growth, economic diversification, and mirror the success of nations like the UAE, NewComma is poised to play a key role. The startup, which recently raised a £150,000 pre-seed round from SFC Capital, is currently raising funds for a seed round to strengthen their core features and scale their marketing efforts. Operating in key African markets with strong cultural dominance like Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, and Namibia, NewComma is set to continue its mission of helping African creatives participate in the global economy.
In summary, NewComma leverages digital technology to empower African creative talent globally, aligning with the continent’s rapidly expanding creative sector that promises substantial economic and job growth by 2030. Its impact lies in both fostering community and creating economic opportunities for African creatives and diasporans.
- The social recruitment startup, NewComma, has raised funding of £150,000 to strengthen its core features and scale its marketing efforts, positioning itself to play a significant role in economic diversification as African governments implement policy strategies.
- To further support the creative community, NewComma offers the NewComma Creative Fund (NCF), a monthly opportunity for creatives to apply for a £100 micro grant, and has partnered with leading companies like Google, enabling it to empower African creatives on a global stage.
- Aligning with the continent's rapidly expanding creative sector, projected to become a £20 billion annual market with around 20 million jobs by 2030, NewComma's mobile-first platform offers creators essential tools for free and advanced features through paid memberships, making it an attractive option for entrepreneurs in the technology and business sectors.
