1ST STAGE: SELECTION

FASHIONENTR_

Be a national of any country in sub-Saharan Africa

Must be between 18 - 40 years old

Must be the Founder and Owner of the business

Must be able to demonstrate an interest in your business idea

Must be available to participate fully for the entire duration of the programme (6 weeks)

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FASHIONNXT_

Be a national of any country in sub-Saharan Africa

Must be between 21 - 40 years old

Must be actively operating a business entity or creative practice

Must be the Founder and Owner of the business

Business must be registered with CAC

Must be available to participate fully for the entire duration of the programme (6 weeks)

2ND STAGE: CONFIRMATION

If your application is approved, you will be notified via email and following this you:

Must pay either one of the applicable registration fees below before the application deadline, 24th December 2023:

• Discounted Fee for Wema Bank Account Owners Only (fixed till application deadline): ₦20,000

To Open a Wema Bank account, download the ALAT App here for iOS or here for Android and use the code: CREATIVECLASSPRO when filling the form

• Early Bird Fee (till 17th December 2023): ₦20,000

• Regular Fee (from 18th December 2023): ₦25,000

Must be a Wema Bank account owner or consent to open a Wema Bank account on enrolment

What Exactly is The Creative Class?

The Creative Class is a business training program for early to mid-stage creative startups and business owners in Sub-Saharan Africa, looking to scale up their creative businesses. 

“The  Creative Class” consists of Peer Clusters within 2 pathways (ENT_ and NXT_) and a series of keynotes and specialised masterclasses. Each Pathway will contain Peer Clusters with each Cluster focusing on specific areas of interest whilst providing opportunities for collaboration and accountability.

Who can apply for The Creative Class?

The Creative Class is open to early to mid-stage creative startups; ones who have been running their businesses for 0-12 months or 2 years and above. 

If you are an idea-stage entrepreneur or your startup is 0-12 months old, you are eligible for the ENT_Pathway. If you are an early-mid stage entrepreneur and your business is above 12 months, you are eligible for the NXT_pathway.

How do I know if I am from Sub-Saharan Africa?

Here are the countries in sub-Saharan Africa: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo DRC, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

What is the ENT_ Pathway?

ENTR_ is a market entry programme aimed at entry-level fashion, jewellery, accessory, FashTech, and other creative SMEs and Entrepreneurs who have run their business for less than 12 months. 

What is the NXT_ pathway?

NXT_ is a market development programme aimed at early-mid stage fashion, jewellery, accessory, FashTech, and other creative MSMEs, SMEs, and Entrepreneurs who have run their business for more than 12 months.

How do I know which pathway to register for?

If you are an idea-stage entrepreneur or your startup is 0-12 months old, you are eligible for the ENT_Pathway. 

If you are an early-mid stage entrepreneur and your business is above 12 months, you are eligible for the NXT_pathway

I have just an Idea, will my application be considered?

Yes! Idea stage creatives are very welcome as are early stage and existing entrepreneurs who need help in building or scaling their creative enterprises.

What will I learn in the program?

The program curriculum will cover various areas including Sales & Retail, Funding, Networking and Collaboration, as well as Peer Cluster topics focused on Content Creation and Branding, Product Development, MVP Testing, and Export Readiness.

Is there a fee to attend the Creative Class?

Yes, there is a registration fee. If your application is approved you will need to pay a registration fee for entry into the programme. 

• Early bird registration fee is N20,000 till December 17th 

• Regular registration fee is N25,000 from December 18th to December 24th

• Wema Bank account owners enjoy the benefit of paying a fixed registration fee of N20,000 (no matter when they register) till the deadline for applications on December 24th

So get your application in early!

When does the Program start?

The program is scheduled to kick off on January 15th 2024 and will run for 6 weeks till February 24th 2024.

Is this a fully virtual programme?

No, the program is hybrid. There will be a combination of in-person and virtual sessions to accommodate participants from different locations.

How can I apply for The Creative Class?

Apply directly for The ENTR_ Pathway here or for The NXT_ Pathway here.

I don’t live in Nigeria, can I attend the Creative Class from my country?

Definitely!. The programme is open to creatives from countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

I’m not a fashion designer, can I still attend?

Sure! The Creative Class is for entrepreneurs and professionals from all sectors of the creative industry including but not limited to fashion apparel, textile, accessory, home goods, the creative arts, photography and media

What’s the Program duration?

The entire Creative Class is 6 weeks. However, if you are not selected to participate in CEP, the programme length is just over 5 weeks.

What is  CEP?

The Creative Enterprise Programme is a 3-day practical business workshop that supports entrepreneurs to establish and grow their businesses in a variety of disciplines such as arts and culture, fashion, handicrafts, publishing, and performance arts, etc.

Do I need to have a laptop to attend?

Because some classes will be virtual, a desktop computer or laptop is the best choice and is preferable for learning. However, if you are unable to get access to a computer, you can also use a mobile device.