Algeria - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

A digital cultural residency for African start-ups and self-entrepreneurs in the cultural and creative industries, offering knowledge-sharing, roundtables, workshops, and thematic sessions led by cultural experts and educators throughout the year.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

A virtual cultural residency design for creative impetus, collective creation, and African cultural outreach. By offering a digital space for start-ups and self-entrepreneurs to pool and share knowledge and expertise in cultural and creative industries, with round-table workshops and thematic work sessions led by experts and cultural educators, targeting industries of cinematographic art, scenic art, literary art, fashion design...etc

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

To this day, the adoption and development of cultural industries in Africa unfortunately lags behind that of Western countries. This is certainly not due to the culture of African countries, where richness and diversity are celebrated, but rather to numerous obstacles and constraints, such as the lack of sector structuring, financing, market access, recognition, legitimacy, accompaniment and support for cultural enterprises. This is why our virtual platform for cultural residencies is designed to guarantee culture everywhere and for everyone, generating economic value, but also contributing to positive social change.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your project intends to provide (at least 3).

1) By encouraging the combination of ancestral know-how with modern technologies and business models during residencies, will enable our targets to create innovative products and services that respond to societal challenges while preserving cultural values. 2) Through collaborative initiatives and inclusive practices, entrepreneurs can bridge cultural gaps and create spaces for dialogue, understanding, and appreciation of each culture's uniqueness. 3) co-development without borders and greenhouse gases : One of the most common difficulties faced by entrepreneurs is their geographical remoteness, and the need to travel to attend training courses or obtain the necessary financing for their projects. Acting as a digital hub for business events and meetings, UboontU will contribute to the transformation of the mobility sector, thus positively impacting the environment.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your project is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

Art offices, creative agencies, cultural and artistic companies, startups and auto-entrepreneurs in the cultural and artistic industries sector. Private institutes, public authorities, associations, and non-profit organizations in the creative and cultural industries sector.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2024-05-01

01.06 How many other partners are associated with your business venture?

2

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

1

01.08 Please describe the profile of each of the other partners (skills, experience, etc.)

Me, Ms Imene Missoum (Founder): Digital Business Vision Owner, Product Management Ux/ Ui and content developpement. Ms Imane Belaiche (Co-founder): Marketing , Product and Pricing and Business Development Mr Massinissa (Co-founder) Boujelouah: Software Developer, IT and Blockchain Specialist, Security and compliance specialist

01.09 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/imene-missoum-b4956b133/

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

Other: Cultural and Creative Industry

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

5

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

In 2020, cultural and creative industries accounted for almost 3% of GDP in African countries. In 2015, the IOF estimated that they contributed around 1.1% of regional GDP in Africa and the Middle East. These figures demonstrate the strong growth potential of a sector considered to be one of the most promising in the world (Agence Ecofin).

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

4

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

02.03.01 My project contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

4

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

African countries face several challenges in the cultural and creative industries sector, not least the lack of infrastructure and training to promote the sector. Plus, indigenous knowledge will be incorporated into residency programs.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

It is more than urgent that all private players realize the potential of the cultural and creative industry and decide to support it. Today, this sector employs 20% of young people aged between 15 and 29 worldwide, 45% of whom are women.The digital divide remains a pressing concern, with women disproportionately facing barriers to accessing digital tools for artistic creation and distribution, including music platforms, online tutorials and sound mixing software (Souce : Last updated April 20, 2023) Our project aims to change this and give African women artists and craftswomen the means to shine on the international scene.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

2

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

3

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

Africa's cultural sectors are growing at an average annual rate of 7%, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs (Source: www.rfi.fr). According to Sidonie Latère, founder of Kinshasa Kobo Hub, it is imperative to develop programs to turn the artist into an entrepreneur and to create an industry based on the value chain, on the important components to support these sectors. So, in addition to generating economic value, our solution also contributes to this positive social change.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

Except for South Africa, which has drawn up a global strategy dedicated to cultural industries, no other country has an industrial policy for culture that is linked to those for employment, training, networking and trade. Moreover, as a result of a depreciatory representation of the artist, the absence of artist status and the precariousness of their situation, linked to a weak culture of copyright, marginalize the industries that employ them socially, politically and economically. Thus , cultural entrepreneurship can have a social impact by fostering innovative, sustainable solutions to societal challenges

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

6

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

Through digital transformation, by enriching and sharing open and partial data between cultural organizations. Fostering dialogue between generations and cultures, cultural and artistic education can help create peaceful, just, inclusive and sustainable societies.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

5

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

Cultural entrepreneurship offers local artists and craftspeople the opportunity to empower and showcase their skills and know-how. By creating market access and promoting their products, entrepreneurs can empower these individuals, preserve traditional art forms and generate income for the community.

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

4

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

5

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

Our concept focuses on decarbonizing culture: for example, the cultural sector will help to reduce air travel and the modal shift from private cars to public transport and active modes of transport, thereby contributing to the transformation of the mobility sector. This decarbonization will benefit everyone: the environment, individuals and companies, as well as investors and partners.

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

2

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

2

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

02.16.01 My project contributes to the Peace justice and strong institutions goal

5

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

As previously mentionned: Fostering dialogue between generations and cultures, cultural and artistic initiatives can help create peaceful, just, inclusive and sustainable societies.

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

The name of our project already conveys the spirit of collaboration and partnership. Indeed, Ubuntu [ooboontoo] designates a notion close to the concepts of Humanity and Solidarity. We strongly believe that it is only with the support of all stakeholders that we can restore African art and culture to their rightful place in our society and in the global economy.

05.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

2

05.02 The product/service we envision creating represents an entirely new type of product/service.

1 - Strongly Disagree

05.03 The product/service we envision creating could be described as a new technology.

6

05.04 The product/service we envision creating is an improvement on an existing product or service.

2

05.05 The product/service we envision creating could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

6

05.06 The product/service we envision creating responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.07 The product/service we envision creating is a new version of an old product/service.

4

05.08 Justification

By applying a unique Technological Integration adapted at all times to the needs of the participants in the cultural residency without incurring considerable costs for both organizers and laureates, like : Incorporate cutting-edge technology such as VR/AR for immersive residency experiences. Use AI-driven tools for personalized mentorship and resource recommendations.

05.09 Who are your main potential competitors and what makes you stand out from them?

Competitors would mainly be: -Established Cultural Institutions: (Museums, Galleries, Art and Cultural foundations) -Digital Arts Platforms (Art Communities and Networks) -Smaller Digital Residency Programs Our key differentiators would be : -Innovative Technology: Utilizing cutting-edge technology like VR/AR, blockchain for digital art ownership, or AI-driven art creation to offer unique and immersive residency experiences. -Global Reach with Local Impact and Inclusivity: Creating a platform that connects African artists globally but also focuses on local cultural contexts and impacts, providing a balance between international exposure and local relevance. -Community Engagement: Building a strong, interactive community with regular virtual events, workshops, and networking opportunities that foster collaboration and peer support.

10.06 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

Yes. By empowering African women entrepreneurs whose role is to preserve traditional art forms and pass on indigenous know-how.