Following a first edition focused on new narratives, MansA’s incubator for cultural and creative projects is now accepting applications for its second cohort, centered on the theme “innovation and African worlds.”
For the 2026–2027 cycle, MansA Lab, MansA’s incubator, is placing innovation at the heart of its support efforts to explore how African communities and their diasporas are reinventing their shared spaces in the digital age.
Through this new call for applications, MansA Lab invites entrepreneurs to address a central question: What constitutes an African “commons” in a world undergoing rapid technological change? The selected projects must use innovation—whether editorial, technological, or in terms of usage—to explore new horizons and strengthen the ties between African memories and possible futures.
Fields of interest
Audiovisual: film, TV series, animation, video games, and immersive content
Innovative media: web radio stations, podcasts, platforms, newsletters, influencer agencies
Publishing and Visual Arts: Comics, Webtoons, Art Galleries
Fashion and interdisciplinary projects: design, music, graphic design, cross-media
Who is eligible to apply?
This call for applications is open to cultural entrepreneurs (any adult, with no age limit) based in France, including those from Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Mayotte, and Réunion, whose projects are in the early stages or under development.
Support tailored for cultural entrepreneurs
The incubation program combines mentoring, strategic guidance, and shared resources. Participants will receive training in project management, business models, communication, editorial and artistic content, and fundraising. Selected projects will also have access to industry expertise, production tools, and a network of institutional, cultural, and financial partners.
Program Overview
12 selected projects
Incubation period: October 2026 to June 2027
Incubation fee: €200 per month per project
Hosted by MansA – Maison des Mondes Africains, in Paris’s 10th arrondissement, with access to workspaces, meeting rooms, and event spaces.
The program will be delivered in a hybrid, customized format. Participants will also join a network of committed entrepreneurs and be connected with mentors and experts from organizations such as Bpifrance, Pôle Pixel, and AFD.
Selection criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on the quality of the entrepreneurial approach, the innovative nature of the projects, and their ability to reshape perceptions of the African world and its diaspora communities. Particular attention will also be paid to issues of inclusivity and diversity, as well as potential synergies with the MansA ecosystem.
Calendar
May 12, 2026
Applications are now being accepted
July 3, 2026
Call for applications closes
Mid-July 2026
Selection Committee
Late July 2026
Announcement of the winners
Applications will open on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, and close on Friday, July 3, 2026. The selection committee will meet in mid-July, with the winners to be announced at the end of the month. The incubation period will run from October 2026 to June 2027.
Application Guidelines
Applications must be submitted via the Création Africa platform.
Find out more:
