As Kenya’s creative economy continues to emerge as a powerful engine for youth employment and innovation, NCBA has today marks significant milestone in its commitment to the sector with the ELEV8 2025 Series Documentary, showcasing how targeted financial solutions, mentorship and industry collaboration are enabling creatives to build sustainable careers.
As a strategic partner throughout the ELEV8 journey, NCBA has played a pivotal role in supporting creatives through visibility, mentorship and introducing tailored financial products designed to help creatives generate income, finance their work and scale their enterprises. Recognising that many creatives operate with informal structures and face challenges accessing traditional financing, NCBA, in partnership with HEVA Fund, tailored credit products that are aligned to the unique nature of creative work including irregular income cycles and project-based earnings.
The products enable creatives and creative businesses to access capital for production, equipment acquisition, marketing, touring, digital distribution, and overall business growth. The financing solutions include:
Event Financing – A revolving credit facility enabling creatives to fund live and digital events and monetize performances.
- Invoice Discounting – Providing working capital by allowing creatives to access funds against confirmed invoices and contracts.
- LPO Financing – Supporting execution of contracts and production agreements.
- Working Capital Financing – Helping creative enterprises sustain operations and expand.
- Start-Up Incubator Financing – Supporting emerging creative entrepreneurs in building structured and scalable businesses.
Through these solutions, creatives can transition from project-to-project survival to structured income generation and long-term financial stability.
NCBA’s investment in the creative economy is grounded in its Ubuntu belief; the understanding that individual success is interconnected with community prosperity. Guided by this philosophy, the bank views creatives not only as artists but as entrepreneurs, employers, storytellers, and economic contributors capable of driving inclusive growth across Kenya.
Kenya’s creative economy contributes over 5.3% of the country’s GDP and supports more than 300,000 entrepreneurs, yet limited access to financing remains the sector’s biggest barrier to growth. By developing financial products tailored specifically for creatives, NCBA aims to bridge this gap and integrate creative entrepreneurs into mainstream financial systems, enabling them to earn sustainably, create jobs, and compete globally.
Speaking during the screening, NCBA Group Managing Director, John Gachora said, “Our Ubuntu belief reminds us that progress happens when we grow together. Supporting the creative economy means investing in young people, innovation, and culture as engines of economic transformation. Through ELEV8 and our tailored financial solutions, we are helping creatives move from passion to profitable enterprise.”
For participating aritsts, ELEV8 has provided studio access, mentorship, financial literacy training and exposure within the media and entertainment industry, equipping creatives with both artistic and entrepreneurial skills. The documentary serves as a reflection on the impact of the 2025 program while setting stage for ELEV8 2026, which will expand opportunities for emerging creatives through deeper industry collaboration, enhanced mentorship and continued access to financial empowerment solutions.
Speaking during the screening, ELEV8 Founder & CEO, Motif Di Don commented, “ELEV8 is about building sustainable careers. The next season builds on what we have learned, ensuring creatives have not just talent and exposure, but the financial tools needed to thrive.”
The documentary captures the transformation of artists who participated in the ELEV8 program, a platform designed to nurture talent, strengthen business skills and connect creatives to financial tools that enable them to build sustainable careers beyond artistic expressions.
The launch of ELEV8 2026 reinforces NCBA’s broader sustainability agenda under its Change the Story commitment, delivering inclusive solutions that uplift communities and unlock economic participation for youth and creative entrepreneurs. By combining storytelling, mentorship, and access to finance, NCBA continues to position the creative sector as a viable and scalable pillar of Kenya’s economic future.
