The Nigerian startup Cirrden has launched a platform that offers a new monetization model for the African creative economy by allowing content creators to generate revenue directly from their audiences, without relying on advertising or commercial partnerships with brands.
Founded by Goodness Ezeokafor, the platform was developed specifically to meet the needs of African creators. The service allows users to publish full-length videos, sell them individually or in collections, and create private, paid communities—called Circles—where followers can subscribe to exclusive content.
Users pay directly for videos, subscriptions, or access to communities. The funds are deposited into a digital wallet on the platform and can later be transferred to local bank accounts. According to the startup, the commission charged decreases as the creator’s earnings increase, dropping as low as just one percent.
According to the founder, the goal is to enable creators to better monetize the audience they already have, eliminating some of the obstacles encountered on other international platforms. Ezeokafor states that services like Patreon present challenges related to payments and currency conversion, in addition to offering lower advertising revenue for content produced in Africa.
Since its launch, Cirrden has experienced rapid growth. The platform currently has about 8,000 users and more than 1,000 content creators—figures achieved without resorting to paid user acquisition campaigns.
In June, the startup launched the second version of its web platform and is now preparing to launch its mobile apps. At the same time, it is raising funds in a pre-seed round—the first stage of investment in a startup, intended to finance the development of the idea before revenue is generated or the product is launched on the market—to accelerate growth and expand operations.
Although 96% of users are currently in Nigeria, Cirrden intends to expand into new markets, including Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, and the United States (U.S.), with a special focus on the African diaspora and international payments between creators and followers.
For Cirrden, the rapid growth of the African creative economy requires platforms tailored to local realities, capable of offering more accessible monetization tools and simpler payment systems for the continent’s content creators.
Source: Disrupt Africa
