CANEX Deal Room Opens Applications for African Creative Businesses Seeking Investment.

African creative businesses and project owners looking to take their work to the next stage have an opportunity to connect directly with potential financiers and strategic partners through the CANEX Deal Room.

By Oluwaseun Mary

Credit; Deal Room

As part of CANEX WKND 2026, the Deal Room will bring selected creative businesses together with financiers, investors, development finance institutions (DFIs) and industry partners for potential investment and business opportunities. The platform is designed to give entrepreneurs with bankable creative projects a space to pitch their ideas and have conversations with the people who can help move them forward.

The opportunity is open to creative businesses and projects across Africa, with the Deal Room serving as a meeting point between the continent's creative economy and sources of capital, investment and market access.

For creatives who already have a developed project or business and are looking beyond simply getting their idea seen, this is an opportunity to put the project in front of people who can potentially finance, partner with or help scale it.

Applications are currently open.

CANEX WKND 2026 will take place in Lagos from November 5–8, 2026, bringing together stakeholders from across Africa's creative industries.

If your creative business is investment-ready and you have a project that is ready for its next stage, the CANEX Deal Room is an opportunity worth considering.

How to apply: Interested applicants can submit their proposals through the official CANEX Deal Room application platform.