Week 3: Investor Readiness for Creatives

Investor Readiness for Creatives?

How often do we hear the worn-out tale of the struggling artist? While passion ignites our journey, the idea that suffering is the entry fee to creative success desperately needs a rewrite. This week, I’ve been pondering a crucial shift in perspective: what if we, as creatives, recognized that we are all inherently worthy of investment, and that investment comes in many forms? It’s about embracing investor readiness – not just for traditional funders, but for everyone who brings value to our careers. This term is normally in the startup/VC space and I have been thinking about how we can leverage this type of thinking to our creative careers.

Think about it this way: the person who buys your art, the client who commissions your skills, the listener who streams your music – they are all investing their time, energy, and resources in you. This isn't just a transaction; it's an investment in your potential, your journey, and your ongoing value. As creatives, we sometimes shy away from this, but by understanding this fundamental truth – that everyone around us who supports our work is an investor – we can move beyond the "struggling artist" narrative and step into a mindset of empowerment and sustainability.

Being investor-ready means being prepared to receive this value, to recognize it, and to reciprocate it. It’s about taking ownership of our careers and understanding the dynamic ecosystem of support that surrounds us, ready and waiting for us to be ready.

Tools that could help with this shift in mindset and preparation are the SWOT Analysis and the Business Model Canvas.

Think about this and find someone to connect with and unpack this vital shift in perspective this week and explore how embracing our investors, in all their forms, can lead to thriving creative careers across Africa.

When we talk about investor readiness, it's important to remember that 'investor' isn't limited to venture capitalists or traditional funders. In the creative world, your investors can be your customers who purchase your art, your clients who commission your services, your supporters who share your work and champion your vision, and yes, also the funders and grant-making bodies that provide financial backing. Using a Business Model Canvas can be particularly helpful here, as it encourages you to map out your key customer segments and identify who brings value to your creative endeavors, essentially outlining your diverse range of investors. Recognizing the value each of these brings and being prepared to engage with them professionally is key to building a sustainable creative career.

Tool of the Week

Love Vibe coding and my favourite is Bolt.new and have been using it to build a functional demo of CRCO. It has saved me time, money and resources. Vibe coding is here to stay.