Sony Corporation, the Japanese tech giant, is committing $10 million to invest in Africa’s thriving entertainment industry. This move by the Sony Group is well-timed, considering the increasing global recognition of the African entertainment sector. However, there is a need for more substantial efforts to strengthen Africa’s position in the face of other entertainment giants. Gen Tsuchikawa, the Chief Executive Officer, shared in an exclusive interview with Techcrunch, “Africa, in particular, has a vibrant community of creators and entrepreneurs dedicated to innovating entertainment experiences, which motivated Sony to establish SIF: AF.”
In addition to this investment, Sony Group plans to offer follow-on investments to the companies in its portfolio. While the due diligence process for these portfolio companies has already begun, there’s no specific timeline for the utilization of the $10 million. The funds will be managed by Sony Ventures Europe, with a dedicated team in Africa eventually overseeing the venture capital.
Sony Innovation Fund Africa will kick off its investments in Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, and Kenya. Toshimoto Mitomo, Vice President of Sony, emphasized that Sony Group has been nurturing next-generation technologies, startups, and fostering open innovation through corporate venture capital activities.
The primary objective of Sony Corporation is to accelerate the growth of the African entertainment industry by providing diverse opportunities, including talent development, support for creative initiatives, and the production of high-quality content.