African creator-tech startup ClapMi has secured a $20,000 innovation grant from Lisk through the Aya × Lisk Incubation Programme, a move expected to accelerate the rollout of what the company describes as Africa’s first competitive livestreaming platform built for performance-based creator income.
The funding will support the development of ClapMi’s creator infrastructure as it scales a hybrid Web2 and Web3 livestream competition platform designed to help African creators earn transparently from their content. The startup said the grant will be used to strengthen its blockchain-enabled payment systems, improve its competitive livestream engine, and fast-track the launch of a dedicated mobile app to make the platform more accessible across the continent.
Africa’s creator economy is projected to exceed $29.8bn by 2032, driven by a young, mobile-first population and growing digital consumption. Despite this growth, monetisation remains a major challenge for creators. Industry data shows that more than half of African creators earn less than $60 monthly, largely due to opaque payout models, algorithm-driven visibility, and passive content formats on traditional platforms.
ClapMi said it was built to address these gaps by reimagining livestreaming as a competitive experience. The platform enables real-time, head-to-head creator battles where earnings are tied directly to performance, audience engagement, and competition outcomes. The startup says this model reflects the energy, rivalry, and communal interaction that define African entertainment culture, while offering a clearer and more reliable income pathway for creators.
The platform operates on a hybrid architecture that combines familiar Web2 experiences with Web3 infrastructure. Audience engagement, including votes and tips referred to as “Claps”, is recorded on-chain, allowing for transparent, real-time payouts to top-performing creators. Blockchain integrations across Solana, Lisk, and BEP-20 support cross-border payments and reduce reliance on traditional financial systems that often limit access for African creators.
Since launching in August 2025, ClapMi has hosted more than 150 livestreams and attracted over 6,000 active users across Africa and the diaspora. The platform has already distributed more than $1,000 directly to creators and fans, providing early proof that performance-based monetisation can work at scale. High-traffic events, including football-themed competitions and cross-border creator matchups, have drawn strong organic engagement without compromising stream quality.
According to the company, competitions such as Nigeria versus Ghana creator battles validated demand for structured, competitive content and showed that audiences are willing to actively participate rather than passively consume. These formats, ClapMi says, open new revenue opportunities not just for creators but also for small creative teams, event organisers, and digital production businesses operating around the creator economy.
Commenting on the grant, ClapMi’s co-founder and chief executive said the funding affirms the startup’s goal of building a creator economy owned and shaped by Africans. He noted that the company is focused on turning creator income from unpredictable side earnings into scalable revenue streams by replacing opaque advertising models with transparent, performance-driven rewards.
With its web app currently in live beta and a mobile app set to launch soon, ClapMi plans to expand beyond gaming and football into music battles, comedy showcases, and lifestyle-focused interactive shows. The startup says its long-term ambition is to become the competition layer powering Africa’s creator economy, giving creators greater financial control while transforming audiences into active participants.
As African creators increasingly look for sustainable income models, ClapMi’s approach highlights how technology, competition, and transparent payouts could reshape digital entertainment on the continent and create new economic opportunities within the fast-growing creator ecosystem.
