Helium Media

Helping creators in African growth markets monetise their written content.

African content creators struggle to monetise content due to lack of technical know-how. They lack funds to promote their content and existing content monetisation opportunities exploit them.

We use technology to develop quick and simple ways to monetise content through unique web and mobile platforms. We promote created content across several channels to attract new readers and split generated revenue with content creators.

Irokox - Focus on video content. Only work with established content creators.

Bahati Books - Only focus on books. Only work with established authors

Akoma - Also focus on written content but content creators are not paid.

At Helium Media we do not work with established creators. Our target is young African creators who do not even know they can earn money from their talent. We don't just help these creators make money, we help them develop their skills through feedback from our editors as well as our planned training events.

Our online platform (www.thenakedconvos.com) as well as our mobile app (TNC Stories) are very simple and easy to use. Creators can easily signup and immediately start creating content on the the platforms. Once content is created and submitted, creators and connected with editors who provide feedback and further give tips to help develop the creators. Once submissions are published, creators have access to personalised dashboards through which they can track their earnings.

Using technology such as Wordpress and Android has allowed us to reach a wide audience even beyond the shores of Nigeria where we currently operate.

Our top 3 goals over the next year are:
1. Secure 20,000 downloads of the TNC Stories app
2. Register and train 10,000 content creators
3. Payout $10,000 to content creators

We aim to register, train and help 100,000 content creators across Africa who would likely have ended up jobless or with odd jobs, while also helping them earn enough monthly income to sustain them while doing what they love.

There is major focus on the tech industry although most prospects cannot afford the resources needed to take advantages of the technology revolution.

Current mobile penetration in Nigeria is over 90%. With a feature mobile phone, you can create content which can be monetised and used to generate enough income to sustain individuals and households thereby changing their economic destiny.

Many of our creators come from low-income families who struggle to make it through the education system, assume menial odd jobs, and had to travel miles to gain access to internet-enabled computers or basic creative tools like Word processor applications before the launch of 2G mobile networks locally. Others use basic resources like feature phones to create content. Our team of editors work with them to develop their skills and move their content to our platforms through which they become accessible to more and thereby helps them to earn money.

We have registered, trained and helped over 1,000 content creators across Nigeria to earn additional income through their talent.

We have partnered with like-minded organisations to publish two books (5k copies sold) as well as produced a web series (2million+ views) through which our creators continue to generate revenue.

We recently launched our TNC Stories mobile app that allows users read compelling stories made up of short text messages. It enables creators to earn when others read their published stories. In only a few weeks the app has recorded 3,000+ downloads and creators are already receiving payments from publishing on it.

Our company was founded by Olawale Adetula, a marketing professional with over 9 years experience in digital marketing, digital publishing, partnerships and e-commerce. He is skilled in product design, digital strategy, analytics and audience development. He has extensive knowledge of the Sub Saharan Africa region having visited over 15 countries in the region.

Wale currently manages the Helium Media team as the CEO. He founded the company as a way to drive his passion for the use of media and technology to empower and help African youth grow financially using the digital economy.

Before 2017 our sole sources of revenue were from advertisement from our digital platform and direct sales from produced content such as books/tv series. This year, we launched the TNC Stories app which is a subscription based mobile app.

As digital publishing advertising revenue diminish globally, our current plan is to make the TNC Stories app our primary source of revenue while funds from adverts on our online platform becomes secondary.

We also have our online open publishing platform (www.thenakedconvos.com). TNC is open to members of the public to register, submit their content and get paid when their content is published and read.

Both platforms can be easily accessed using feature as well as smart phones. Both platforms are currently available in Nigeria and the plan is to scale to Kenya, Ghana and South Africa within the next 5 years.

With Solve's support, we will further develop and promote the TNC Stories mobile application. We will be able to expand to other markets outside Nigeria and bring in more editors to help train more creators.

Similar Organisations - There are a few organisations within this same space aiming to do the same thing we are pursuing but we have significant advantages over all of them. We plan to remain innovative enough to ensure we remain relevant.

New Competition - There's also the possibility of new competition perhaps from developed markets coming to Africa. Our plan is to continue to innovate while also ensuring we capture most of the market as soon as possible.