IQOQO
– a Zulu term meaning "to collect" – is South Africa's premier platform interfacing creative and cultural industries. We connect creatives to the right information, amplify their work on a global stage, and build a community that supports growth and collaboration.
Our story
Founded in 2020 as a collaborative project between Breinstorm Brand Architects and the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS), with initial funding from the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, IQOQO has evolved into an independent, South African not-for-profit company. What began as an initiative focused on museums and fashion has blossomed into a comprehensive digital infrastructure supporting nine creative sectors across all nine South African provinces.
The challenge
South Africa’s creative industries face several persistent challenges:
• Valuable research exists — but it’s scattered and often out of date.
• Central, trustworthy sources are hard to come by.
• Creative sectors are working in silos, with limited collaboration.
• And too many investment and growth opportunities are flying under the radar.
IQOQO tackles these challenges head-on by bringing everything together in one easy-to-use hub. Our searchable database connects you with key industry players while our platform offers practical tools for collaboration across creative fields. We spotlight funding opportunities and make them accessible, helping South African creative businesses grow and thrive in an interconnected ecosystem.
The impact
Today, IQOQO serves as a thriving digital cultural platform with:
registered users across our nine creative sectors
women-led profiles, demonstrating our commitment to gender inclusion
of users under 40, showcasing strong youth engagement
Accessibility features for users with disabilities
Growing outreach to rural and peri-urban creatives through hybrid programming
We help creative professionals and businesses in South Africa build relationships with international investors and partners through business-to-business (B2B) opportunities. Beyond that, IQOQO works with a wide range of people and organisations — from the general public and students to researchers, academics, co-publishing partners, and investors.
We’re here to support South Africa’s creative industries and help them grow, share their stories, and build global connections.
Our focus areas
While we currently focus on these nine industries, we’re continuously exploring opportunities to expand our platform to embrace additional creative sectors within South Africa’s rich cultural landscape.
Strategic partnerships
IQOQO collaborates with key institutions to strengthen South Africa’s creative economy.
Become part of the IQOQO network
IQOQO is a tool for professionals, artists, designers, institutions, associations, startups or students in the media and in the creative and cultural industries.
The registration form is open to all professionals or individuals from South Africa, specifically active in the nine IQOQO industries.
