Ncba and Heva Fund Partner to Offer Creative Economy Financing Solutions for Artists and Enterprises

NCBA Bank, in partnership with HEVA Fund, has today announced a groundbreaking initiative that is set to transform Kenya’s creative economy by unlocking innovative, flexible, and inclusive financing solutions for artists and creative enterprises. The two organisations have signed an MOU that introduces a suite of tiered financing products, including Event Financing, Invoice Discounting, LPO Financing, Working Capital, and Start-Up Incubator Financing, designed specifically to address the unique income patterns, operational needs, and business cycles of creatives across the country. The announcement was made during the NCBA Creative Economy Summit and the Elev8 LIVE album launch, an NCBA-powered platform that showcases emerging talent and highlights the evolving music and creative landscape in Kenya. This partnership brings together NCBA’s financial strength and HEVA’s deep sector expertise, adopting a shared-risk 50:50 capital match model to expand access to capital for creative MSMEs. This approach is expected to reduce barriers to finance, strengthen industry resilience, and accelerate the growth of one of Kenya’s fastest rising economic sectors. Key highlights from the engagement: • NCBA and HEVA Fund have introduced five creative-focused financing products tailored to irregular income cycles, project-based work, and the operational needs of creative businesses. • The partnership adopts a 50:50 capital match structure, enabling more flexible, fair, and accessible financing for artists and creative enterprises. • The announcement was made during the NCBA Creative Economy Summit and Elev8 LIVE album launch, demonstrating NCBA’s ongoing investment in platforms that spotlight emerging talent. • HEVA Fund brings over 12 years of sector expertise, having invested in more than 300 creative businesses and supported over 20,000 creatives across East Africa. • NCBA reaffirmed its commitment to its Change the Story agenda, focused on delivering real, inclusive, and sustainable economic opportunities for youth and underserved sectors. • The creative economy contributes over 5.3% to Kenya’s GDP, yet access to finance remains the largest challenge, a gap this partnership aims to close.