New Platform Seeks to Bridge Funding Gap for Creators, Entrepreneurs in Nigeria

By Mary Nnah

A new digital platform, FuelMyHustle, has launched in Nigeria with a focus on enabling creators, entrepreneurs and community builders to receive direct financial support from their networks.

The platform allows individuals including artists, writers, filmmakers, innovators and founders to create personal pages where they explain their work and what they are currently building, and share a link for direct support from their communities via social media, websites and messaging platforms. Supporters can contribute without creating an account on the platform.

The launch comes amid growing conversations around funding gaps in Nigeria’s creator economy, where access to grants, fellowships and investment remains limited and highly competitive.

FuelMyHustle was founded by Nigerian entrepreneur Peter Ayeni. Ayeni said the idea was informed by his own experience navigating limited access to funding while pursuing ambitious projects.

“I know what it means to dream with little support. I’ve faced rejection, burnout, and the choice between survival and vision,” he said.

According to Ayeni, many people abandon creative work, businesses and community projects not because they have lost belief in them, but because sustaining them requires time and resources that are often unavailable.

“There are people doing extraordinary things who may never fit neatly into a grant application or attract an investor. Sometimes they simply need the people who already believe in them to help them keep going,” he said.

The platform is positioned around a broader definition of who qualifies as a creator, including filmmakers, writers, craftspeople, founders, volunteers and independent musicians, rather than only influencers with large followings.

Its founders say the model is not intended to replace institutional funding, employment or investment, but to provide an alternative channel for small-scale, person-to-person support. They cite examples of how modest contributions — ranging from N1,000 to N5,000 — can help cover costs such as materials, transportation, equipment or online services.

“We celebrate people when they succeed, but there is usually a long, difficult road before anyone sees that success. FuelMyHustle is interested in that road. The days when somebody is still building, still creating and still showing up. That is often when support matters most,” Ayeni said.

The platform is launching with an initial focus on Nigeria, with plans to expand access to creators in other markets. According to the team, further tools including web integrations and QR codes are in development to help users link their pages to their existing audiences.