Creative Connect — Powered by Bloo Money
Join us on the 11th November 2025 at Artistry Johannesburg for The Creative Connect, A gathering designed for creatives in the business of creating experiences
This event brings together festival and event organisers, marketing and promotions teams, activations specialists, and the freelancers who make these experiences possible, providing a space to connect, exchange insights, and get knowledge on the business side of the creative economy.
The evening will explore topics including:
Scaling creative campaigns and events while managing the financial and operational challenges behind the scenes.
Securing sponsorships and funding for festivals, activations, and cultural campaigns.
Navigating the business of creativity from freelancers managing payments to SMEs orchestrating large-scale activations.
Learning more about organisation who provide funding, grants and support for creative businesses or projects
Expect a community-focused gathering where industry leaders share actionable insights, peer learning thrives, and practical tools for running a successful creative business are explored.
Bloo Money will facilitate conversations and demonstrate how financial tools can make freelancer payments simple, fast, and rewarding for small businesses in the creative economy
Event Highlights
🎤 Emceed & Hosted by Niza Jay
Award-winning actor, filmmaker, musician, and entrepreneur Niza Jay will guide the conversation.
From acclaimed films like Inxeba: The Wound (SAFTA nomination, 2018) to You’re My Favourite Place (National Film & TV, Best Supporting Actor, 2023), Niza continues to break new ground in music, filmmaking, and entrepreneurship making him the perfect host for this event which as at the intersection of creativity and business.
💬 Guest Talks: A series of spotlight talks featuring creative and industry leaders. These talks set the tone for the event giving the bigger picture on business, creative industries and tech in South Africa by experienced leaders.
🎥 Frank Orji — CEO & Founder, AACA
An award-winning filmmaker and mentor, Frank has dedicated his career to building platforms for African creatives. From The Wrong Girl (licensed to Showmax) to co-founding one of Africa’s few Black-owned film schools, he’s shaping the next generation of storytellers across the continent
🎶 Thubelihle Nkutha — CEO & Co-founder, French For New
With over 7 years in advertising and television, Thubelihle blends storytelling and sound to create unforgettable cultural experiences. His love for music is the reason he has a passion for curating experiences such as Soundset Sundays, RARE and Eclectic Sessions which have attracted thousands of audiences.
💡 Panel Discussion
Young industry leaders unpack real-world campaigns, activations, and events sharing lessons, insights, and strategies for scaling creative projects.
🎧 Neo Mosito — Co-founder & Chief Financial Officer, French For New
With roots in sound engineering and event curation, Neo is known for crafting immersive experiences that connect people through rhythm and emotion. Whether behind the decks, as one-half of the acclaimed DJ duo Nouveaux, Neo blends event design and sound into immersive experiences that move people at French For New.
🎞️ Mbali Mashaba — Founder Behind Her Lens Visuals & Reel to Reality Film Festival
Named one of the Mail & Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans in Film and Media. Mbali is an award winning storyteller and film maker with her production company Behind Her Lens Visuals. As a film curator and creative director of Reel to Reality Film Festival, she has showcased over 150 films to about 600 audiences, across 3 provinces.
⚡ Siphesihle Mgudlwa — Chief Executive Officer, Vibe Experiential Agency
A culture-shifter and brand visionary, Siphesilhe is the energy behind VIBE. An agency turning brands into living, breathing experiences. With over a decade in marketing and experiential strategy, he’s here to talk creativity, culture, and why “vibes” are a real business metric
📊 Bloo Money Presentation & Demo
See examples of how financial tools support creative SMEs and freelancers behind the scenes, making business management seamless.
🤝 Networking & Drinks
After the panel, join us for an evening of connections in the Artistry lounge. Enjoy food, drinks, and a playlist curated by Nouveaux, setting the perfect backdrop to meet fellow creatives, exchange ideas, and spark collaborations.
Why Attend?
Gain insights into the business of festivals, activations, and cultural campaigns.
Learn how sponsors and funders select creative partners.
Connect with fellow creatives, agencies, and production companies.
Discover practical tools and strategies to scale your creative business.
Meet Your Host 💙
Bloo Money
Bloo Money makes managing freelancers a rewarding experience for businesses. Providing them a simple app with templates to manage freelancers, invoices and payments without spreadsheets. Empowering the freelance suppliers they work with to link with businesses on projects so they can get paid on time, every time for free
The Venue 📍
Artistry Johannesburg
Sandton’s cultural hotspot, Artistry is where performance meets community. Our event will unfold in the intimate 100-seater theatre and continue with networking in the vibrant street-level lounge — a space designed to inspire collaboration and conversation.