Startup Picnic Evolves Into Africa-Focused Venture Studio to Build Scalable Intellectual Property and Publishing Ecosystem
Johannesburg, South Africa – [1 September 2025] – Startup Picnic, a platform that began in 2014 as an informal networking event for entrepreneurs and investors, has officially evolved into Startup Picnic Venture Studio (SPVS), a South African–based, Africa-focused venture studio dedicated to building scalable businesses rooted in publishing, intellectual property (IP), and technology.
What started as a casual entrepreneurial picnic featuring braais, fun sports, and inspiring conversations has grown into a full-fledged studio with a mission to revolutionise how African intellectual property is developed, distributed, and monetised globally.
“We’ve spent a decade testing ideas, developing businesses, and building relationships across publishing and technology,” says Tiisetso Maloma, founder of Startup Picnic and SPVS. “This is not a leap into the unknown — we are executing on real traction. We have distribution in place, a catalogue of over 1000 manuscripts, and a clear pathway to scale African stories into books, films, and other global IP products.”
A Decade in the Making
Startup Picnic was founded to create a relaxed space where entrepreneurs and investors could connect outside the boardroom. Over the years, the event has hosted notable entrepreneurs such as Irfan Pardesi, Busta Madiba of Perere Restaurants, Max Lichaba, Mark Makhubalo, Puseletso Modimogale, Kagiso Maloma, and Tabatso Molapo.
As the community matured, Startup Picnic expanded beyond events, launching initiatives such as:
- Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD/BBBEE/EE) programs
- A business academy
- The upcoming launch of an AI Business & Innovation Coach
Startup Picnic has collaborated with leading organisations including Nedbank, CSIR, ABSA, SOS Children’s Villages, Standard Bank, The Innovation Hub, Technoserve, Transnet Matlafatšo Centre, The Hope Factory, SAICA, UNISA, Wits Business School, and the University of Johannesburg.
Building Africa’s Publishing & IP Infrastructure
SPVS will focus on acquiring, developing, and scaling African intellectual property — starting with book publishing. Its portfolio includes Bula Buka Distribution, which supplies books to major retailers such as Exclusive Books, Bargain Books, and Van Schaik.
The studio’s roadmap includes:
- Expanding book distribution across Africa
- Acquiring 10,000 manuscripts within 5–7 years, prioritising titles adaptable for film and other derivative products
- Scaling printing and introducing print-on-demand solutions
- Building AI-enabled royalty tracking, contract management, and catalogue software
- Launching physical and online retail channels
Execution, Not Experimentation
Unlike traditional startups that begin from scratch, SPVS is leveraging an operational foundation with proven traction. The studio already refers millions of rands in printing annually, has hundreds of authors in its pipeline, and is well-positioned to accelerate with technology and dedicated execution teams.
“African creativity has always been world-class — it just lacked the infrastructure to scale globally,” says Maloma. “We are building that infrastructure.”
About Startup Picnic Venture Studio
Startup Picnic Venture Studio (SPVS) is a South African–based, Africa-focused venture studio creating scalable businesses in publishing, distribution, and intellectual property. Founded by author and publishing entrepreneur Tiisetso Maloma, SPVS turns African creativity into evergreen global assets by integrating publishing, technology, and distribution into a unified ecosystem.
For more information, visit https://startuppicnic.co.za.
Johannesburg, South Africa – [1 September 2025] – Startup Picnic, a platform that began in 2014 as an informal networking event for entrepreneurs and investors, has officially evolved into Startup Picnic Venture Studio (SPVS), a South African–based, Africa-focused venture studio dedicated to building scalable businesses rooted in publishing, intellectual property (IP), and technology. What started…