TV5MONDE opens applications for season 2 of pan-African entrepreneur show

A pan-African television competition dedicated to entrepreneurs is returning for a second season, with applications now open to French-speaking business founders across the African continent. The show, which aired its first season across 160 countries, drew a 34% linear audience share in francophone Africa and accumulated close to 100 million views online, establishing itself as one of the most prominent platforms for showcasing the emerging generation of African business leaders.

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The competition is produced jointly by an international francophone broadcaster and an independent French production studio. Together, they are positioning the show as a mechanism not only for visibility but for tangible economic outcomes, including access to international investor networks and real fundraising prospects. Applications are open through June 12, 2026, to francophone entrepreneurs whose businesses are based in Africa and who can present structured, high-potential projects.

The format unfolds in three stages. Preliminary rounds will be filmed in September across several African economic capitals, followed by a dedicated mentorship and development program at La Station, where selected candidates will work alongside senior mentors and industry experts. The competition concludes with a Grand Finale in October, during which finalists present their projects before an international jury of investors. The show is backed by the Alliance des patronats francophones, Bpifrance, and the French African Foundation, lending it significant institutional weight within the francophone business ecosystem.

Beyond the competition itself, the show functions as a broader statement about the role of French-language media in amplifying African economic ambition. The broadcaster behind it reaches more than 400 million households worldwide through ten channels subtitled in 12 languages, with a streaming platform active in 200 countries and territories. The production company, which developed the format, has an extensive track record across European and international markets, having created over 60 original formats with commissions spanning the Netherlands, the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Morocco. The second season of the show represents a direct continuation of that ambition, scaled specifically to the African entrepreneurial landscape and the growing global interest in its economic potential.