Kinova Films, a Nigerian creative studio focused on film, animation, and sound storytelling, has joined FasterCapital’s EquityPilot programme as part of efforts to raise $250,000 in seed funding.
The Dubai-based programme supports early-stage startups with mentorship, investor readiness, and access to funding networks across media, technology, and creative industries.
Speaking in an interview with The Nollywood Reporter, founder and creative director Davison ‘Slice’ Onyemali described the development as a step toward strengthening the studio’s long-term plans.
“It gives us access to investors and allows the studio to prepare properly for long-term growth while staying true to its creative identity,” he said.
According to Onyemali, the funding will support Kinova Films’ studio development and the production of its flagship animated project, The Masquerade Code.
The project follows a streetwise young hustler who becomes bound to an ancient masquerade power, combining elements of African spirituality, comedy, and urban life. Onyemali described it as a proof-of-concept for a broader content universe.
“It’s a unique African story with global themes. It brings culture, mystery, and identity together in a fresh way,” he said.
Founded in August 2024, Kinova Films is positioning itself within Africa’s growing animation space, with a focus on culturally rooted storytelling across film, children’s content, and intellectual property development.
FasterCapital, led by founder and CEO Hesham Zreik, is known for supporting startups seeking to scale globally through structured fundraising and incubation programmes.