RBA and Arthur Nation Launch PitchStudio to Back Rwandan Business Ideas

Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA) and creative agency Arthur Nation have launched PitchStudio, a new television and radio show giving Rwandans with business ideas a national platform to be heard, supported, and funded, backed by an RWF 15 million funding pool for its first season.

Developed with support from the Ministry of Youth and Arts. Seeing someone take a chance on their idea is often all it takes to inspire someone else to take a chance on theirs. Beyond funding the ideas that make it onto the show, organizers say the program aims to inspire thousands more Rwandans watching and listening, from those sitting on an idea to those with resources to back promising ones.

Two Tracks: Dreamers and Founders

The show will feature two categories of participants. Dreamers are people with a business idea who need support to get started; they will pitch and compete for funding directly from PitchStudio. Founders are entrepreneurs who already run businesses and are looking for their next stage of growth; PitchStudio will give selected founders a national platform to tell their story and connect with potential investors and partners.

For the Dreamers track, the audience becomes part of the process too, following the pitches and ultimately helping decide which ideas receive funding.

RWF 15 Million to Back Ideas in Season 1

Season 1 launches with a funding pool of RWF 15 million, fully funded by Arthur Nation. Rather than splitting the pool evenly across winners, funding will be allocated based on what each selected idea actually needs. The support comes in the form of a grant, meaning successful Dreamers will not be required to give up equity or repay the money.

Inspire. Fund. Scale. PitchStudio is built around three ambitions: inspiring people to take their ideas seriously, funding promising ideas, and giving growing businesses the visibility they need to scale.

Applications Now Open

Applications for PitchStudio's first season are open to Rwandan citizens and residents, with the process taking less than five minutes to complete. Interested Dreamers and Founders can register through pitchstudio.rw. Selected applicants will be invited to prepare and present their pitches as part of the first season, which begins airing in October 2026.

Hosted by Arthur Nkusi, the show will air across RBA's television and radio network, including RTV, Radio Rwanda, Magic FM, KC2, and community radio stations, putting entrepreneurs and their ideas in front of audiences nationwide.

Behind the Launch

Rwanda Broadcasting Agency is the country's public broadcaster, operating national television, radio, and community broadcasting platforms across Rwanda. Arthur Nation, the show's funding partner, is a creative communication and marketing agency founded in Rwanda in 2015, combining creative strategy, marketing, and social and behaviour change communication to help brands and organizations create meaningful impact.

The initiative also counts CM Advocates and Rwanda Events among its partners, alongside the Ministry of Youth and Arts.