Story Forward · storyforward.africa
The Story stage of The Pipeline Project Group.
Move your
story
forward.
Your story is the beginning. Story Forward helps you develop the vision, impact, audience, business model, financial case, IP and distribution strategy behind it — so you're ready for funding and ready for what comes next.
The journey
From creative idea to funding-ready opportunity
The problem
A great story is only the beginning.
Creative ideas often start with passion, talent and a powerful story. But turning that story into a fundable opportunity requires more. You need to understand:
- 01who it's for
- 02why it matters
- 03how it creates value
- 04how it makes money
- 05what funding is needed
- 06who owns the IP
- 07how it reaches the market
- 08what impact it can create
- 09who needs to be involved
Story Forward helps bring those pieces together.
Story Forward is part of The Pipeline Project Group's wider pipeline, which carries strong stories from development through financing (Finance stage) to market and distribution (Market stage).
The journey
Take your story further.
Eleven stages, one continuous pathway — from the first spark of a story to a project that's ready for funding, partners and the market.
Story
Tell us what you're creating.
Vision
Define what you want to make.
Impact
Show why it matters.
Audience
Understand who it's for.
Opportunity
Identify the market opportunity.
Business
Build the commercial model.
Finance
Understand what it will take.
IP
Clarify what you own.
Distribution
Plan how it reaches people.
Export & Festival
Assess fit for festival circuits, prestige positioning and international export.
Readiness
Understand what's strong and what needs work.
- 01
Story
Tell us what you're creating.
- 02
Vision
Define what you want to make.
- 03
Impact
Show why it matters.
- 04
Audience
Understand who it's for.
- 05
Opportunity
Identify the market opportunity.
- 06
Business
Build the commercial model.
- 07
Finance
Understand what it will take.
- 08
IP
Clarify what you own.
- 09
Distribution
Plan how it reaches people.
- 10
Export & Festival
Assess fit for festival circuits, prestige positioning and international export.
- 11
Readiness
Understand what's strong and what needs work.
The wider pipeline — Story → Finance → Market
Creative industries
Every creative story has a different path.
Story Forward adapts its questions, revenue models and distribution pathways to your discipline.
Film & Television
Features, series, documentary and short form.
Festivals → Cinema → Broadcast → Streaming → International sales
02Music
Artists, labels, live and recorded work.
Streaming → Radio → Live → Licensing → Brand partnerships
03Publishing
Books, comics, journalism and audio.
Publisher → Retail → Digital → Education → International rights
04Games
Mobile, PC, console and interactive.
Mobile → PC → Console → Platforms → Licensing
05Fashion
Labels, collections and craft.
Direct-to-consumer → Retail → Wholesale → E-commerce → Collaborations
06Visual Arts
Studio practice, exhibitions and editions.
Galleries → Biennales → Art fairs → Public commissions → Digital editions
07Theatre & Performance
Stage, dance and live experience.
Venues → Festivals → Touring → Education → Capture & streaming
08Digital & Creator Economy
Creators, platforms and community.
YouTube → TikTok → Instagram → Podcast platforms → Newsletters
Funding readiness
Funding ready means more than having a good idea.
Story Forward isn't trying to fully fund every project. It helps projects become unlockable — so grants, investors and co-production partners can come in around them.
Story
Is the creative proposition clear and compelling?
Impact
Can the intended impact be articulated?
Audience
Is there a clear understanding of the audience?
Opportunity
Is there a credible market opportunity?
Business
Is there a viable business model?
Finance
Is the funding requirement clear and realistic?
IP
Are ownership and rights understood?
Distribution
Is there a credible path to market?
Export & Festival
Is there fit for festival circuits, prestige positioning or international export?
Readiness outcomes
Ready isn't one state — a project can hold some and not others.
Story Forward maps progress into distinct outcomes a project can reach independently, so it's clear what's strong and what still needs work.
Investment Ready
A clear proposition, model and numbers that an investor can evaluate.
CANEX Ready
Aligned to a programme's readiness framework and submission expectations.
Co-Production Ready
Structured to partner across borders with shared finance and rights.
Market Ready
A credible path to audience, distribution and revenue.
Long-Term Asset Ready
IP and rights positioned to earn beyond the first release.
Pathways
Film & Television
Music
Publishing
International co-production
Strong projects become stronger connected.
Story Forward surfaces where a project could connect to international finance, expertise and audiences — opening co-production routes rather than assuming a single market is enough.
Partner regions
The right partner region brings capital, tax incentives, talent and reach that compound what a project already has — turning a strong local story into one built to travel.
Market stage
Distribution, festivals and international audiences.
When a story is developed and financed, the Market stage carries it to its audience — through credible distribution pathways, festival and prestige positioning, and territory planning that lets it travel and earn.
Explore the Market stage →Distribution
A credible route from finished work to audience.
Festivals & Prestige
Position the work for festival circuits and prestige.
International Audiences
Carry the story to markets beyond home.
