Starbase Technologies, a global technology ecosystem, has launched its new social entertainment platform, Yolly, to excite burgeoning digital creators and innovators in Nigeria. At the PodFest Naija 2026, held on September 25 at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos, Yolly's Head of Business, Emeka Okenwa, highlighted the platform's unique features. Yolly rewards users for watching, streaming, and creating content, allowing creators to earn from their first stream. This approach aims to address the earning capacity disparity between Nigerian creators and their international counterparts.
According to Okenwa, Yolly seeks to remove the barrier that prevents creators with small followings from earning value. The platform allows creators to earn from their first stream, regardless of their follower count. Additionally, Yolly's payment system supports African creators, enabling them to receive payments in their preferred currency. This feature addresses the challenges posed by conventional payment platforms that often do not support African transactions.
At the PodFest Naija 2026, Yolly rewarded Kelvin Raphael and Samson Tara Igarama, who emerged as the First and Second Runners-up at The Next Big Podcaster category, with N500,000 each. Okenwa emphasized Yolly's commitment to supporting creators in telling their stories and developing the industry. By sponsoring the 2nd and 3rd place winners, Yolly provided new entrants with a platform to be seen and heard, empowering them beyond their expectations.
Yolly's model represents a departure from conventional creator monetization systems, where financial opportunities are often concentrated among creators with large audiences. The platform's central proposition is to enable emerging creators to earn from their first stream, without meeting a minimum follower threshold. This approach aims to democratize opportunities for creators, allowing them to earn value from their content.
Reacting to their wins, First Runner-up Raphael expressed gratitude to Yolly for supporting the competition and sponsoring the prize. He stated that the recognition has motivated him to continue creating and pushing himself. Second Runner-up, Tara, was excited about winning and appreciated Yolly for creating an opportunity for emerging creators like himself to be seen and encouraged.
Yolly was launched on August 1, 2026, introducing a new approach to online participation. The platform features a rich spectrum of content spanning music, entertainment, sports, comedy, lifestyle, education, tech, fitness, and more. By recognizing that everyone who contributes to the internet deserves to share in the value they help create, Yolly aims to promote inclusivity and fairness in the digital landscape.
The platform's impact on Nigeria's digital creator ecosystem remains to be seen. However, with its unique features and commitment to supporting emerging creators, Yolly has generated excitement among digital creators and innovators. As the platform continues to grow, it may provide new opportunities for creators to earn value from their content and contribute to the development of Nigeria's digital economy.
Key points
- Yolly rewards users for watching, streaming, and creating content, allowing creators to earn from their first stream.
- The platform's payment system supports African creators, enabling them to receive payments in their preferred currency.
- Yolly's model represents a departure from conventional creator monetization systems, where financial opportunities are often concentrated among creators with large audiences.
