While the world watches Somalia through a lens of conflict and recovery, something powerful is brewing behind the scenes, a quiet transformation led not by politicians or foreign aid but by bold entrepreneurs with big ideas. At the center of this shift is Maan-Maal, Somalia’s first entrepreneurship reality TV show, helping visionaries turn their ideas into businesses and their businesses into national impact.
Now, the call is going out to entrepreneurs across Somalia, those with fresh ideas waiting to be tested and small business owners ready to grow. Maan-Maal is officially open for applications, inviting bold thinkers, builders and changemakers to join a program designed to turn ambition into real-world impact.
This isn’t your typical reality show. There are no luxury mansions, no celebrity drama, only ambition, hard work and real Somali stories. Maan-Maal – The Somali Leapfrog Foundry for Innovative Business Ideas is breaking new ground by providing Somali entrepreneurs with the visibility, training and investment opportunities they’ve long needed but rarely accessed.
The Power of Visibility in a Low-Resource Environment
For years, Somalia’s entrepreneurial spirit has simmered in local markets, street corners and online communities. But many of these business efforts remained invisible, limited by a lack of access to funding, mentorship and national platforms. Maan-Maal is changing that.
Through nationwide casting, the show selects both aspiring and experienced entrepreneurs to compete in a televised business development program. Participants are placed in one of two tracks: the Entrepreneur Track for early-stage idea generators and the Growth Track for existing business owners ready to scale.
Each season brings together Somali talent from across the country, connecting them with experienced mentors, coaches and investors in a multi-phase journey designed to equip them for long-term success.
How the Program Works
The journey begins with a national call for applications, where entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas before a panel of experts. Selected candidates move on to the next stage, gaining early media visibility as their profiles are introduced to the public.
This is followed by the Hano Leap Accelerator Bootcamp, an intensive 3–4 week program filled with hands-on training in business strategy, finance, marketing and digital growth. Participants are challenged through real-world simulations and weekly eliminations, pushing them to sharpen their skills and refine their ideas.
The program culminates in a semi-final and grand finale, where the remaining entrepreneurs pitch their ventures live to a panel of investors, stakeholders and a national audience. Winners receive seed funding, strategic partnerships and a platform that can change the trajectory of their businesses and their lives.
Building a Long-Term Ecosystem
But Maan-Maal isn’t just a TV show, it’s a growing ecosystem. All participants join the Maan-Maal Alumni Network, a support system that continues long after the cameras stop rolling. Alumni gain access to pitch events, expos, coaching, investor networks and ongoing visibility across national media platforms.
This ensures that even those who don’t win the grand prize can still walk away with connections, knowledge and opportunities that might otherwise take years to build.
A National Movement for Inclusive Growth
Perhaps what makes Maan-Maal most impactful is its inclusive design. It’s not just targeting the elite or the urban. Youth, women and entrepreneurs from underserved regions are actively encouraged to apply. By doing so, the program promotes equity, dignity and shared economic progress.
In a country where unemployment is high and opportunities are unevenly distributed, Maan-Maal gives individuals the tools to change their own circumstances and in doing so, help lift their communities. Entrepreneurs are no longer seen as mere hustlers or informal traders but as builders of the future.
Why This Matters Now
Somalia’s young population is brimming with potential. What’s often missing isn’t ambition, it’s access. Maan-Maal fills that gap by combining national exposure with practical tools for growth. It helps turn raw talent into structured enterprise and everyday business people into role models.
It also reshapes the country’s global image, showing that innovation and enterprise are alive and well in Somalia. This is a country not defined by its past but by a new generation determined to create its future.
Maan-Maal is More Than a Show
As new seasons roll out, more Somali entrepreneurs will be given the chance to step into the light. Millions across Somalia and the diaspora are tuning in, not just to watch but to be inspired.
By blending media, business training and investment, Maan-Maal is doing more than broadcasting stories, it’s building them. And in a landscape where real opportunities are rare, that’s the kind of change Somalia needs.
