The StoryBoard Collective

What The StoryBoard Collective does

The StoryBoard Collective is a Geneva-based non-profit organization registered in the Geneva Commercial Register (CHE-448.307.137, since November 2025), originally established in 2020 as an initiative of Swiss philanthropic Fondation DMR. It supports documentary impact production and episodic storytelling through grants, residencies, and partnerships with cultural organizations, media experts, and film festivals. Its core offerings include the StoryBoard Impact Fund (grants for documentary projects with social impact campaigns), the StoryBoard House (a live/work space in Chêne-Bougeries, Geneva, serving as a hub for creative change-makers), the AuthenticA Series Lab (a six-month residency for African episodic screenwriters co-delivered with the Realness Institute and culminating in a pitch at Series Mania Forum), the Indigenous Series Lab (a six-month program for North American Indigenous writers co-developed with imagineNATIVE and the Indigenous Screen Office), and the annual CHF 10,000 StoryBoard Impact Award presented at FIFDH Impact Days.

The organization operates with a core team of five (plus an advisor) and serves documentary impact producers, episodic scriptwriters from underrepresented communities, and cultural strategists globally, with stated reach across 30+ countries spanning Africa, Latin America, North America, Asia, Europe, Australia and the Pacific. Its beneficiary base includes grantees such as Olimbi: Mother Courage, Yurlu Country, Runa Simi, The Pickers, Devi, To Kill a Tiger, Volverte A Ver, and A Song Without Home, alongside multiple cohorts of AuthenticA and Indigenous Series Lab fellows. The organization does not develop proprietary technology; its digital footprint is limited to a Webflow-hosted website, email newsletter (via Mailchimp), and standard social media channels.

The revenue model is philanthropic: the organization awards grants rather than selling products or services. Funding is sourced from foundations, institutional supporters, and donors — including founding support from Fondation DMR, the Canada Media Fund (financial backer of both series labs), the Schmidt Family Foundation (Indigenous Series Lab), and the Seedling Foundation (co-funder of The Pickers impact campaign). All programs are free for participants; fellows receive a modest monthly stipend (EUR 1,000/month during AuthenticA) and grantees receive project funding plus access to the festival and partner network. Go-to-market is community-led, driven by open calls for projects distributed via the website, partner networks, and presence at major international industry events.

Name

The StoryBoard Collective

Legal name

The StoryBoard Collective

Website

https://storyboard-collective.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The StoryBoard Collective is a Geneva-based non-profit that funds and develops independent documentary impact campaigns and episodic series from underrepresented communities globally through grants, scriptwriting labs, and a physical residency space.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Grantmaking and Capacity Building for Independent Storytelling

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Fiction Writing Workshops (Short Story, Novel) (EDAMAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Writing Retreats & Intensive Bootcamps (EDAMAMAK), Writing Critique Groups & Peer Workshops (EDAMAMAJ)

Keywords

• Documentary impact funding
• Episodic scriptwriting labs
• Nonprofit storytelling grants
• Impact production support
• Residency program grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Chêne-Bougeries

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Grants & Donations: The StoryBoard Collective is a non-profit registered in the Geneva Commercial Register. It funds documentary impact production and episodic scriptwriters through grant programs (StoryBoard Impact Fund), series labs (AuthenticA Series Lab, Indigenous Series Lab), and the StoryBoard House residency space. Revenue is derived from foundations, institutional supporters, and donors. The organization awards grants — it does not sell products or services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The StoryBoard Collective is a Geneva-registered non-profit that supports documentary impact production and episodic storytelling. It funds documentary filmmakers via the StoryBoard Impact Fund and operates structured six-month development labs (AuthenticA Series Lab for African screenwriters, Indigenous Series Lab for North American Indigenous writers), while running the StoryBoard House as a live/work hub in Geneva. Revenue comes from foundations, institutional supporters, and donors, and programs are offered free of charge to selected beneficiaries.

Product overview

The StoryBoard Collective is a non-profit organisation that operates as a platform supporting storytelling for social transformation. The core offerings include the StoryBoard Impact Fund (grants for documentary projects), StoryBoard Fiction initiatives (supporting episodic scriptwriters), and the StoryBoard House (a physical space in Geneva). The organisation runs two series labs: AuthenticA Series Lab (a six-month residency programme for African episodic screenwriters delivered in partnership with the Realness Institute, with residencies in South Africa and Switzerland culminating at Series Mania Forum) and the Indigenous Series Lab (a programme for North American Indigenous writers developed with imagineNATIVE). Additionally, the StoryBoard Impact Award provides CHF 10,000 annually to an outstanding impact campaign at FIFDH Impact Days. The organisation's work spans documentary impact production, episodic storytelling development, and convening creative change-makers through both physical residencies and digital platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• StoryBoard Impact Fund: Invests in documentary projects and organizations showing potential for impact.
• StoryBoard Fiction
• StoryBoard House
• AuthenticA Series Lab
• Indigenous Series Lab

Products and services

• StoryBoard Impact Fund

Quantifiable outcome

• Supports documentary impact projects and episodic series from over 30 countries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• imagineNATIVEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026imagineNATIVE is the joint program developer and deliverer of the Indigenous Series Lab. As the leading Indigenous film and media arts organization, imagineNATIVE co-designed the six-month program and co-delivers it alongside StoryBoard, providing access to its festival, mentorship network, and industry connections within the Indigenous screen storytelling community.
• Indigenous Screen Office (ISO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026The Indigenous Screen Office is an Indigenous-led organization supporting Indigenous screen-based storytelling across Canada. It provides valued involvement in the Indigenous Series Lab as a program partner, contributing expertise on Indigenous storytelling standards and connecting fellows to the Indigenous screen sector.
• Realness InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Realness Institute, a South Africa-based non-profit, is StoryBoard's key partner for the AuthenticA Series Lab. Founded in 2022, the institute empowers Africans to tell their stories from an unapologetically African perspective and co-designed the AuthenticA program with StoryBoard, providing African network access, mentorship coordination, and program management.
• Series Mania ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Series Mania Forum, one of Europe's leading series markets based in Lille, France, is a key supporter of AuthenticA. The partnership culminates in the annual AuthenticA Series Pitch at Series Mania, where fellows present their projects to an audience of industry professionals, commissioners, and co-producers.
• FIFDH (Festival du Film et Forum International sur les Droits Humains)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022FIFDH is Geneva's leading international human rights film festival. StoryBoard partners with FIFDH for its annual Impact Days, where StoryBoard awards its Impact Award (CHF 10,000) to a documentary impact campaign. The festival provides a platform for grantees to present their work and engage with international organizations, policymakers, and funders based in Geneva.
• Doc SocietymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDoc Society is a global organization dedicated to documentary filmmaking. Listed as an ally on StoryBoard's website, Doc Society shares program opportunities and resources with its network and aligns with StoryBoard's mission to support independent documentary storytelling.
• Impact Partners FilmmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerImpact Partners Film is a financing and impact organization for documentary films with social impact campaigns. Listed as an ally, the organization connects with StoryBoard for co-funding opportunities and knowledge sharing within the impact production community.
• GIPA (Global Impact Producer Assembly)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGIPA is an online community of 400+ film impact professionals across 40+ countries. StoryBoard participates in and aligns with GIPA's community-building efforts for the impact production field.
• Impact Social ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerImpact Social Club is a creative agency focused on impact-driven media. Listed as an ally, it connects with StoryBoard's network for knowledge sharing and industry collaboration.
• IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIUCN is listed as an ally, indicating alignment on environmental and conservation-themed documentary projects within StoryBoard's grantee portfolio.
• Sunny Side of the DocmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSunny Side of the Doc is a leading international documentary marketplace in France. StoryBoard grantees including Olimbi: Mother Courage have been selected for the Meet & Match program at Sunny Side of the Doc, and StoryBoard aligns with the marketplace for industry engagement.
• Movies That MattermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMovies That Matter is a human rights film festival in The Hague. StoryBoard presented a joint Impact Award with Together Films at Movies That Matter and participates in festival programming focused on social documentary.
• IMPACTA CINEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIMPACTA CINE is listed as an ally on StoryBoard's website, indicating alignment on impact-driven storytelling and potential collaboration in Latin America.
• Swiss FilmsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSwiss Films is a Swiss government-supported organization promoting Swiss cinema internationally. Listed as an ally, it connects StoryBoard with the Swiss film industry ecosystem.
• The Good Media Network (GMN)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Good Media Network is listed as an ally, supporting StoryBoard's mission to promote independent media and impact storytelling.
• IRIS (Story for Impact)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRIS (Story for Impact) is a global network for impact producers and storytelling practitioners. StoryBoard participated in an impact financing panel alongside IRIS at FIFDH 2026, indicating close programmatic alignment.
• La Délégation Genève Ville Solidaire (DGVS)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLa Délégation Genève Ville Solidaire is a Geneva city solidarity program. Listed as an ally, it connects StoryBoard with the local Geneva civic and cultural community.
• AFLAMUNAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAFLAMUNA is an organization empowering independent filmmakers and audiences from the Arab region. Listed as an ally, it helps StoryBoard reach and engage with Arab-region storytellers.
• Sunshine CinemamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSunshine Cinema is a social impact cinema organization. It serves as impact producer on several StoryBoard grantee projects (The Friendship Bench, The Grab) and partners on community screening initiatives.
• Thinkers & DoersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThinkers & Doers is listed as an ally, representing a network of creative professionals engaged with StoryBoard's programs and impact storytelling mission.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• imagineNATIVE: Leading Indigenous film and media arts organisation, co-developer of the Indigenous Series Lab with StoryBoard. Comparable as a peer in Indigenous storytelling support, festival curation, and mentorship pipelines, and the most relevant direct peer for StoryBoard's Indigenous Series Lab program.
• Doc Society: Global non-profit dedicated to documentary filmmaking and impact campaigns. Directly comparable to StoryBoard's Impact Fund arm — both provide capacity-building, funding, and impact-strategy support to independent documentary makers, and Doc Society is a listed StoryBoard ally.
• Movies That Matter: Human rights film festival and support programme in The Hague. Directly comparable as a funder and festival for human-rights-focused documentary impact work; co-presents a joint Impact Award with StoryBoard.
• Impact Partners Film: Financing and impact organisation for documentary films with social impact campaigns. Directly comparable as a peer funder in the impact documentary space, and explicitly listed as a StoryBoard ally for co-funding and knowledge sharing.
• Realness Institute: South Africa-based non-profit empowering African episodic creators, co-developing the AuthenticA Series Lab with StoryBoard. Directly comparable as a peer in African scripted-series talent development, and operates overlapping labs (e.g., episodic residency programs).

Broad incumbents

• Film Independent: US-based non-profit supporting independent filmmakers through grants, labs (including a Series Lab), and industry programs. Comparable in mission and program mix to StoryBoard, though operating at materially larger scale and longer institutional history.
• Series Mania Forum: Major European series content market in Lille, France, hosting AuthenticA's annual pitch. Comparable as a broader platform for episodic creators, though operating at significantly larger market scale than StoryBoard's curated lab.
• Sundance Institute: Large US-based non-profit running the Sundance Documentary Fund, Episodic Lab, and Screenwriters Labs. Operates at materially larger scale but covers overlapping territory — particularly around episodic talent development and documentary project support — making it a relevant incumbent peer.
• Tribeca Film Institute: Established US-based film non-profit supporting independent storytellers through grants, labs, and festival programming. Comparable in mission to support documentary impact makers, though operates at a larger scale with broader programming.

Regional players

• FIFDH (International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights): Geneva-based international human rights film festival where StoryBoard awards its annual Impact Award. Comparable as a peer convening platform for human-rights documentary work, operating regionally in Switzerland where StoryBoard is also headquartered.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/100088005485669
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-storyboard-collective
• Instagraminstagram.com/storyboard.collective/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The StoryBoard Collective