REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS - Brand Broker — IP Licensing

Brand Broker — IP Licensing

Consultancy to Broker IP Licensing Deals with Major Consumer Brands

BACKGROUND & ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Ubongo is Africa's leading edutainment company, producing educational media content loved by children and families across Sub-Saharan Africa. With a portfolio of instantly recognisable characters, Ubongo is positioned to generate significant revenue and impact through IP licensing partnerships.

IP licensing presents a strategic opportunity for Ubongo to: (a) generate recurring non-grant revenue; (b) amplify brand visibility across consumer categories; (c) build long-term commercial partnerships with major regional and global brands; and (d) place educational, African-led content on everyday products that reach children in their homes, schools, and communities.

Ubongo is seeking an experienced IP Brand Broker to identify, approach, negotiate, and close licensing agreements between Ubongo's character IP and major consumer brands operating in Africa and internationally. This is a results-oriented, commission-based engagement with potential for ongoing retainer.

OBJECTIVES

The Brand Broker will be expected to

Identify and qualify prospective licensee brands across target product categories and geographies

Lead outreach and relationship development with brand decision-makers on Ubongo's behalf

Structure and negotiate licensing terms in line with Ubongo's commercial objectives and rate card

Close a minimum of 2–3 signed licensing agreements within the initial engagement period

Build a pipeline of 10–15 qualified licensing prospects for ongoing pursuit

Provide market intelligence on licensing trends, competitor activity, and new category opportunities

SCOPE OF WORK

• 1 Onboarding & Strategy Alignment (Weeks 1–2)

Immerse in Ubongo's IP portfolio, brand guidelines, character briefs, and existing commercial relationships

Review and refine Ubongo's target licensee criteria and geographic priorities

Agree on target categories

apparel, toys & games, publishing, food & beverage, consumer goods, digital products, and others as identified

Confirm deal structure preferences: royalty rates, minimum guarantees, exclusivity tiers, and approval processes

Establish reporting cadence and deal pipeline tracking system

• 2 Prospecting & Outreach (Weeks 2–8 and ongoing)

Research and develop a qualified target list of 30+ prospective licensee brands across agreed categories and geographical territories

Execute proactive outreach to brand procurement, marketing, and licensing decision-makers

Represent Ubongo at relevant licensing trade shows, industry events, and pitch meetings (costs agreed separately)

Develop and deliver customised pitch materials leveraging Ubongo's IP assets and audience data

Track and report all prospect interactions in a shared CRM or pipeline tracker

• 3 Negotiation & Deal Closure

Lead commercial negotiations on behalf of Ubongo, in close coordination with Ubongo's legal and commercial team

Secure term sheets and facilitate the finalisation of licensing agreements

Ensure all agreed deals align with Ubongo's brand guidelines, quality standards, and commercial objectives

Coordinate with Ubongo's legal team on contract execution

• 4 Pipeline Management & Reporting (Ongoing)

Provide bi-weekly pipeline updates covering prospect status, deal stage, estimated value, and key next steps

Submit a monthly summary report to Ubongo's leadership

Deliver a final engagement report at the end of the initial term with pipeline handover documentation

DELIVERABLES

Deliverable 1: IP Licensing Strategy Memo: target categories, geographies, prospect criteria, and deal parameters (Week 2)

Deliverable 2: Qualified Prospect List: minimum 30 brands with contact information, category, and rationale (Week 4)

Deliverable 3: Pitch Deck & Materials: customised for major prospect categories (Week 3)

Deliverable 4: Bi-weekly Pipeline Tracker: live updates throughout engagement

Deliverable 5: Minimum 2 signed term sheets or executed licensing agreements within 6 months

Deliverable 6: Monthly Summary Reports to Ubongo leadership

Deliverable 7: Final Engagement Report with pipeline handover and recommendations (End of initial term)

ENGAGEMENT STRUCTURE & DURATION

The engagement is structured as an initial 6-month term, with option to renew. Ubongo is open to the following commercial structures from proposers

Commission-only

percentage of signed deal value (typical range: 10–20% of first-year guaranteed revenues)

Retainer plus commission

monthly retainer covering operational costs plus a lower commission rate

Hybrid

reduced retainer with performance milestones tied to pipeline development and deal closure

Proposers are invited to suggest their preferred commercial structure with full transparency on terms.

Initial Term

6 months from contract signing

Renewal

Option for 6-month renewal by mutual agreement

Expected Start

July 1st 2026

Operating Territories

Pan-Africa priority; diaspora markets and global considered

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Essential Requirements

Minimum 8 years of experience in IP licensing, brand licensing, or commercial partnerships

Demonstrated track record of successfully brokering and closing licensing agreements — provide verified examples

Existing relationships with procurement, licensing, or marketing decision-makers at major consumer brands in Africa

Strong negotiation skills and understanding of licensing deal structures, royalties, and minimum guarantees

Ability to represent Ubongo professionally and passionately in high-stakes commercial conversations

Highly Desirable

Experience brokering children's entertainment or media IP licenses

Network of contacts in toy & games, apparel, food & beverage, and publishing sectors

Existing connections with licensing agents, retail chains, and consumer goods companies operating in Africa

Experience at or with licensing industry bodies (LIMA/Licens