REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS - Brand Broker — IP Licensing

Brand Broker — IP LicensingConsultancy to Broker IP Licensing Deals with Major Consumer Brands1. BACKGROUND & ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXTUbongo 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.2. OBJECTIVESThe Brand Broker will be expected to:Identify and qualify prospective licensee brands across target product categories and geographiesLead outreach and relationship development with brand decision-makers on Ubongo's behalfStructure and negotiate licensing terms in line with Ubongo's commercial objectives and rate cardClose a minimum of 2–3 signed licensing agreements within the initial engagement periodBuild a pipeline of 10–15 qualified licensing prospects for ongoing pursuitProvide market intelligence on licensing trends, competitor activity, and new category opportunities3. SCOPE OF WORK3.1 Onboarding & Strategy Alignment (Weeks 1–2)Immerse in Ubongo's IP portfolio, brand guidelines, character briefs, and existing commercial relationshipsReview and refine Ubongo's target licensee criteria and geographic prioritiesAgree on target categories: apparel, toys & games, publishing, food & beverage, consumer goods, digital products, and others as identifiedConfirm deal structure preferences: royalty rates, minimum guarantees, exclusivity tiers, and approval processesEstablish reporting cadence and deal pipeline tracking system3.2 Prospecting & Outreach (Weeks 2–8 and ongoing)Research and develop a qualified target list of 30+ prospective licensee brands across agreed categories and geographical territoriesExecute proactive outreach to brand procurement, marketing, and licensing decision-makersRepresent 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 dataTrack and report all prospect interactions in a shared CRM or pipeline tracker3.3 Negotiation & Deal ClosureLead commercial negotiations on behalf of Ubongo, in close coordination with Ubongo's legal and commercial teamSecure term sheets and facilitate the finalisation of licensing agreementsEnsure all agreed deals align with Ubongo's brand guidelines, quality standards, and commercial objectivesCoordinate with Ubongo's legal team on contract execution3.4 Pipeline Management & Reporting (Ongoing)Provide bi-weekly pipeline updates covering prospect status, deal stage, estimated value, and key next stepsSubmit a monthly summary report to Ubongo's leadershipDeliver a final engagement report at the end of the initial term with pipeline handover documentation4. DELIVERABLESDeliverable 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 engagementDeliverable 5: Minimum 2 signed term sheets or executed licensing agreements within 6 monthsDeliverable 6: Monthly Summary Reports to Ubongo leadershipDeliverable 7: Final Engagement Report with pipeline handover and recommendations (End of initial term)5. ENGAGEMENT STRUCTURE & DURATIONThe 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 rateHybrid: reduced retainer with performance milestones tied to pipeline development and deal closureProposers are invited to suggest their preferred commercial structure with full transparency on terms.Initial Term: 6 months from contract signingRenewal: Option for 6-month renewal by mutual agreementExpected Start: July 1st 2026Operating Territories: Pan-Africa priority; diaspora markets and global considered6. QUALIFICATIONS & EXPE