Events Lead

Carry1st is Africa’s leading games publisher and monetization platform. Our Platform business unit helps top global companies grow their player base and revenues across Africa and the Middle East; while our Studio unit acquires, develops, and publishes first-party mobile games for global audiences. 

Our partners include Activision, EA, Riot Games, and NetEase and we’re backed by top investors like a16z, Bitkraft, Google, Konvoy, Sony, Riot Games, and Nas. We’re scaling awesome content by solving hard problems at the intersection of content, publishing, and digital commerce.

In 2024 and 2025, Carry1st made history with the Carry1st Africa Cup — Africa’s biggest mobile gaming tournament, attracting over 75 million impressions, 760 players from 8+ countries, and global recognition from.
We’re now looking for an exceptional Events Lead to take this success to new heights in 2026 and beyond.

As Events Lead, you will own the end-to-end planning, execution, and growth of Carry1st’s flagship Africa Cup tournament and community events across the continent.

You’ll be responsible for delivering unforgettable gaming experiences that bring African gamers together, attract sponsors, and strengthen Carry1st’s position as a leader in African esports.

This is a hands-on, entrepreneurial role—perfect for a highly organised and commercially-minded events professional who thrives in fast-paced, creative environments.

You will…

• Lead the Carry1st Africa Cup 2026, managing qualifiers, Grand Finals, operations, and budgets while securing sponsorships for sustainable events.
• Organise community and publisher events that drive engagement, from campus tournaments to brand activations and game launches.
• Develop and manage sponsorships and partnerships, creating packages, closing deals, and aligning with strategic goals.
• Oversee event operations, vendors, staff, production, and broadcast teams, ensuring a seamless Carry1st brand experience.
• Amplify events through content, influencer collaborations, live coverage, and marketing campaigns.
• Document processes and build playbooks to scale events efficiently across regions.

What makes you a great candidate

• 5+ years managing large-scale events (gaming, esports, sports, or entertainment), delivering complex, multi-country activations.
• Proven success in securing and managing sponsorships, ideally from consumer brands or tech companies.
  Strong understanding of gaming culture in Africa, with a passion for esports and community engagement.
• Exceptional project and vendor management skills, able to juggle multiple moving parts under tight deadlines.
  Entrepreneurial, resourceful, and solutions-oriented — delivering high impact with lean budgets.
• Excellent communication skills in English; French or Arabic is a strong plus, and comfortable collaborating across multiple time zones.

What will it be like to work at Carry1st?

Carry1st is a fast-paced and dynamic place to work. Our team is diverse and global as we operate fully-remotely across 25+ countries. At Carry1st, you will have the opportunity to…

• Build awesome, industry-changing products, every day
• Grow with a VC-backed startup at the intersection of gaming and fintech
• Work from anywhere in the world with international teammates
• Own shares in the Company - enabling you to benefit from the value you create 

Some additional perks…

• Co-working excursions: Travel to meet your colleagues in cities around the world
• Awesome equipment: Get everything you need to work effectively 
• Remote working allowance: Put an additional $600 / year to optimise your WFH experience
• Learning and development: Attend courses, conferences and training events
• Social events: Participate in regular company events to relax and connect with teammates

We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds, not just because it's the right thing to do, but because it makes our company stronger. Join us!

Learn more about Carry1st…

• Andreessen Horowitz shared why they invested in Carry1st
• NYSE Trade Talks interviewed Cordel about Carry1st's success in the African gaming market
• Naavik hosted Cordel on a podcast to discuss Africa’s gaming landscape