Dillion S. Phiri is a Zimbabwean-Malawian entrepreneur, filmmaker, and social sculptor based in Johannesburg with 14+ years building creative ecosystems across Africa. As founder of Creative Nestlings, he has cultivated a 100,000+ member pan-African network, directly and indirectly investing $5.4M+ in African creatives.

His work spans co-founding J&B Hive (incubating brands like Bathu and Tshepo The Jeanmaker), serving as Entrepreneur in Residence at I’M IN (facilitating R45M in funding), directing award-winning documentaries (“Seeds of Change,” “Zero to A Hundred”), winning Format’s 2018 photography contest, and documenting 200+ creatives in his “What It Takes” series. Named one of MIPAD’s 100 Most Influential People of African Descent, he launched CRCO in December 2025 a next-generation community management platform for Africa’s creative industries.

Currently, he also serves as Responsible AI Fellow at the Stimson Center and Community Lead at BetterShared, continuing to bridge creativity, technology, and strategic foresight to empower African innovation.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​