Can This Southeast Nigerian Startup Become the Netflix of Documentaries?

When the world went into lockdown in 2020, something unexpected happened on our screens. As the usual sitcoms and superhero reruns grew stale, many viewers began gravitating toward something different documentaries. The genre, long treated as a side dish in the entertainment buffet, quietly became a staple.

Now, from the heart of Aba in southeastern Nigeria, a city once known for fueling Nollywood’s DVD distribution boom, a new streaming platform is trying to ride that wave. 

It’s called OptimalVid, and its ambition is both focused and daring: to build a home purely for documentaries and nonfiction storytelling. Think Netflix, but without the romcoms and reboots.

The platform is rolling out this month with a lean but disruptive model. At just $2 per month, users can stream a growing library of documentaries, and here’s the twist: they can pause their subscriptions. 

Life gets unpredictable, especially in economies like Nigeria’s where disposable income isn’t always consistent. 

So OptimalVid lets users freeze their plan for a few days at a time, up to ten days in a 30-day cycle, ensuring they only pay for the time they actually watch. It’s a small tweak, but one that shows the startup is paying attention to everyday realities.

At launch, the content lineup won’t feature glossy blockbusters or buzzworthy originals. Instead, the platform is sourcing royalty-free and freely available documentaries, keeping costs low and access wide. 

Over time, it plans to license more compelling titles through global marketplaces where content deals are surprisingly affordable, sometimes as low as $500 for 100 titles a month.

But can a platform built around documentaries really compete in today’s crowded streaming jungle?

Actually, yes, if the trends hold. Global data suggests that the documentary space is no longer a niche on the margins. Projections show the market doubling in the next decade, and there’s a growing appetite for real stories over scripted fantasies. People want content that teaches, not just distracts. They want to be informed, not just entertained. That’s the shift OptimalVid is hoping to capitalize on.

Of course, the road ahead isn’t smooth. Established players like CuriosityStream, Kanopy, and DocuBay already dominate the global documentary scene. On the continent, platforms like AfriDocs provide access to quality African and international titles for free. 

And then there are the giants, Netflix and YouTube where documentaries are just one arm of an empire.

What OptimalVid is banking on is that its simplicity, flexibility, and affordability will appeal to a new wave of users, especially those who feel priced out or overwhelmed by the bigger platforms. 

Its long-term strategy is clear: start small, build an audience, raise capital, and eventually create or license exclusive titles to keep viewers coming back. A $1.5 million seed round is currently in the works to fund this vision mostly for licensing, tech infrastructure, and a small team expansion.

Still, building from Nigeria has its hurdles. Despite its size, Nigeria’s streaming market remains small compared to places like South Africa. Reaching users beyond local borders will be key to survival. 

That means thinking global from day one, just like early African streaming pioneers who learned that wider reach often means better returns.

But for all the challenges, there’s also something exciting about a platform choosing to go deep rather than broad. While others chase the next viral hit, OptimalVid is quietly betting on the power of nonfiction to educate, inspire, and connect. 

It’s a bold, slightly offbeat move. But if there’s anything we’ve learned from the streaming wars, it’s that sometimes the biggest winners come from the most unlikely places.

And maybe, just maybe the future of documentary streaming will start not in Silicon Valley, but in a tech lab in Aba.