Connecting Cape Town's start-ups to create jobs and growth

STATEMENT BY THE CITY’S MAYORAL COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND ASSET MANAGEMENT, ALDERMAN JAMES VOS

Yesterday, 10 February 2021, I had the distinct honour of representing the City of Cape Town at the launch of the Cape Town/Stockholm Connect virtual launch, hosted by one of the City’s Strategic Business Partners, Wesgro. This initiative connects start-up businesses in these two cities by providing a platform for companies, developers, customers, investors, entrepreneurs, and institutions, to explore collaborations thereby creating opportunities for growth and job creation. Read more below:

I view connectivity and innovation between cities as the driving force for economic inclusion and business growth and firmly believe that we need to be soft on boundaries and strong on innovation. As a City, we believe in the power of partnerships and we are very excited to launch the Cape Town/Stockholm Connect initiative.

Sharing knowledge with other start-up centres across the globe will lead to more benefits for our business ecosystem. This morning, a diverse group of companies and high-profile speakers shared their insights about South Africa and Sweden’s start-up landscape.

The platform will be company-driven and serve as a meeting point to provide participants with well-organised matchmaking opportunities, company visits and will also support further individual requests.

Cape Town is undoubtedly the tech capital of Africa and is the leading location for technology start-ups and venture capital deals.

Through the City’s Enterprise and Investment Department, the City provides funding to and supports high-growth sectors through our Strategic Business Partners to drive innovation and job creation in the economy’s high growth sectors.

We also fund Cape Innovation and Technology Initiative (CiTi), Africa’s oldest tech incubator, which has turned out more than 2 000 businesses and supported more than 3 000 entrepreneurs since its inception in 1999.

By supporting the industry and creating an enabling environment, the sector employs close to 50 000 residents in Cape Town.

As a City, we will continue to support and invest in high growth sectors that will increase employment opportunities for our residents. This is a caring city, but even more so this is an opportunity city.