Cape Town: Africa’s Gateway to Innovation and Investment
As Africa’s first city to join the Global Startup Cities initiative, Cape Town stands at the crossroads of entrepreneurship, investment, and inclusive growth, proudly convened by UVU Africa. UVU Africa serves as the City of Cape Town’s primary implementation partner for technology and innovation-led economic development.
About Global Startup City Cape Town
Global Startup City Cape Town is a continental ecosystem node within the Global Startup Cities initiative, connecting entrepreneurs, investors, government, and academia to unlock inclusive opportunities for scalable, high-impact ventures. As Africa’s first Global Startup City in the initiative, Cape Town plays a pivotal role in linking local innovation with global markets and networks.
The city’s ecosystem spans biotech, deeptech, digital economy, edtech, and the creative sector, driving skills development, acceleration, and investment pathways that strengthen Africa’s position in the global innovation economy.
Ecosystem Verticals
digital economy
ict
biotech
sustainability tech
edtech
creative economy
Ecosystem Overview
Highlights
Bioeconomy Innovation & Skill Facilities Lab
The first open access biotech lab of its kind in Africa, enabling research, incubation, and entrepreneurship launched by UVU Bio. UVU Bio also develops talent through technical training and workforce readiness at their skills facility.
Creative Economy Hub
A partnership with UNDP Timbuktoo, positioning Cape Town as a continental hub for creative and cultural industries. Offers a co-working space and collaborative ecosystem for creative entrepreneurs.
CAPACITI
A leading talent accelerator, preparing thousands of South Africans annually, for meaningful careers in the digital economy. Operates a flagship facility in Cape Town.
Entrepreneur Training Initiatives
Corporate Talks, Investors Meeting & Tech Sessions
Support for Applications
The innovation hub has supported entrepreneurship through initiatives such as Call Innov-ID (support for applications as an Ignition Partner of Portugal Ventures), Startup Visa and StartUp Voucher (as an incubator accredited by the National Incubator Network (RNI)).
In 2025, the innovation hub plans to start work on setting up a new Centre for the Valorisation and Transfer of Technologies (CVTT), with the aim of filling a market gap in the region and responding to the growing need for laboratory validation of startups.
Success Stories
+ 7M€
Become Part of the Movement Whether you're an investor, entrepreneur, policymaker, or ecosystem enabler, join us in shaping the future of African innovation from Cape Town
