Silicon Cape Initiative
Founded | October 8, 2009 |
---|---|
Founder | Vinny Lingham Justin Stanford |
Type | Business Network |
Focus | Business networking, venture capital, IT start-up companies |
Location | |
Area served | Western Cape, South Africa |
Method | Public and government engagement |
Members | c. 7029 |
Owner | Community Owned |
Website | www.siliconcape.com |
Formerly called | N/A |
The Cape Silicon Initiative or Silicon Cape is a regional
.Background and launch
The Silicon Cape Initiative is a private sector community movement that was founded by two South African high-tech entrepreneurs,
Silicon Cape as a concept was officially launched to the public on October 8, 2009. Attendance at the event was greater than anticipated and a new, larger venue had to be sourced. At the event there were representatives from schools, universities, start-ups, big business, local and national government, NGOs, and the venture capital industry.[1] Over a third of the audience was expected to be young IT entrepreneurs. The launch was circulated through social media platforms Facebook and Twitter. Speakers included Dr. Johann Rupert (chairman of luxury goods company Richemont), Dr. Mamphela Ramphele (chairperson of the Technology Innovation Agency), Helen Zille (premier of the Western Cape)[1][3] and Matthew Buckland (internet entrepreneur, founder of Creative Spark and Memeburn) who was the event's MC.[4][5] At the launch, The Silicon Cape Foundation non-profit entity was formed by a 10-seat community.[1]
Structure
Silicon Cape is overseen by a 12-person steering committee.[6]
The Silicon Cape Initiative
The vision of the Silicon Cape is to be an organic ecosystem that functions in the Western Cape of South Africa. Its goal is to look to attract top technical talent and entrepreneurs to the Western Cape and to assist these parties in creating "world class" IP start-up companies in an environment that competes with other similar hubs around the world.[7] Its ultimate goal is to help foster a high-technology district in the Western Cape.
The concept of the Silicon Cape is not owned or controlled by any single entity, and is a living concept of its participants.[7] Any person globally is able to take advantage of the Silicon Cape network through the social networking platform of Silicon Cape.
ICT Ideas and Entrepreneurs
Silicon Cape aims at assisting people with ICT ideas and entrepreneurs to avoid the many pitfalls associated with ICT start-ups in South Africa. Entrepreneurs in South Africa face many obstacles including access to finance, punishment for previous failure, lack of global experience, no liquidity events and others.
Success
The Silicon Cape Initiative was very well received by the local community.[3] Although there was no marketing budget or spend (the initiative was driven by word of mouth), the Silicon Cape received a large amount of press release from South Africa’s leading online publications.[10][11][12] The following statistics were reported by 6 April 2010:
- 560 conversations discussing Silicon Cape
- Brand momentum: 43.077 mentions a day
- Most discussion was on Twitter (91%)
- 97.297% of conversation positive
- 557 175 opportunities to be seen (OTS)[13]
In March 2011,
Silicon Cape was an instrumental tool used for the establishment of a
The initiative's first long-term partnership was secured in October 2014, when it was announced that they would be receiving an annual donation of R1 million for three years from First National Bank.[16]
Silicon Cape was named Runner Up in South African Blog Awards 2016[17]
Criticisms and challenges
Advocates of Silicon Cape have argued that in order to attract investors to the Western Cape, local and national government should create a
At the launch of Silicon Cape, Johann Rupert stated, "we need a financial centre in the Western Cape and an IT centre that is tax neutral, where intellectual property is protected, and the Cape will flourish.".[18] He emphasised the value of intellectual property given that the Western Cape does not have any raw resources which it can export. He further noted on the greater economy of South Africa, "we cannot survive if we rely on the export of raw materials. In the future, countries that are not net exporters of intellectual capital will not survive."[19]
The imposition of
Other challenges include a perceived lack of skills in South Africa, a lack of large anchor corporates that provide management training, a lack of professional services firms available and affordable for the start-up market and lack of capital structures through angel funding networks.[3]
South Africa, and the Western Cape may struggle as a region in driving to the Silicon Cape Initiative due to “profitable patriotism”[21]
Other regions of South Africa such as Gauteng have felt isolated from the Silicon Cape Initiative which has focused on the Western Cape as a region.[22]
See also
- Western Cape
- Silicon Valley
- Nona Creative
References
- ^ a b c d e "Background & Launch". Silicon Cape. 2009-10-21. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
- ^ http://sarocks.co.za/2009/10/14/silicon-cape-is-rocking-south-africa/ Accessed August 2010
- ^ a b c d Vegter, Ivo (2009-10-09). "Silicon Cape creates real 'buzz'". ITWeb Technology News. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
- ^ "Launch Materials & Media". Silicon Cape. 2009-10-21. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
- ^ Buckland, Matthew (2009-10-08). "Opening speech @ #SiliconCape | Matthew Buckland". matthewbuckland.com. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
- ^ Carew, Joanne (2012-10-15). "Silicon Cape appoints new chairperson". ITWeb Technology News. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
- ^ a b "Vision & Objectives". Silicon Cape. 2009-10-21. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
- ^ "The Silicon Cape | Vinny Lingham's Blog". Archived from the original on 2010-10-19. Retrieved 2010-08-22. Accessed August 2010
- ^ https://twitter.com/SeacomLive/status/3424615050 Accessed August 2010
- ^ http://www.fin24.com/Business/Silicon-Cape-sees-light-of-day-20091008 Accessed August 2010
- ^ http://www.moneyweb.co.za/mw/view/mw/en/page292681?oid=493585&sn=2009+Detail Accessed August 2010
- ^ "Tech Leader » Reader Blog » the Silicon Cape". Archived from the original on 2012-09-11. Retrieved 2010-08-22. Accessed 2010
- ^ http://www.slideshare.net/BrandsEye/silicon-cape-event-2 Accessed August 2010
- ^ "Google launches local tech incubator initiative". Retrieved 30 March 2011.
- ^ http://www.justinstanford.com/2010/03/sa-gets-its-first-crowd-funded-angel-network/ Accessed August 2010
- ^ Carew, Joanne (2014-10-15). "FNB backs Silicon Cape". ITWeb Technology News. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
- ^ http://www.sablogawards.com/Results-2016.aspx SA Blog Awards
- ^ "Make W Cape tax free - Rupert". Retrieved 30 March 2011.
- ^ a b "Cape Town could become South Africa's Silicon Valley". Times Live. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
- ^ "Ground-Breaking Decision for South African Intellectual Property". Retrieved 30 March 2011.
- ^ https://techcrunch.com/2010/05/18/building-silicon-cape-how-much-of-a-difference-can-one-guy-make/ Accessed August 2010
- ^ http://badentrepreneur.bundublog.com/2010/02/22/silicon-cape-is-coming-to-gauteng/ Accessed August 2010