Silicon Cape Initiative Launch

Promising Entrepreneurs, Great Ideas, World Class Talent, Investors, Great Place to Live = The Silicon Cape

When Justin Stanford and Vinny Lingham spent a few weeks together in Silicon Valley in early 2009, they quickly realised that tjey shared a passion for the idea that the Cape in South Africa had the potential to become the Silicon Valley of Africa.

This led to many a late night discussion filled with enthusiasm and ideas, and ultimately the birth of this movement.

They loved the term Silicon Cape, which Vinny and others had already started to popularise, so it seemed a natural fit for a global brand for the concept.

Both being investors and entrepreneurs in the area, they were both aware of an increasing number of tech startups emerging and of an increasing number of people who were already working in the Silicon Cape and were passionate about it.

The concept of the Silicon Cape is not owned or controlled by any single entity. It is a living community and an organic, ever-developing concept in the hearts and minds of every participant, which endeavours to catalyse the local IP entrepreneurial community. As a community member, come and be a part of the genesis of turning the Silicon Cape into reality.

The Aim of the Silicon Cape Initiative Launch is to catalyse widespread conversation around the concept online and offline, build a global brand, and to establish a working group of volunteers and donors to take the vision forward and see it through to reality, garnering support from all sectors and stakeholders and ultimately establishing a foundation. The event is due to be attended and addressed by the Premier of the Western Cape, Helen Zille.

The initiative aims to start a conversation -- to plant a seed and foster the concept of the Silicon Cape in people’s minds and on their lips around the world as the emerging Silicon Valley of Africa, and to create an environment and a perception of the area as a world-class location and destination that is not only capable of delivering, but already is.

This will in turn, create real benefits for the Cape and its residents and stakeholders, and assist in attracting further foreign direct investment into South Africa.

For more information as well as registration please visit the www.siliconcape.com

Please Note: Due to very high demand, they are investigating increasing capacity to try and accommodate as many attendees as possible. Please register your interest in attending as they have limited seats and will be closing the attendance register soon.

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