Silicon Cape Initiative
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| Founded | October 8, 2009 |
|---|---|
| Founder |
Vinny Lingham Justin Stanford |
| Type | Business Network |
| Focus | Business networking, venture capital, IT start-up companies |
| Location | |
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Area served
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Western Cape, South Africa |
| Method | Public and government engagement |
|
Members
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c. 7029 |
| Owner | Community Owned |
| Slogan | A Catalyst for Tech in the Cape |
| Website | www.siliconcape.com |
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Formerly called
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N/A |
The Cape Silicon Initiative or Silicon Cape is a regional ICT business networking NPO and community in the Western Cape, South Africa.
The Silicon Cape Initiative is a private sector community movement that was founded by two South African high-tech entrepreneurs, Vinny Lingham and Justin Stanford. Both being entrepreneurs and angel investors in the information and communication technologies start-up sector in South Africa, they observed the unique confluence of circumstances emerging in their home country and in particular in the province of the Western Cape. The name Silicon Cape is based on the technological hub Silicon Valley in the United States San Francisco Bay Area. Whilst the Western Cape cannot be compared directly to Silicon Valley, it does possess some core organic elements which in its infancy, could be likened to that of Silicon Valley, California, USA.
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. 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) and Matthew Buckland (internet entrepreneur, founder of Creative Spark and Memeburn) who was the event's MC. At the launch, The Silicon Cape Foundation non-profit entity was formed by a 10-seat community, and a steering committee was appointed to carry forward the vision of the initiative.
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