Western Cape Technology & Innovation Ecosystem-Builders Support Programme
Overview
The Growth for Jobs economic strategy has identified technology and innovation as priority focus areas to stimulate growth and drive the development of the Western Cape economy. Our ambition is to become Africa’s tech capital globally competitive, job-absorbing, and attractive to investment.
A strong and growing Western Cape tech and innovation ecosystem including venture capital is critical to achieving our economic goals for the province. Over the coming year, DEDAT aims to support the local tech sector by strengthening the ecosystem through:
- Building and empowering local tech and innovation ecosystem enablers;
- Strengthening and expanding linkages between technology and business to improve product development, market access, and supply chains;
- Convening thought leadership to enhance the competitiveness of tech sub-sectors and niches, and to address structural and regulatory barriers;
- Supporting excellence in innovation, commercialisation, and business acumen, while capitalising on the region’s tech start-up culture through partnerships. This includes initiatives with founders, expanding mentoring opportunities, and opening avenues to attract funding for tech entrepreneurs.
The department will kick off support for the tech ecosystem through our Western Cape Technology & Innovation Ecosystem-Builders Support Programme.
Why ecosystem-enablement?
Our department recognises that ecosystem-builders play a pivotal role in fostering a culture of innovation and risk-taking, which is essential for the growth of knowledge-intensive industries.
By providing a supportive environment, ecosystem-builders allow entrepreneurs to experiment, learn from their mistakes, and collaborate with other stakeholders and enablers. Ecosystem-builders contribute to creating the conditions that are necessary to thrive.
Moreover, ecosystem-builders are essential players in creating an environment where tech & innovation businesses grow, learn, and connect with each other. They are crucial for building and supporting the tech startup community and providing the resources and support that entrepreneurs need to succeed.
The following 13 organisations form the inaugural group of ecosystem-builders on the DEDAT Tech Ecosystem-Builders support programme
22onSloane
22 on Sloane is the largest startup campus and entrepreneurship hub in Africa. The campus offers startups and innovation SMMEs a complete turnkey solution to scale, fron the initial idea to commercialisation, funding opportunities and access to markets. Click here to read more about 22 on Sloane.
AfricaArise
AfricArise is a virtual Pan African startup investor network platform that connects startups and investors. Their core business activities centre on three interconnected pillars: startup go-to-market acceleration, internationalisation support, and investor facilitation. Click here to read more about Africa Arise.
Africa Games Week
Africa Games Week’s mission is to connect, showcase, and grow Africa’s game industry by bringing together talent, studios, investors, publishers, and partners to create sustainable businesses and globally competitive IP. Click here to read more about Africa Games Week.
AI Media
AI Media specializes in providing Insights, Advisory & Events for AI & Smart Tech Practitioners in Africa.
Click here to read more about AI Media.
Co.lab
Co.lab is an ecosystem-building organisation that strengthens the Western Cape’s Technology and Applied AI economy by supporting founders, SMEs and industry through four integrated platforms (Founder Wellbeing & Community Building, Founder Visibility & Capital Connectivity, Applied AI Adoption & Venture Enablement and Sector Innovation in AgriTech & ClimateTech.
Click here to read more about Co.Lab.
FSATLabs
The French South African Tech Labs is an early stage business incubator helping digital startup founders move from concept to customer. Their offerings include invaluable digital skills training, entrepreneurship mentoring, coaching, as well as software development and research services tailored for both corporate and tech startups. Click here to read more about French South African Tech Labs.
LaunchLab
Stellenbosch University LaunchLab is Africa’s leading University Business Incubator supporting the Stellenbosch University entrepreneurial community to grow impactful, sustainable, and profitable businesses, and curates access to market and funding opportunities. Click here to read more about Launch Lab
OneBio Innovation Centre
OneBio partners with biotech entrepreneurs, providing investment capital and support to venture build the companies of the future. Click here to read more about OneBio.
Savant Analytic
Savant Analytic partners with investors, funders, and corporates to evaluate, fund, and scale deep tech and hardware startups. They provide due diligence, technical assessments, and strategic advisory services to navigate early-stage venture complexities.
Click here to read more about Savant Analytic.
Startup Club ZA
Startup Club ZA is South Africa's largest independent tech founder and investor network. It connects, resources, and showcases local tech startups to help them grow locally and compete globally by bridging gaps in visibility, talent access, and networking. Click here to read more about Startup Club ZA.
Stellenbosch Network
Stellenbosch Network facilitates in positioning the Stellenbosch region internationally as an inclusive and inter-connected innovation hub and knowledge region economy. Click here to read more about Stellenbosch Network.
The Craft & Design Institute
The Craft & Design Institute is a catalytic agent of change in South Africa, and passionate about developing appropriately skilled and resourced craft and design practitioners who can successfully grow their businesses.
Click here to read more about The Craft & Design Institute.
Viridian
Viridian works with partners to support the development of economic ecosystems by designing and delivering programmes for finance-ready entrepreneurs, early-stage investors and entrepreneur support organisations across Africa. Click here to read more about Viridian.
About the Western Cape Technology & Innovation Ecosystem-Builders Support Programme
DEDAT provided funding specifically to support technology ecosystem builders based in the Western Cape up to R1,000,000 (one million rand) per annum for a period of three (3) years.
A Call-for-Proposals was issued to intermediaries to support technology sector ecosystem enablement initiatives.
Important Note: DEDAT adopted a thematic approach to ecosystem enablement, meaning that it did not focus on a broad or generic technology ecosystem approach. Instead, it focused on specific technology sub-sectors, whether technology domains (e.g. Artificial Intelligence, Deeptech, Cybersecurity, Drones/UAVs, Robotics, etc.) or technology-sector verticals (e.g. Fintech, Venture Capital, Agri-tech, Climate-tech, eCommerce, Aerospace, Manufacturing-tech, etc.).
The proposals were required to address the following features:
- Intermediary organisations were required to demonstrate that they had the existing internal resources and capabilities to support a minimum of 40 technology and innovation businesses annually through events, initiatives, programmes, or projects.
- Applicants were required to propose methods to improve competitiveness through ecosystem enablement within the specific technology sub-sector in the Western Cape and explain how programmes would be delivered through coordinated platforms.
- Intermediary organisations had to demonstrate a sound understanding of the landscape, including the challenges and opportunities facing the specific local technology sub-sector for which they applied.
- Applicants were required to indicate clear alignment with the Growth for Jobs (G4J) Strategy, particularly the Technology and Innovation Priority Focus Area.
- Proposed programmes were required to include clear and measurable outputs, as well as mechanisms to track, monitor, and evaluate impact.
- Organisations applying to the fund were required to demonstrate access to a strong network of collaborative partners across the private and public sectors. They also needed to show access to internal stakeholders who could facilitate knowledge sharing, critical skills development, business networking, market access, and capital-raising opportunities both nationally and internationally. Only established organisations were considered.
- The funding was intended specifically to enhance and expand existing programmes that supported technology and innovation ecosystem development. DEDAT funding could not be used as the primary source of funding for an organisation. Applicants were therefore required to demonstrate that they were financially sustainable, operationally active, and not dependent on the programme for their continued existence.
The programme fund was subject to budget availability. Although it remained an open fund, applicants were encouraged to submit funding applications as early as possible. Applications received were evaluated on a monthly basis, or as required, against the established evaluation criteria.
The department has temporarily suspended applications for this initiative as we have exhausted our funding allocation. Formal notification will be made regarding its re-opening at a later stage
Who to contact
For further information on the programme, kindly email dedat.broadband@westerncape.gov.za and olivia.dyers@westerncape.gov.za