Minister Winde Meets With Award-Winning City-Based Start-up | Western Cape Government

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Minister Winde Meets With Award-Winning City-Based Start-up

20 May 2014

Cape Town-based app start-up, Over, has scooped the top prize at an international start-up conference.

Alan Winde, Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, today (19 May 2014) met with Over CEO, Aaron Marshall, and the company’s VP of Engineering, Jonathan Orford.

Over won the title at the U-Start Conference in Milan last week. Since launching in 2012, the app has been downloaded 8 million times.

The photography app allows users to place text and artwork over pictures.

Minister Winde commended the team for their contribution to positioning the Western Cape as an innovation hub.

“This is a great testament to fact that the Western Cape continues to attract international tech entrepreneurs. In addition, we’re home to a talented pool of innovators who are pioneering amazing developments in the ICT arena.

“ICT is one of our priority sectors and it employs 30 000 people in this province and contributes R3 billion to our annual GDP. Through our R1.3 billion broadband plan we are assisting our growing tech sector and ensuring that our residents have the skills they need to take advantage of the opportunities in the industry,” said Minister Winde.

Minister Winde said Over was an excellent advertisement for tech innovation in the Western Cape.

Marshall said the Western Cape was an ideal destination for innovation to flourish.

“It’s a great place to live and it’s a great place to create. There’s so much talent here,” said Marshall.

Media Enquiries: 

Bronwynne Jooste
Spokesperson for Minister Alan Winde
Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism
Tel: 021 483 3550
Cell: 082 454 4365
E-mail: bronwynne.jooste@westerncape.gov.za