Why Cape Town?

As one of Africa’s most vibrant and forward-looking cities, Cape Town stands at the forefront of the continent’s entrepreneurial revolution. Its growing influence as a Startup powerhouse makes it the ideal host city for GEC+Africa 2026.

South Africa has made significant progress in addressing structural economic challenges, paving the way for a new generation of innovative and resilient entrepreneurs. This momentum is especially evident in Cape Town, which has become a dynamic hub for innovation, investment, and global collaboration.

According to the Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2024 (GSER 2024), Cape Town ranks among the Top 100 Emerging Ecosystems globally, reflecting its thriving Startup culture and robust talent pipeline. The city holds the third-highest ecosystem value in Sub-Saharan Africa, estimated at $3 billion, with Johannesburg following closely.

Cape Town is also home to nearly 60% of South Africa’s Startups and consistently ranks first in the country for economic potential, business friendliness, and Startup activity (2023 Global Startup Index). These strengths, combined with world-class infrastructure and a growing network of accelerators, incubators, and investors, make it a magnet for entrepreneurs from across the continent and beyond. Beyond its thriving Startup scene, Cape Town and the Western Cape are home to one of South Africa’s most dynamic MSME ecosystems. The number of small businesses has grown from 330,000 in 2023 to over 404,000 in 2025. Between 2019 and 2025, the province generated 360,347 net jobs, an impressive 89% of South Africa’s total net job growth, despite representing only 12% of the population.

This remarkable performance underscores the region’s ability to drive labour market resilience, economic inclusion, and sustainable employment. With a strong GDP contribution, a supportive policy environment, and a culture of innovation, Cape Town offers not only a stunning backdrop but also a strategic platform for GEC+Africa 2026 where thought leaders, changemakers, and stakeholders will come together to shape the future of African entrepreneurship.