Cape Innovation And Technology (CiTi) Rebrands To UVU Africa
Cape Innovation And Technology (CiTi) Rebrands To UVU Africa. On the 25th of January 2023, at a prestigious event attended by 200 ecosystem partners, government supporters, and funders, the Cape Innovation and Technology (CiTi) rebranded to UVU Africa.
CiTi and the Bandwidth Barn are recognised as Africa’s oldest tech incubator, work with government, academia, business, and society to promote inclusive growth of the digital economy. Established in 1999, the organisation has significantly impacted the growth of the Cape Town and South African technology and entrepreneurship ecosystem. UVU Africa is extending and evolving its work throughout the African continent with the ambition of impacting multiple African countries over the next 20 years.
Joshin Raghubar, Chairman of UVU Africa (formerly known as CiTi) said “UVU Africa will continue to design and build future-fit-inclusive societies through innovation and technology. We drive inclusive growth of the digital economy through business incubation, skills development, and through key projects that catalyse open innovation and collaboration. We build future societies, today, across Africa.”
UVU Africa’s brand vision is to create a powerful modern African brand that reflects the organisations inclusive values while being inspirational, ambitious, and trusted. The brand values are UVU Africa’s foundational beliefs. As part of the brand core, they act as the compass to guide the brand story, actions, and behaviours. UVU Africa is a leader within the digital value chain to create opportunities and build a sustainable and inclusive digital economy. The organisation also launched a new Cape Town innovation hub and a new 250 m2 state of the art biotech laboratory that will continue to support and grow the local Bio economy and technology and innovation ecosystem.
Group CEO of UVU Africa, Ian Merrington said “Our interventions and impact stretch from Khayelitsha to Kigali, and I believe that our new brand now reflects both our current reach, and our aspirations. Participation in the digital economy, by our talented youth, is critical for Africa to be able to unlock its true economic potential. Our programs are designed to accelerate digital inclusion across Africa. Thematic clustering across areas such as Bio technology and Education technology, coupled with digital and entrepreneurial skills building has proven to be a successful formula for accelerating economic growth and enabling greater economic participation, on the continent.”
Recent interventions and impact outcomes for the group speak for themselves, CapaCiTi, the company’s digital skills accelerator has had a positive impact on employment amongst SA youth with over 5 000 job opportunities created in ICT and Digital Skills over the last 4 years. In a few short years, Injini is already working across 10 African countries, 16 different country ecosystems, and recognised as the Edtech Incubator for Africa. The company has run 413 EdTech programmatic interventions and reached over 2 800 EdTech entrepreneurs through ecosystem events and mentorships.
Its Township and informal economy programs have impacted over 1 000 township entrepreneurs and informal traders. The company’s recent on-the-ground specialized East Africa entrepreneurial support intervention has accelerated over 60 selected Rwandan and Kenyan entrepreneurs and founders. The specialized Woman in Business program has enabled 2 500 women to compete in the digital economy over the last few years. “The launch of our new East Africa office in Kigali Rwanda enables us to strengthen and build on our partnerships and collaborations across Africa and I have no doubt that UVU Africa will be at the center of Africa’s digital economic growth!” says Merrington.
Alderman James Vos, the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth says “The metro has earned the reputation of being a continental tech capital because of the City government’s partnerships with high growth industry organisations such as UVU Africa which has supported thousands of local entrepreneurs and young Capetonians looking to get a foot in the digital door. We are so proud to see that UVU Africa, initiated and started in Cape Town, delivering impact as a partner to the CoCT for more than 23 years is now one of our proudest exports to Africa.”
“The work CiTi does is making a tangible difference in the lives of people. Tech literacy and skills development are crucial avenues to improving your own standards of living. By expanding access to this powerful knowledge, especially underprivileged residents, CiTi is also expanding access to opportunity. I want to congratulate CiTi on their rebrand to UVU Africa, and hope that they will keep on building and expanding on the great work they are doing.” Says Cayla Murray, Chairperson of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament’s Standing Committee on Finance, Economic Opportunities, and Tourism.
