Innovation City awards celebrates SA’s best

Innovation City Cape Town recognised the most outstanding individuals and companies making an impact in the business world at its annual awards night last week. The event celebrated the dynamic community of entrepreneurs, investors, and change-makers driving innovation and economic growth in South Africa.

The night was filled with exciting entertainment, featuring a comedy skit by Nik Rabinowitz and musical performances by the Samson Brothers. However, the highlight of the event was the announcement of the winners of the Innovation City awards.

Wamly, South Africa’s largest one-way video interview platform, was named Tech Startup of the Year. Specialising in providing recruitment solutions for high-profile corporates and CEOs, the company was founded by industrial psychologist Francois de Wet. The platform has helped to save time and improve efficiency in the hiring process, a feature that has become increasingly valuable during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Launch Africa Ventures, a leading venture capital firm in Africa, was named VC of the Year. The company has made significant investments in a range of industries, including fintech, healthtech, edtech, and agritech, and plans to continue investing in and supporting innovative start-ups across Africa.

Jody Aufrichtig, a prominent South African entrepreneur, was named Entrepreneur of the Year. Hi latest work on the Amazon Centre in Cape Town has the potential to attract global attention and change the future prospects of the city to become a true global tech mega-star.

Iain Banner, an entrepreneur and leader in the green mobility space, was presented with the Cape Town Impact Award. The award recognised his significant contributions to the city over the past year. His dedication and determination have led to the success of several infrastructure projects in the city, promoting eco-friendly transportation solutions, and reducing carbon emissions.

Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis was awarded the honourary award for his dedication and efforts to make the city a great place to do business. In his acceptance speech, he emphasised the importance of collaboration between government and business in achieving this goal and making Cape Town the best city in Africa.

Stephan Ekbergh, co-founder of Innovation City, expressed his pride in the winners of the awards night, saying, “We’re here to honour the best of the best in the world of entrepreneurship and innovation in Africa. These individuals and companies are changing the game, revolutionizing their industries, and driving economic growth across the continent. We are proud to support them and celebrate their achievements.”

Innovation City MD Michelle Kleu added, “This is just the beginning for us in terms of building a world-class tech ecosystem. It sets a nice tone for where we would like to take our community in the future.”

The Innovation City Awards Night showcased the best and brightest in the entrepreneurship and innovation scene in South Africa. The event highlighted the importance of entrepreneurship and innovation in driving economic growth and change in the country.

• For more information on Innovation City, visit www.innovationcity.co.za.

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