Thousands of attendees from across the globe descended on Cape Town, South Africa, for the annual Africa Tech Festival.
Now in its 27th year, this year marked a record-breaking turnout, with over 15,000 attendees, 5,500 exhibitors, and 450 speakers from more than 100 countries.
This three-day tech celebration at Cape Town International Convention Center was buzzing with innovation, energy, excitement, and action. Global leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and tech enthusiasts came together from November 12th to the 14th to discuss the future of tech and innovation on the continent.
Speakers at Africa Tech Festival held at Cape Town International Convention Center, 12-14 November 2024(photo credit: Greg Lumley)
Africa Tech Fest: Africa’s Largest & Most Influential Tech Event
The festival hosted five key events, including AfricaCom, AfricaTech, and the inaugural AI Summit Cape Town. Each of these spotlighted the tech sector’s growth across industries. Lively Panels, workshops, and fireside chats focused on new technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and their impact across telecom, healthcare, financial services, government, and beyond. The lively discussions covered everything from connectivity infrastructure and AI to venture capital, diversity, and gender equity.
“Africa Tech Fest is all about making connections,” said one business exhibitor. “It takes the Africa Tech Fest in Cape Town to introduce businesses from the same area to each other.” For nearly three decades, this festival has been the go-to event for those in tech, telecom, and digital services, providing an unmatched platform for networking, collaborations, and partnerships.
Hot Topics: Connectivity and Digital Access for the AI Era
Connectivity was a major focus of the festival. While Africa’s tech boom is rapidly underway, rural and remote areas still face high data costs that limit digital access. South Africa, for instance, ranked 136th out of 148 countries in mobile data affordability in 2021, according to the Alliance for Affordable Internet.
The South African Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, emphasized the urgent need for collaboration across government and private sectors to make inclusive ICT solutions possible. He also emphasized how the digital divide affects economic inclusion. Research indicates that every 10% increase in broadband access can boost GDP by up to 1.38%. The festival’s exhibitors also showcased cutting-edge connectivity solutions. MBV-T, a Black, female-owned broadband provider, is tackling accessibility by offering affordable internet ranging from $17 to $100 per month in hard-to-reach areas. Meanwhile, government-owned Sentech presented FreeVision, a globally accessible free streaming platform containing African content.
The strong call for collaboration across governments, private operators, NGOs, universities, and tech vendors to ready Africa for the AI-driven future was echoed several times. Inclusive ICT requires a concerted effort to harmonize standards, foster local talent, and lobby for sustainable policies.
From equipment manufacturers and cloud providers to startups and content creators, all players have a role in transforming industries and creating agile, efficient, and sustainable ecosystems. Solly Malatsi emphasized the need to address the digital divide, particularly as Africa prepares for an AI-enabled economy.
Addressing The Gender Gap In Venture Capital
With collaboration at the heart of the festival, there was a need to address inclusiveness. The panel “Empowering Female Founders: Narrowing the Gender Gap in Venture Capital,” tackled one of Africa’s critical funding challenges. Despite significant strides, only 7% of all venture capital in 2023 went to female-led startups in Africa. Ayanda Siboto, the partnership lead at ABAN, captured the session’s spirit, saying, “Diverse teams drive diverse deployment.” The discussion underscored that Africa’s VC ecosystem must prioritize inclusivity to close this gap. This can be done by expanding networks, mentorship, and pushing back on stereotypes.
For African women, particularly Black female founders, limited access to mentorship and funding networks remains a barrier. With only 13% of female leaders in venture capital, speakers voiced the importance of systemic change, not simply appointing female VCs but fostering an inclusive VC landscape and pipeline. As speakers urged, celebrating successful women in tech could help shift attitudes and inspire the next wave of female entrepreneurs.
A Platform for Global Players
The Africa Tech Festival is an ideal entry point for companies looking to break into African markets. Attendees worldwide came to understand Africa’s unique tech needs, connect with local innovators, and explore opportunities in one of the fastest-growing tech ecosystems. As the event wrapped up, it was clear that Africa was ready to shape the global tech conversation.UrbanGeekz’s Gugulethu Nxumalo on the ground reporting at Africa Tech Festival.
UrbanGeekz covered this year’s Africa Tech Festival in our newsletter, and you won’t want to miss our in-depth recap. Be sure to subscribe for more exclusive updates on events like this. You can also catch our festival highlights on social media. We’ve shared reels of the bustling atmosphere, dynamic panels, and groundbreaking exhibits that made this year’s festival unforgettable.
