How can cities reignite their creative and cultural industries?

Tech City Ventures

“The creative industries are critical to the sustainable development agenda. They stimulate innovation and diversification, are an important factor in the burgeoning services sector, support entrepreneurship, and contribute to cultural diversity,” says Isabelle Durant, Deputy Secretary-General at UNCTAD.

Cultural and creative industries are instrumental in mediating global digital transformation, driving inward investment and enriching the lives of individuals and communities.

Without these industries, cultural, economic development, equality and poverty alleviation SDG’s targets are unlikely to be met.

Last November, the UN declared 2021 the “International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development”.

Cities in focus – Cape Town

Tech City Ventures

As populations grow, cities across Africa are increasingly implementing tech and data-driven solutions to tackle urban development and sustainability challenges.

For a while now, smart cities have been seen as a solution to addressing urban challenges and bridging digital divides across Africa.

Throughout the past decade, we have seen a certain ease of implementing newer technologies across Africa as cities often do not face challenges and costs associated with maintaining legacy technologies. Impactful tech solutions are currently being developed and scaled quickly and efficiently.

Cities in focus – Nairobi

Tech City Ventures

By 2050, the number of people living in cities will increase by 2.5 billion. Almost 90% of those people will live in either Africa or Asia.

Today, Cairo, Lagos and Kinshasa already have populations well over 10 million, making them mega-cities. Other cities like Johannesburg and Nairobi are following suit.

Most of Africa’s urbanisation, however, will happen in medium-sized cities.

The rapid rate of urbanisation presents a unique moment for African cities. If managed well, these cities could be cradles of innovation and opportunities; however, if not, they may face long term development challenges.

Miami 2.0 in the making

Tech City Ventures

“How can I help?”, this was Mayor Suarez’s response to a tweet suggesting Silicon Valley moves to Miami. Miami’s tech ecosystem had been already steadily growing over the last 15 years; the tweet just attracted the attention the city needed.

Mayor Suarez has been proactively promoting Miami as the next central tech hub. His politics are focused on developing an entrepreneurial, innovative and nurturing business ecosystem. Suarez believes that people looking to create great companies and thriving communities want two things – to feel welcome and not pay much tax. He is not only talking the talk; he is walking it.