Wesgro

Wesgro recently partnered with the VC Unconference and AfricArena Grand Summit to strategically position Cape Town and the Western Cape as a prime destination for investment. The VC Unconference provided a dynamic platform for start-up funders to exchange ideas, share innovations, and address common challenges. Its overarching goal is to refine and strengthen the investment process across the continent.  Meanwhile, the AfricArena Grand Summit brought together over 50 start-ups from its regional events, spanning Seed to Growth stages. Convening start-ups, investors and policy makers in this way helps to unlock investment opportunities. In addition to showcasing Wesgro’s role in promoting and facilitating investment into the region, we moderated a panel discussion on the State of Tech in Africa. One key discussion point was how to increase corporate investment into the start-up ecosystem. Edu Invest, powered by Wesgro, also participated in a panel discussion on impact investment for start-ups. Investors on the panel highlighted their focus on making sustainable, long-term investments with a multiplier effect. Through showcasing the region as Africa’s premier technology hub, Wesgro is working hard to strengthen the innovation ecosystem, and ultimately enhance the province's global competitiveness. #AfricasTechCapital #CapeConfidence #EduInvest AfricArena Wrenelle Stander JP van der Merwe Azra Fredericks Wendy Viljoen

#ICYMI To strengthen economic ties between the Western Cape and the European Union (EU), Wesgro hosted an informative session focused on expanding trade between the regions.  The EU remains a key market for the Western Cape, offering lucrative opportunities for regional exporters. In 2023 alone, exports to the EU totalled R37.57 billion. The event featured a panel discussion on EU-Western Cape trade relations, with guests such as Tanja Werheit, Consul General of Germany; Marika Jakas, Head of Trade at the EU to South Africa; and Jesus Silva, Consul General of Spain in Cape Town. Key industry leaders, including Mary-Clare Tomes, co-founder of HopYacht (Pty) Ltd, and Nassos Martalas Managing Director of Langeberg & Ashton, a division of Tiger Brands, shared their insights on exporting to the EU. Furthermore, exporters were able to also share their experience, of exporting to the EU and strengthening relations for stronger economic ties with member states. #Exports #CapeConfidence #EU Wrenelle Stander Tanja Werheit Krishen George CA (SA) Gcina Nomsa Dlamini Erica Joubert

Wesgro welcomes the BRICS Youth Innovation Summit 2025 to Cape Town! This prestigious event is a platform for young innovators to connect, collaborate, and create solutions to global challenges. Taking place in the heart of Cape Town, this summit highlights opportunities for innovation and investment, positioning the region as a hub for tech-inspired innovation and economic growth. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity, see application details below ⬇️

📢 Calling all Cape-based export businesses! Kick-start 2025 by boosting your global competitiveness in the export market! Join Wesgro's virtual Export Advancement Programme, designed exclusively for Western Cape-based businesses, from 13–22 January 2025. This free 5-part series, delivered over 7 sessions, will cover key topics like export trade fundamentals, financial risk management, and logistics—equipping you with the tools to navigate international trade with confidence. 🗓️ 13 – 22 January 2025 🕘 Time: 09:00 - 13:00 📍 Virtual, via Zoom For more information, and to secure your spot visit: https://t.ly/UZUWh before 2 January 2025 as spaces are limited. #Wesgro #Trade #Exports #Investment #WesternCape #MadeInTheCape #CapeConfidence Wrenelle Stander Dr Ivan Meyer Krishen George CA (SA) Nadine Smith-Clarke Nomandla Mene Ayathandwa Makana

𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐥 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞'𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 Edu Invest, powered by Wesgro, in partnership with the Western Cape Education Department, celebrated the start of construction of Christel House South Africa's high school on its premises in Ottery. Attended by Western Cape Minister of Education, David Maynier, Christel House’s South African Board, school leadership, teachers, and learners, this sod-turning event demonstrated the importance of collaboration in delivering quality education in the province. This expansion will increase Christel House’s capacity by 300 learners, providing more learners with the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty through quality, zero-fee education. Minister David Maynier commended the leadership of Christel House for this milestone and reaffirmed the department's commitment to supporting Christel House’s mission to transform the lives of more children in the region through access to quality education. Christel House's dedication to guiding learners from early learning to career is inspiring. The 60 Grade 8 learners, selected from 50 neighbouring schools, have already begun their journey through a two-week programme designed to set them up for success. We are incredibly proud to support this initiative and witness the power of public-private partnerships in action. #EduInvest #InvestInEducation #PublicPrivatePartnership #FutureOfEducation #WesternCapeEducation Wrenelle Stander Wendy Viljoen Christel House South Africa Western Cape Government

Wesgro hosted the Cape Town leg of the Atlanta Phambili delegation yesterday, reinforcing efforts to boost economic collaboration and strengthen ties between South Africa and the U.S—a key trading partner and the world’s largest economy. Distinguished guests included U.S. Ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety, II, Mayor of Atlanta Andre Dickens, James Vos Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, Minister Tertuis Alfred Simmers , Acting Deputy Director-General Ilse van Schalkwyk, U.S. Consul General Allison Areias, who delivered the closing remarks, and Prosper Africa's Managing Director, Lisa Walker. Atlanta Phambili is a strategic initiative designed to deepen bilateral relations between the U.S. and South Africa by leveraging institutional partnerships and diaspora connections. It aims to foster collaboration in key sectors such as agri-processing, automotive manufacturing, boat building, green energy, and more. The Atlanta Phambili delegation explored investment prospects in the green economy, agricultural exports, advanced manufacturing, and creative industries. The U.S remains a priority market for South Africa and the Western Cape. In 2023, Western Cape exports to the U.S. reached R15.80 billion, spanning technology, manufacturing, and agriculture. #AtlantaPhambili #Exports #CapeConfidence #MadeInTheCape Wrenelle Stander Reuben Brigety, II Andre Dickens James Vos Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth Tertuis Alfred Simmers Allison Areias Ilse van Schalkwyk Jean Scheltema JP van der Merwe Melonie Grunewald Brandon Jenniker the dti (Department of Trade and Industry: Republic of South Africa) Brand South Africa U.S. Embassy South Africa Prosper Africa

Wesgro had the honour of hosting the World Customs Organization (WCO) Policy Commission Dinner ahead of the commission’s meetings that took place in the city last week.   The WCO, an intergovernmental organisation overseeing approximately 98% of global trade, plays a vital role in shaping international commerce. Dignitaries in attendance included WCO Secretary General, Ian Saunders, WCO chairman and SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter, and Deputy Finance Minister, Ashor Sarupen.   In her welcome speech, Wesgro CEO Wrenelle Stander spoke about the changing international landscape and the importance of collaboration, innovation and resilience. Stander also outlined Wesgro's approach to trade in this changing environment. Wesgro is: ▪️ Attracting and facilitating new investment into export priority sectors ▪️ Leveraging technology to connect exporters with buyers via the Cape Trade Portal ▪️ Diversifying export markets to access new growth opportunities ▪️ Providing advocacy and advisory support to unlock systemic trade barriers ▪️ Strengthening strategic partnerships to expand support and opportunities for businesses in our province   #Exports #CapeConfidence Wrenelle Stander Ed Kieswetter Ashor Sarupen Sandiso Gcwabe CA(SA) Razaan Bester CA(SA) Erica Joubert Monika Iuel Gadijah Darries (خديجة) Karen Bosman Fiona Lunda Adrienne Golden World Customs Organization

𝗘𝗱𝘂 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁, 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝗴𝗿𝗼, 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗞 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 Edu Invest, powered by Wesgro, is committed to attracting investment into the Western Cape’s education sector, with a focus on developing new schools. In line with this mission, we were proud to participate in the recent sod-turning ceremony for SPARK Schools' Eerste River campus expansion.   Currently serving 728 learners, the Eerste River campus will transition from temporary units to a state-of-the-art facility, enhancing quality education in the region. Highlighting the importance of this development amidst departmental constraints, Western Cape Education Minister David Maynier stated: “As the demand for quality education continues to grow across the Western Cape, initiatives like SPARK Schools’ expansion are vital in ensuring every learner has access to the best possible opportunities.” Click here to read more: https://lnkd.in/dUWAD2mE   #EduInvest #SPARKSchools #QualityEducation Wrenelle Stander Wendy Viljoen SPARK Schools Western Cape Government

#ICYMI Africa Tech Highlights: Showcasing Cape Town and the Western Cape as Africa's Tech Capital Wesgro recently represented Cape Town and the Western Cape at the Africa Tech Festival, showcasing the region as Africa’s premier technology hub. Key Takeaways included: ▪️ Empowering Women in Tech: Wesgro led a key discussion on accelerating growth in the tech sector, with a particular focus on addressing the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs and founders across Africa. ▪️ Tourism and Conferences as Economic Catalysts: In an embassy session, Wesgro highlighted how events like the Africa Tech Festival stimulate local ecosystems. ▪️ Fostering Investor Confidence: At an Investor Confidence panel, Wesgro emphasised the need for data-driven and agile investment strategies. This included the importance of early-stage capital. ▪️ Global Partnerships: Wesgro hosted a delegation from Thuringia, Germany, to present investment opportunities and explore stronger economic ties, with input from Anja Tambusso-Ferraz of the German Chamber of Commerce in South Africa, and a Canadian delegation which was briefed on the region's potential for investment and exports. For more, click here: https://lnkd.in/d_tHqtMy #AfricasTechCapital #Innovation #AfricaTechFest2024 Wrenelle Stander James Vos Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth Tim Parle Olivia Dyers JP van der Merwe Azra Fredericks Mary Wamaitha Karen Bosman UVU Africa City of Cape Town Department of economic development and tourism

#𝗔𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗦𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 With a focus on increasing Venture Capital flows into Cape Town and the Western Cape, Wesgro was proud to collaborate with the Africa Early Stage Investment Summit and 22 ON SLOANE for the #AESIS2024 Investor Ecosystem Networking Engagement. This event brought together investors and showcased high-potential investment opportunities. Some of the insights shared during the engagement included: ▪️ The Africa Early Stage Investment Summit is helping to build a community with a focus on unlocking more early-stage investment into the African continent. ▪️ The City of Cape Town is making it easier to do business in the City, while building partnerships to unlock investment. ▪️ The Western Cape has an established innovation ecosystem, with access to talent, a strong university network and success stories across many sectors. To facilitate this ecosystem’s growth, there needs to be a strategic focus on increasing VC flows and creating an enabling policy environment for start-ups. ▪️ Briter Bridges data shows South Africa’s ecosystem has been resilient over the last two years. It also demonstrated that the Western Cape has a diverse funding landscape, attracting investment into sectors such as FinTech, Health and BioTech, AgriTech, Gaming, E-commerce and Logistics, amongst others. Vincent Hoogduijn James Vos Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth David Saunders Zinhle Mncube 22 ON SLOANE