Emerging African Cities Showcasing Strong Potential as Centers of Talent Development
Cape Town, South Africa is carving out a niche as a high-skilled innovation center, with startups like Aerobotics and Yoko Scaling leading the way. The city is not alone in its digital transformation, as Casablanca, Morocco is also making strides in tech and green finance, with startups such as Chari and WafR scaling out of Morocco and into Francophone Africa.
Casablanca is preparing for growth, with plans to expand its airports and aiming to double passenger traffic by 2029. This expansion is expected to create a ripple effect, boosting the city's tech sector and attracting more investment.
Harare, Zimbabwe is positioning itself as a technology and agriculture powerhouse, with a 25% increase in tech-capable SMEs in 2024, particularly in digital payments and e-learning. Local incubators like Impact Hub and TechVillage are playing a crucial role in nurturing young entrepreneurs and helping them navigate funding and export markets.
Midrand, near Johannesburg and Pretoria, is a commercial bridge with a high number of technical vacancies. It hosts large enterprise operations and is home to the African headquarters of Huawei, Vodacom, and Neotel, with tech campuses, data centers, and logistics depots expanding to meet the growing demand.
Johannesburg is investing heavily in logistics and AI infrastructure, apart from fintech. The city's mobile money ecosystem connects branches in paytech, insuretech, and AI finance platforms, with companies like Twiga Foods and Wasoko expanding logistics. Major banks are also running accelerator programs, providing significant funding and mentorship.
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania is expected to produce more than 50,000 skilled jobs by 2026 due to investments in port development, road extension, and Standard Gauge Railways. Local apps like Nala are helping to digitize trade finance, leading to a growing role in digital logistics.
Africa's secondary hub cities, including Nairobi, Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Midrand, are experiencing significant growth and becoming popular. Nairobi has matured into East Africa's startup capital, recording over $800 million in venture capital in 2024. The city has over 200 coding bootcamps and tech communities, making its developer pipeline deeper than ever.
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia is decentralizing its startup landscape through parks such as EthioICT village and Bole Lemi. The government is pushing for the privatization of telecommunications, opening new roles in software, customer experience, and enterprise solutions.
Kumasi, Ghana is becoming an industrial and clean energy nerve center. The city's Boankra inland port is set to connect the inland region of Ghana to international shipping routes, while a $4.3 million solar array is reducing diesel dependence and saving annual energy costs of about $1.5 million. Engineering students are rapidly absorbed into green tech projects, civil infrastructure firms, and public policy think tanks.
Stellenbosch, South Africa has a high tech job density with 36 postings per 100,000 people. Stellenbosch University is a significant contributor to agritech, biotech, and AI research, with startups like Aerobotics, bioCODE, and FinMeUp leading the way. Venture capitalists in Stellenbosch are increasingly investing in deeptech startups.
Infrastructure projects, targeted policies, and regional innovation are creating the right conditions for skilled professionals in these cities. As Africa continues to develop, these hubs will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping the continent's tech landscape.
