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Cap40 is an integrated hub for Cape Town entrepreneurs, business networking and connection, aggregating a social network and a complete set of resources into an unique platform.

Our community represents today 1500+ members and 25+ partners who meet on local networking events and connect thanks to business partnerships and regular newsletters.

NEWS CAP40 Business Awards 2020

Under the patronage of Premier Alan Winde and Alderman James Vos, French Business & Entrepreneur Network Cap40 awards 5 key contributors to the Western Cape economic, sustainability and social impact.

During an evening taking place at the breathtaking Elevated Dinner venue in Cape Town, over a hundred key personalities celebrated entrepreneurship, investment and social impact contribution by French stakeholders to boost the Western Cape province and the City of Cape Town.

5 February 2020, Cape Town - Recognising that foreign investment both in terms capital, social and sustainable impact is essential to South Africa’s economic vitality, the Cap40 French Business Network featured, for the eight-time, an event showcasing key French entrepreneurs and French-South African partnerships from various key sectors. Nominees and awards are based on nomination and votes from the 1,400 members strong Cap40 community.

Present at the event were Premier Alan Winde, as well as Alderman James Vos and Ian Neilson from the City of Cape Town, representatives from the Cape Town Chamber of Commerce, and various leaders from French Corporates such as EDF or Dassault Systemes. 

The following awards were announced:

• Winning the award for ‘Top speaker of the year’ from the Cap40 community was John Sanei (www.johnsanei.com), futurist thought leader and author of 3 best selling books. This award from the community singles out the most remarkable speakers committing their time and knowledge to Cap40 regular events taking place at Workshop17 or Alliance Francaise. John Sanei won the award for his keynote delivered at Cap40 May 2019 event at Workshop 17.
• Celebrating the contribution to making the province a more sustainable business environment, the Cap40 Sustainability & Smart City award had 3 nominees: the Cape Town French School for its work on receiving various certifications and award in the recycling and sustainable energy and its application in the education process, PayGas for its work on deploying its ‘Pay as you gas’ clean cooking solution in various townships in the Province, and G7 Energies - an energy company that has a pipeline of wind farm development projects across the country. Cape Town based startup PayGas won the Sustainability and Smart City Award.
• Recognizing the essential social impact dimension of business, the Cap40 Social Enterprise award had 3 nominees: Social incubator Oribi Village, support by the French Development Agency (AFD), violin academy Muzukids – doing incredible work to develop under-privileged kids musical talents, and Surf academy Waves for Change. The award winner was Waves for Change.
• In partnership with and based on research by Wesgro, the Cap40 Trade & Investment award, identifying French business with key investment and job creation in the Western Cape, was won by French Contact Center company Webhelp for creating over 350 jobs in the province and continuously investing in its local business.
• The 5th and final Cap40 Entrepreneur of the Year award was a highly contended race between  Thomas Pays, founder of Ozow Fintech startup, Jerome Touze, CEO of Travelstart and chair of YPO Cape Town, Philippe Hoeblich, founder of PayGas, and Leslie Gallaire, founder of the Brand Box agency.  The entrepreneur of the year award went to Philippe Hoeblich.

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde said: “It is my pleasure to have attended this remarkable event which celebrates excellence in entrepreneurship and the partnerships we have built in business. Every job created in the province is a step towards growing our economy, which in turn plays a role in preventing crime and enhancing social cohesion. French business has been an important partner for the Western Cape, through its dynamic entrepreneurship network and great initiatives such as French Tech Cape Town, French South African Tech Labs which is based in Century City and through major investments from French companies like Total in the oil and gas sector.”

Adding to this, Alderman James Vos from the City of Cape Town said "A key focus for my department is to improve the ease of doing business, to grow the local economy and create jobs, especially for SMMEs. That is why we support the tech-sector, identified for its high-growth potential, and ensure that they have the skills pipelines they need to make their businesses a success. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the organisers of this event and the great work they are doing to unlock the impressive potential in this vital sector."

Concluding the event, Cap40 Network Co-founder and leader of French Tech for Africa Christophe Viarnaud said “It feels great to gather as a French-South African community focused on business excellence and social impact to celebrate the individuals and organizations which are the pillars of advancing progress in the Province and South Africa. From Corporates to Small businesses, startups and various institutions, the various sectors and components of our community are committed to contribute to a successful South Africa and to make Cape Town a key gateway into investing into the continent. We are grateful to the increasingly strong partnerships enabling the success of the French-South African multiple partnerships ”