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From November 11-13, 2025, the 28th Africa Tech Festival took place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) in Cape Town, gathering over 15,000 delegates, more than 300 exhibitors, and many visitors to influence the future of digital technology in Africa.
The CTICC was bustling with activity starting early on the morning of November 11. With coffee and badges in hand, international delegates networked alongside start-ups, students, and volunteers as the combined effort fostered a welcoming environment.
Across the multiple stages, exhibition areas, and networking sessions, the festival provided a richer experience than that of the average conference. It showcased technological aspirations, its present-day obstacles, and the human relationships that fuel the technology.
Hosted at the CTICC, the Main Stage saw entrepreneurs, start-ups, and well-established tech gurus all gather under one roof.
Innovation at its finest
The festival opened with an opening address by South Africa’s Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi. He underscored the importance of laying down strong foundations for digital growth, saying: “Emerging technologies like AI will be tools for opportunity, not symbols of exclusion. We will turn prototypes into products, and products into public value.”
The sentiment echoed across panels, keynotes, and discussions, emphasising that technology alone is insufficient and that infrastructure, access, and human engagement are critical when dealing with technology.
The exhibition floor (CTICC 1) continued to be a space of human engagement where startups and SMEs showcased practical solutions alongside multinational companies, attracting investors and collaborators.
Market Square (CTICC 2) became a hub of engagement where smaller companies pitched solutions directly to potential investors, corporate representatives, and policymakers, while coffee stations and informal seating areas served as meeting points where spontaneous collaborations, mentorship, and networking occurred.
The AI Summit Stage explored ethical and responsible innovation, highlighting how technology can be aligned with African priorities. The Connectivity and Infrastructure Stage focused on broadband expansion, device accessibility, and practical literacy programmes.
The Cybersecurity and Cloud Stage ventured and introduced delegates to the emerging threats, resilience strategies, and frameworks for secure digital operations and workflow efficiency in the digital age.
Day One of the Africa Tech Festival emphasised four recurring themes: responsible innovation, inclusive investment, connectivity for development, and policy harmonization. Delegates discussed the practicalities of bringing technology to resource-scarce communities, and thus expanding our digital literacy across African nations to enable equitable growth.
Day One important points:
Day Two turned its attention to cybersecurity, cloud governance, and digital resilience. Delegates returned to the CTICC to discuss practical approaches for securing digital systems, protecting data, and building networks that could reliably serve people and organizations across Africa.
The Cybersecurity and Cloud Stage dominated much of the programming, with sessions exploring supply chain risks, incident response, and cloud governance. Panels raised critical questions about who controls data, where it resides, and how African countries can maintain sovereignty over digital infrastructure. Fireside chats discussed incident detection, real-time response, and recovery, emphasizing that cybersecurity is now integral to digital infrastructure rather than an optional add-on.
The AI Summit Stage continued discussions on innovation, ethics and governance, focusing on responsible technology deployment. Delegates debated practical approaches to ensure AI and digital tools reflect African priorities and needs. The Connectivity & Infrastructure Stage updated participants on strategies to expand access, deliver affordable devices, and promote practical digital literacy.
At the Cybersecurity and Cloud stage, the session “Empowering Women in Cybersecurity” stressed representation, opportunity, and structural support for women in technology and security. Speakers emphasized that diverse participation strengthens resilience, builds capacity, and ensures that technological ecosystems are robust and sustainable.
The exhibition floor (CTICC 1) was where startups and SMEs showcased practical solutions alongside multinational companies, attracting investors and collaborators. Meanwhile, Market Square (CTICC 2) remained a central hub for smaller firms to engage directly with stakeholders, allowing innovation to be tested and partnerships to be formed.
By the afternoon of Day Two, the festival had fully demonstrated the interconnectedness of technology, policy, and human engagement. Those present got to explore cybersecurity challenges, practical solutions for cloud governance, and strategies for inclusive digital growth.
Day Two important points:
Gadget lovers gathered too
Across both days, the Africa Tech Festival became more than an event for people to network and meet technology leaders. It became a space where people connected, shared insights, and forged opportunities.
Executives, entrepreneurs, students, and policymakers interacted across hierarchical boundaries, creating a network that combined ambition with practical collaboration. The festival revealed that digital transformation is as much about people as it is about technology, policy, and infrastructure.
By the close of the event, the Africa Tech Festival had left an indelible mark on attendees. Delegates departed with new insights, potential partnerships, and practical strategies to advance Africa’s digital future.
