Latest news with #LaraRosmarin
The South African
09-07-2025
- Business
- The South African
Free co-working spaces, free entrepreneur support at new hub in Cape Town
The timbuktoo Creative Hub has officially launched in Cape Town's District Six, offerering a first-of-its-kind facility in Africa. The hub provides free co-working spaces, expert mentorship, and comprehensive tech support. Local and pan-African artists, designers, musicians, and storytellers are now invited to collaborate and grow their businesses at the space at no cost. 'Creative industries are a major driver of economic growth, yet African creatives often lack access to the resources, networks and funding needed to scale their businesses,' said Head of Entrepreneur Development at UVU Accelerate, Lara Rosmarin. 'We're inviting Cape Town's creative community to come and experience the facilities and support we've developed specifically for them.' Housed in the historic Homecoming Centre (formerly the Athol Fugard Theatre in the CBD), timbuktoo is a purpose-built facility offering free co-working spaces, unlimited WiFi, and access to industry-specific support in areas like animation, fashion, textile technology, music, and augmented/virtual reality. The initiative is powered by a major partnership between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT), UVU Africa, Snake Nation, and the Craft and Design Institute. Together, they aim to unlock new potential within South Africa's fast-growing creative economy. Free, hands-on guidance from resident entrepreneurs Technolgy mentorship Digital upskilling Industry-specific support Access to the broader accelerator network Free spaces for creators to host community events The Cape Town project forms part of timbuktoo, a continent-wide innovation drive led by the UNDP to support African startups. And the response has been strong – over 280 applicants have already expressed interest in the hub's Creative Accelerator programme. 'Every groundbreaking venture starts with an audacious idea and the courage to nurture it,' added Maxwell Gomera, UNDP South Africa Resident Representative and Director of the UNDP Africa Sustainable Finance Hub. 'Through the timbuktoo Creative Hub, we're not just incubating businesses, we're cultivating a generation of creative entrepreneurs who understand that Africa's stories, innovations and cultural expression aren't just our heritage, they're our competitive advantage.' Are you interested in securing a co-working space in Cape Town? Contact the centre by emailing connect@ or calling 021 466 7200. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Zawya
09-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa: Cape Town to host Africa's first creative-tech hub backed by UNDP, Uvu Africa
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in South Africa has teamed up with Uvu Accelerate, the entrepreneurial arm of Uvu Africa, to drive ecosystem development for Africa's first dedicated creative-tech hub. The Timbuktoo Creative Hub will be launched in Cape Town. Currently under development at the Homecoming Centre (formerly the Athol Fugard Theatre) in District Six, the hub will serve as a dynamic space for Africa's creative entrepreneurs. Designed to be a catalyst for growth across the creative sector, including film, music, fashion, gaming, animation, design, and digital arts industries, the hub will provide essential infrastructure, business support, and technology to help creatives transform their talent into sustainable enterprises. UVU Accelerate will work with key partners as the hub manager to develop an enabling ecosystem that fosters collaboration, investment, and innovation in the creative-tech sector. 'Creative industries are a major driver of economic growth, yet African creatives often lack access to the resources, networks, and funding needed to scale their businesses,' said Lara Rosmarin, head of entrepreneur development at Uvu Accelerate. 'The Timbuktoo Creative Hub will provide a game-changing platform for creative entrepreneurs to connect, co-create, and commercialise their work, accelerating the growth of Africa's creative economy.' Speaking on the broader vision for the project, Ian Merrington, CEO of Uvu Africa, emphasised the importance of cluster development in driving economic opportunity: 'Globally, creative industries thrive when supported by strong ecosystems. Through the Timbuktoo Creative Hub, we are building a dedicated cluster that will boost investment, unlock opportunities, and position Africa as a global leader in creative technology. 'We aim to create an environment where creative entrepreneurs can scale their businesses, contribute to job creation, and drive economic transformation.' Opening soon The Timbuktoo Creative Hub will soon open, offering an advanced environment for creatives to work, collaborate, and access mentorship, funding, and digital tools. The initiative is part of a broader effort by UNDP and its partners to empower Africa's entrepreneurs and recognise their vast potential to drive economic growth across the continent. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
