Cape Town puts start-up companies on the map

Website links new firms through interactive map

A new interactive website is charting Cape Town's start-up companies and fledgling service-providers, with the aim of encouraging new businesses to connect with each other.

Launched on 6 October, Mapped in Cape Town allows the city’s start-ups to list their location, along with a brief description, offering them the chance to collaborate with businesses nearby as well as meet potential investors.

Listings can be made free of charge and currently the categories include Ecommerce, mobile, connectivity, software, media and financial.

The website is the brainchild of local tech-entrepreneur Rowan Polovin who wanted to create a snapshot of the city's start-up ecosystem and promote business clusters.

The initiative also includes locations and details of tax and legal services, Wi-Fi hotspots and co-working spaces. Polovin plans to launch a Johannesburg version of the website by the end of this year.