French and South African creative industries in the spotlight at ICC Forum 2025

The ICC Forum 2025, hosted in Pretoria, brought together French and South African leaders in the creative economy for a high-level platform designed to foster collaboration, innovation, and cultural exchange. The event, part of the France 2030 initiative, saw discussions on a wide range of topics including green design, digital innovation, and the role of creative industries in urban development. The Forum also featured dynamic panel discussions on sustainable fashion, digital arts, and heritage, showcasing the potential for long-term partnerships between French and South African creative industries.

Cerebrium Raises $8.5M Led by Gradient to Scale the Leading High-Performance Serverless AI Platform

Cerebrium, a serverless AI infrastructure platform founded in Cape Town, has raised $8.5 million in a seed funding round led by Gradient, Google’s AI venture fund. The platform enables teams to build and scale multimodal AI applications without traditional complexity or cost. This funding will support Cerebrium’s growth and expansion, with the aim of meeting increasing demand in enterprise AI. Backed by Y Combinator and other investors, Cerebrium is already powering companies like Tavus and Deepgram, providing high-performance solutions for real-time voice, video, and data analytics applications.

French cultural and creative industry leaders embark on ICC Immersion 2025 in South Africa

The French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) and Business France South Africa proudly launch ICC Immersion South Africa 2025, a flagship initiative connecting France’s leading cultural and creative industry (CCI) companies with South African counterparts. Running from 23 June to 2 July 2025 across Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Cape Town, the programme aims to foster cultural diplomacy, innovation, and economic collaboration in sectors like fashion, heritage, architecture, and digital media. Featuring French firms such as Culturespaces, Jakob + MacFarlane, and France Muséums Développement, ICC Immersion showcases bilateral creativity, dialogue, and long-term partnership potential.

Tsheto and GreatWell to Host Leadership Workshop – A Call for Action: Agitating for Stewardship and a Better Tomorrow

In celebration of Mandela Month, Tsheto Leadership and Coaching Academy, in partnership with GreatWell, will host a high-impact Leadership Workshop on 17 July 2025 at The Maslow, Sandton. Centered on the theme “Agitating for Stewardship and a Better Tomorrow,” the workshop aims to equip C-suite executives, transformation leaders, and decision-makers with the tools to lead with intention, accountability, and social consciousness. Featuring keynote speaker Prof. Saths Cooper and expert facilitators Tantaswa Fubu and Rehema Isa, the event is a call to action for values-based leadership that leaves a lasting, positive legacy.

South African Property in 2025: What Q1 Reveals About the Road Ahead

The South African property market started 2025 on a positive note, showing early signs of recovery after a challenging 2024. The first quarter revealed a resilient sector driven by easing inflation, steady interest rates, and new regulatory changes that boost affordability, particularly for first-time buyers. Insights from Lightstone, BetterBond, and FNB data highlight shifts in market dynamics, with notable demand in the High and Mid-Value segments. The recent exemption from Transfer Duty on properties under R1.21 million and improved rent-to-income ratios further contribute to the optimism. While challenges persist, particularly with global supply chain disruptions, the outlook for the rest of 2025 suggests potential growth, especially for investors and developers focused on the Western Cape and industrial properties.

South Africa’s Commerce Media Moment has Arrived: The Experts Weigh In

At Converge Africa 2025, Flow hosted a panel of industry leaders from Woolworths, Coty, eComplete, and TrafficBrand to explore the rise of commerce media in South Africa. With insights on local strengths like brand-retailer collaboration, first-party data activation, and omnichannel engagement, the session highlighted how South African retailers can monetise digital audiences without needing full-scale media networks. The consensus: commerce media isn’t coming — it’s already here, reshaping retail through strategy, trust, and data-driven growth.

ZX Lidars and Globeleq Optimise Wind Performance at Klipheuwel with Advanced Lidar Deployment

ZX Lidars, in collaboration with Globeleq South Africa Management Services, has deployed a ZX TM wind Lidar at Klipheuwel Wind Farm, South Africa. The advanced system provides real-time wind flow data to optimise turbine performance, support power curve verification, and reduce mechanical stress. By analysing complex wind behaviour such as shear and turbulence, the project enhances asset efficiency, reliability, and long-term operational outcomes.

From Start-Up to Standout: Why Investing in Techpreneurs is Investing in the Future

GoodApp, a South African home services platform, was named Start-Up of the Year at the 2025 Intelligent ICT Awards—marking a major milestone for purpose-driven African innovation. By connecting customers with vetted professionals through a seamless digital experience, GoodApp is setting a new standard for local tech solutions with global potential. CEO Prakhar Srivastava emphasizes that Africa’s tech future depends on more than recognition—it requires investment, policy support, and belief in the continent’s talent. GoodApp’s rise reflects a broader shift: African techpreneurs aren’t just solving problems—they’re shaping the future.

How Businesses In Africa Are Finally Closing the Efficiency Gap

African businesses are finally narrowing the efficiency gap by embracing IT automation, cutting costs and boosting productivity. Companies lose up to 30% of revenue yearly due to outdated, manual systems, but innovators like South Africa’s Think Tank Software Solutions (TTSS) are changing that. In partnership with platforms like Docusign, Workato, and Zapier, TTSS helps businesses automate workflows, cut turnaround times by 80%, and increase ROI by up to 291%. These solutions are transforming HR, procurement, finance, and more—empowering African companies to compete globally with smart, scalable, and secure operations.