The Silicon Cape Initiative launch event is tomorrow, 8 October 2009. Since the initial announcement early in September the community and organisers have been active.
More than 1000 people joined the online community, the launch event grew to accommodate 350 attendees, Western Cape Premier Helen Zille (one of the speakers) promoted the event on Twitter, a long list of sponsors have signed up and yesterday Justin Stanford announced that Johann Rupert and Dr Mamphela Ramphele will be speaking as well.
To prepare yourself for the event and the ensuing discussions, I offer these articles for homework:
- Vinny Lingham: The Silicon Cape
- Justin Stanford: Welcome to the Silicon Cape Initiative!
- Paul Graham: How to Be Silicon Valley
- Paul Graham: Why Startups Condense in America
- Paul Graham: Cities and Ambition
- Paul Graham: Can You Buy a Silicon Valley? Maybe
- Paul Graham: What Kate Saw in Silicon Valley
- Vivek Wadhwa: What Have VCs Really Done for Innovation?
- Vivek Wadhwa: The VC, The Professor, And the Valley of Death
- Vivek Wadhwa: Shooting for the Moon
- Vivek Wadhwa: Why Less is More
- Vivek Wadhwa: When It Comes to Founding Successful Startups, Old Guys Rule
Please feel free to suggest more material in the comments.