The organisation was started in mid-2006 by a group of thirty business leaders, brought together by a common concern over the pace and direction of visible growth in the Cape region.
The group agreed that because of the instability that had characterised city and provincial leadership over the previous decade, a common long-term vision was needed to inform the strategies and activities of business, government, labour and civil society.
It agreed that “big business” should play a leading role in developing this vision and leading the implementation of projects that will help achieve it.
On 1 March 2007 Accelerate Cape Town began operating.
Accelerate Cape Town is significantly different from the other representative business bodies such as the Cape Chamber, Cape Town Partnership, or Wesgro, and it strives to avoid duplication of activities that are already covered by these organisations. It works closely with all of these organisations to ensure a cohesive approach to the development and implementation of a long-term vision for the Cape region.
