Following on from our previous blog Part 1/2: The ADDIS Process and Cabo Verde’s Startup Act Journey, we bring you updated news from our work on the ground.
Between June 2nd and 7th, 2025, the Innovation for Policy Foundation (i4Policy) supported the preparation and facilitation of three Policy Hackathons and a dedicated workshop for women in tech, as part of the Cabo Verde Startup Act process.This initiative was launched by the Government of Cabo Verde through its agency Cabo Verde Digital, with funding from the World Bank, in collaboration with i4Policy and Miranda & Associados.
3 islands, 3 Policy Hackathons
The Policy Hackathons took place across three islands – Santa Maria (Sal), Mindelo (São Vicente), and Praia (Santiago) – bringing together 84 stakeholders from across the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Participants included entrepreneurs, civil servants, academics, software engineers, students, and community leaders.
The goal of the events was to co-create practical policy solutions to strengthen the startup and innovation landscape in Cabo Verde. Participants worked through a structured agenda to identify key challenges – ranging from financing barriers to digital infrastructure gaps – and collaboratively proposed actionable policy recommendations. Some ideas that surfaced included:
- A national crowdfunding platform
- Expanded entrepreneurship education
- Simplified business registration
- New mechanisms for startup support and inclusion
These hackathons are part of a broader effort to ensure the Cabo Verde Startup Act is inclusive, grounded in local realities, and reflects the needs of entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds and all islands.
Listening to Women in Tech
Alongside the hackathons, a Gender-Focused Workshop for women entrepreneurs in tech was held in Praia, facilitated by i4Policy. Eleven women gathered in an intimate setting to share their lived experiences of navigating a male-dominated sector.
From unequal household responsibilities to exclusionary workplace norms, participants laid bare the systemic obstacles they face. Their proposed solutions included:
- Gender-aware career guidance in schools
- Legal guarantees for equal pay
- Mental health support structures for women professionals
What’s Next?
The insights gathered from the Policy Hackathons and the Gender Workshop will be consolidated and validated through:
- A Technical Working Group of ecosystem experts
- A targeted engagement with the tech/startup community
- A Citizen Engagement Platform, to crowdsource wider feedback, including from the diaspora
Following this participatory process, the Startup Act will be drafted with legal support from Miranda & Associados.
