The City of Cape Town has launched Maya, an AI-powered investment concierge designed to help local and international investors navigate the process of doing business in the Mother City, Cape {town} Etc reports.

The digital platform was unveiled on Monday, 10 August, by Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, Alderman James Vos, as part of a new international investment campaign called Cape Town. Built for Business.

While Cape Town is well known globally for its tourism appeal, the campaign is aimed at putting another side of the city in the spotlight: its potential as a place to invest, grow businesses and create jobs.

Meet Maya, Cape Town’s new digital investment guide

Available 24 hours a day in eight languages, including Afrikaans and isiXhosa, Maya is intended to act as a single entry point for investors looking for information and support. Gotbot.Ai was choosen as the official Ai partner to the City of Cape Town.

Users can use the platform to navigate municipal processes, explore investment opportunities, find business support programmes and connect with relevant City officials.

Maya also provides information on industry bodies and Special Purpose Vehicles involved in Cape Town’s investment ecosystem.

The name was inspired by Maia from Greek mythology, a figure associated with growth and new beginnings. The platform was developed by the City’s Economic Growth Directorate through its Economic Development and Investment Department.

For the City, the idea is simple: use technology to make finding the right information and people less time-consuming for businesses.

‘Innovation in government doesn’t need to be complicated. It simply needs to solve real problems, save people time and make it easier to do business,‘ said Vos.

A wider push to attract investment

Maya forms part of a broader effort by the City to strengthen Cape Town’s investment environment.

The City points to initiatives including its Ease of Doing Business programme, Business Support Policy and Manufacturing Support Policy, alongside a new Tourism Strategy focused on increasing visitor value, spreading tourism activity more widely and expanding international air connectivity.

It has also been advocating for an Open Skies aviation policy and greater private sector participation in the Port of Cape Town, to improve efficiency, trade and competitiveness.

According to Vos, these efforts are already contributing to investment in the city.

Through its Special Purpose Vehicle programme, the City says just under R16 billion in new investment was facilitated during the last financial year, with partnerships focused on sectors including technology, business process outsourcing, marine manufacturing and the visitor economy.

Taking Cape Town’s business message global

The new campaign will extend beyond the city, with Cape Town. Built for Business. set to roll out across more than 60 cities in key investment markets across North America, Europe, South America, Africa, China, India and the Middle East.

The campaign will target investors, entrepreneurs and multinational companies considering establishing or expanding their operations.

The City’s wider investment plans are also supported by a R120 billion infrastructure investment programme over the next decade, covering areas such as water security, energy resilience, transport networks and other essential services.

The launch also marks the 10th anniversary of Invest Cape Town, which has spent the past decade supporting investment projects and promoting Cape Town as a competitive business destination.

For potential investors, Maya is positioned as a practical first step into that wider ecosystem, bringing information, support and connections into one digital platform.

‍

Published by Hope Makhoba on August 10, 2026 / www.capetownetc.com