In a city where Table Mountain meets the sea, travel industry icon Stephan Ekbergh has opened the doors to something wild: Innovation City. Think Studio 54, CBGB, and Berlin’s underground scene wrapped in a South African soul. Here, creativity and chaos aren’t just welcome – they’re required.
When David Bowie called on all of us to “let’s dance”, he sang, “Put on your red shows and dance the blues, To the song they’re playing on the radio, While colour lights up your face; Sway through the crowd to an empty space”.
Well. Stephan Ekbergh, CEO of Travelstart, serial entrepreneur, ex-DJ and former club owner, urged us to “Dance to Innovation”, at WiT Singapore, as if to remind us that great ideas should have rhythm – and maybe even a little sweat.
He spoke about his new creation – not another tech venture or luxury lounge – but a space where imagination runs as free as the ocean breeze over Cape Town’s cliffs.
He calls it Innovation City, a mash-up of passions, values, and vibe all his own. Part retro club, part modern think tank, Ekbergh sees it as a Florence for a new African renaissance, a space “where creativity can thrive and the next generation can feel at home”.
During a time marked by lockdowns and pent-up ambition mingled with frustration, Ekbergh’s vision for Innovation City started as a mission. “I felt compelled to dedicate my remaining time here to the next generation,” he says. “There’s anger and confusion out there, and maybe a little distorted hope. That’s fuel for change.”
Inspired by the Legends of the Underground
Innovation City isn’t your typical workspace – it’s an experience with edge. Ekbergh drew inspiration from the underground legends of the ’70s, where culture wasn’t crafted in conference rooms but born in dimly lit spaces pulsing with rebellion. In ’77, Studio 54 was rewriting New York’s nightlife, mixing icons like Mick Jagger with the wild and free. CBGB on Manhattan’s Bowery was the raw birthplace of punk, its walls vibrating with Blondie, Ramones, and every anti-mainstream kid who knew the power of a leather jacket and the perfect riff. And Berlin’s gritty, post-war streets were a magnet for artists like David Bowie, who called it “the greatest cultural extravaganza.”
This vibe isn’t nostalgia – it’s the blueprint for Innovation City’s radical, all-welcome spirit in Cape Town. “We called it Innovation City as a nod to the legendary Sound City studio,” says Ekbergh. “It’s a place where creativity and ideas collide – where different isn’t just accepted; it’s celebrated.”
Venue, Vibe, and the Bouncer at the Door
Like any good club, Innovation City has a vibe, and Ekbergh takes every aspect seriously.
- The Venue: Not an office but a mind-trip destination. The space invites you to throw out the corporate rulebook, think big, and create without limitations. It’s designed to feel like a club, not a co-working space.
- The Music: For Ekbergh, “content is our music.” The beat here isn’t vinyl—it’s the hum of ideas. With over 450 events, from masterclasses to panels, Innovation City’s line-up is like a non-stop festival for free thinkers.
- The Bar: Like any great club, the bar here is where the magic happens. But instead of drinks, community managers serve connections, introductions, and solutions to problems. This isn’t just networking—it’s purposeful mingling.
- The People: Innovation City’s members are the disruptors and dreamers, the “givers, not takers,” says Ekbergh. There’s even a “no asshole” policy to keep consultants and “sweaty networkers” out. And yes, there’s a bouncer. Just as Studio 54 had its infamous gatekeepers, Innovation City’s door is carefully guarded. “The bouncer decides who’s in and who’s out,” Ekbergh explains. Rejection here isn’t personal – it’s an invitation to “either get bitter or get better.”
In Ekbergh’s world, a “F*#K OFF” at the door might just be the push you need. It’s a nod to Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, who famously wrote “Le Freak” after being turned away from Studio 54. Rejection can be fuel – if you let it.
The Soul of a Club, the Ambition of a Movement
With Innovation City, Ekbergh isn’t just opening a club; he’s igniting a movement. For Africa’s new generation of creators, the space is a refuge, a place where risks are worth taking and the ideas flow fast and free. As he puts it, “Any venture is always about making people dance.”
It’s not a place for nine-to-five thinkers or spreadsheet warriors. This is a haven for the brave, a home for those who think with their hearts and act with a purpose. For Ekbergh, the dream is simple: create a stage where capital, talent, and ideas collide with the same passion as a disco dance floor.
“WIT Africa has its home here at Innovation City,” Ekbergh says proudly. “It’s a place where next-gen innovators can drink from the firehose.” For those brave enough to walk through the door, Innovation City isn’t just a workspace. It’s a revolution in real time – a place where the spirit of freedom and rebellion isn’t just remembered; it’s alive and pulsing.
Note From Bouncer: See you at WiT Africa, March 12-13, 2025!
