2019 marks the 20-year anniversary of the Cape Innovation and Technology Initiative – an organisation that has made an indelible imprint on the Western Cape tech sector. The role of civil society organisations and not-for-profit companies in breaking down barriers, facilitating and creating opportunities, and enacting socio-economic development cannot be understated. Capturing the Ubuntu ethos, pioneering citizen-driven organisations and their determined leaders are tackling these issues head-on and are making headway.