OpenUp turns
Early 2012
OpenUp began as the brain child of Adi Eyal and Gabriella Razzano.
Formative discussions were based around a clear need for more open data a transparency in government and civil society.
30 January, 2012
Mid 2012
We made our home at Codebridge, where we are still based today.
Codebridge was founded by Adi Eyal as a shared community hub and workspace in Newlands, Cape Town.
14 October, 2011
May 18, 2012
Late 2012
Our Open Data & Democracy Initiative held its Coding for Democracy Hackathon.
Prior to the founding of OpenUp, we started ODADI as a initiative that embodied our proposed vision and approach.
Late 2012
We received our first significant grant under the African News Innovation Challenge.
This grant gave us the confidence to pursue our mission and start formalising OpenUp from an idea into a sustainable organisation.
2013 -2014
...and throughout 2013 and into 2014 we ticked off a bunch of awesome milestones!
This was a period of really great growth as we started to align our team and processes with our vision.
We join Github!
9 May, 2013
We tweet our first tweet!
27 Aug, 2013
We launch the Medicine Price Registry (our first tool!)
15 Oct, 2013
We hire our first employee, Petrus van Rensburg!
1 Nov, 2013
We partner with the Parliamentary Monitoring Group!
03 Dec, 2013
OpenUp is registered with the Department of Social Development
21 Feb, 2014
19 FEB, 2014
We signed our origanisational constitution.
(This is our birthday!)
22 Dec, 2015
We win our first award! 2015 Vodacom Journalist of the Year for Living on the Edge using the Living Wage Tool.
This added fuel to our belief that open data, civic-tech and data journalism were powerful tools for manifesting change.
2016-2017
A doubling down on community and partnerships.
We start to hit our stride and refine our offerings to align with and forward the goals of our growing list of partners!
2016-2017
Forming key partnerships with institutions and organisations looking to improve transparency.
Many of these partnerships are still ongoing and have been the foundation of our work towards open data and a more open government.
1 Feb, 2016
Launched the Data Journalism Academy.
We identify a need for data journalism training and resources that are not available in South African newsrooms and develop a curriculum around treating data as a source in news stories.
2016-2017
And Invested heavily into Codebridge!
We also sign a 10-year lease for the Codebridge building through the City of Cape Town. We host our first Codebridge movie night and continue our "Coderbridge evening" meetups.
2016-2017
We establish ourselves as open data partners for government and our growing team delivers amazing projects and tools!
National and local government entities turn to us when looking to improve transparency and launch open data tools.
Lailah Ryklief, our current head of operations, joins as employee!
8 Mar, 2016
Our name is officially changed from Code for South Africa to OpenUp
3 May, 2016
Recognised as official partners in opening address at the SA regional Open Government Partnership meeting!
5 May, 2016
JD Bothma joins as employee
11 Jun, 2016
We launch "Gaming the Lottery". With over 200 articles posted to date.
14 Aug, 2017
OpenUp and the Poverity and Inequality Initiative launch Youth Explorer!
12 Sep, 2016
Pocket Reporter is launched to empower journalists!
18 Oct, 2016
We launch Municipal Money to supercharge municipal finance transparency!
28 Oct, 2016
We are awarded our first core grant from Luminate!
12 Mar, 2017
22 July, 2017
We launch the Guptaleaks website and win the 2017 Vodacom Journalist of the Year Award!
Our investment in data journalism sees us partnering with amazing organisations like Daily Maverick, AmaBhungane and News24 to produce an award winning data investigation!
Hackastory 2016
Hackastory 2016
Project Enable Bootcamp
Project Enable Bootcamp
Durban Bylaw liberation
Durban Bylaw liberation
Code4CT Training
Hack4Water Unconference
Cape Town Open Data Day
Treasury Accountability Stack
Youth Accountability Workshop
Cape Town Local Budget Dataquest
2018-TODAY
People, partners, projects, mission and impact.
After 4 years spent refining our mission and approach, we set our sites on growing our network, strengthening our team and amplifying our impact.
2018-TODAY
We continued to attract amazingly talented and passionate individuals.
After shifting to a fully remote policy during the pandemic, we have been able to expand our reach and provide flexible work opportunities for team members across Africa... and beyond!
Nick Budlender
Yuxi Wang
Paul Watson
Sihle Makanya
Janine Pretorius
Mbalenhle Nkosi
Shaun Russell
Greg Kempe
Adrian Kearns
Schalk Venter
Katlego Mohlabane
Mahlatse Moloto
Calyn Pillay
Jennifer Walker
Matthew Stark
Fierdous Safodien
Damian Pool
Michael Glenister
Jason Norwood-Young
Andrew Thomas-Woolf
Adam Oxford
Dirk Meerkotter
Alex Beyleveld
Lunga Mthembu
Jonathan Bosman
Carl Teffo
2018-TODAY
Expanded our network of partners across government, civil society and the private sector.
Our growing list of partners and clients allows us to broaden the scope and impact of our work. From financial transparency partnerships with government, to tools designed to assist tenants who are being unlawfully evicted.
2018-TODAY
Garnered the financial support of donors who believed in our mission.
The long-standing support and generosity of like-minded donor organisations over the years has allowed us the freedom to confidently pursue our mission.
2018-TODAY
To create tools that empower citizens and support government transparency...
Our projects and partnerships have always been a reflection of our values as an organisation. Over the years, we have strived to build tools that are a catalyst for positive change in society.
Vulekamali is officially launched in Parliament!
20 Feb, 2018
The new Wazimap goes live! We start mapping amazing data!
1 Nov, 2022
We pilot our case management system, CaseFile, with CAOSA.
1 Dec, 2021
In partnership with Ndifuna Ukwazi, we launch the online Eviction Guide!
14 Jan, 2019
We launch the SA Lottery Tool to assist journalists investigating corruption.
12 Sep, 2016
In partnership with Open Cities Lab, Africa Data Hub is launched.
14 Oct, 2020
OpenUp and Ndifuna Ukwazi launch the People's Land Map.
01 Nov, 2023
2018-TODAY
...and continue to be acknowledged by those in our field.
Awards are not why we do what we do, but they serve to strengthen the belief we have always had in our mission.
2018 Standard Bank Sikuvile Journalism Awards for Investigative Journalism for #GuptaLeaks
14 Sep, 2018
OpenUp a joint finalist for the "Guptaleaks" project in the Finalists in 2019 Global Shining Light Awards.
17 Jul, 2019
Vulekamali wins under the "Innovations Harnessing 4IR Solutions" category at the 17th Public Sector Innovation Awards, 2019
29 Nov, 2019
Raymond Joseph and GroundUp win the 17th Taco Kuiper Awards, for reporting made possible by our National Lotteries Tool.
21 Apr, 2023
Harnessing the power of teamwork!
Some slightly competetive team-building...
Sihle enjoying a spot of team-building!
Who knew rescuing gazettes could be fun!
A reclined approach to management!
Realising we aren't as fit as we used to be!
Good vibes at teambuilding 2022!
Youth engagement made awesome!
Thank you
Here's looking forward to the next 10 years!
There are so many people and organisations to thank, and OpenUp is living testimony to how organisational success - alongside individual success - is always a result of greater community and collaboration. Thank you for being a part of our past - and we look forward to you joining in with our future, forever focused on improving conditions for all people.
