Developing countries cannot view the digital transition as a luxury, but as a necessity if cities and countries wish to be a part of the new global economy. To support this transition governments, donors and the private sector each have a role to play, with key actions for each stakeholder group as set out in the ICED report ‘Urbanisation in a digital world’. In this paper we therefore set out key actions for investors and the private sector as they consider how they can best harness the digital opportunity in developing country cities.