Seven South African tech startups have been selected for the third Irish Tech Challenge South Africa, which aims to forge mutually beneficial partnerships between South African entrepreneurs and Irish technology expertise, leveraging Ireland’s global tech hub status.
The Irish Tech Challenge is run each year by the Embassy of Ireland in South Africa, in partnership with Wits University’s Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct, the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) and Dogpatch Labs Ireland.
This year’s challenge saw more than 350 entries from South African-owned, growth-stage tech start-ups focused on fulfilling the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The seven selected start-ups will undergo an intensive pre-acceleration programme with workshops, masterclasses, and mentorship sessions in South Africa.
The Irish Tech Challenge will award the seven selected entrepreneurs with up to EUR10,000 (US$11,000) each in funding; a funded trip to Ireland where they will be part of a curated business networking programme with access to the country’s top business leaders; access to the Irish tech ecosystem with potential opportunities for further funding; and acceleration support from Dogpatch Labs.
The selected ventures include SmartView Technology, which provides enterprise-grade utility management solutions; Momint, which uses blockchain technology to ensure that capital is invested in renewable energy projects in a fast and safe way; and The Awareness Company, a situational awareness company that uses data to help organisations achieve operational efficiency and sustainability through its software product Hydra.
Also selected are Athena, which enables affordable access to healthcare services through a platform that allows patients to pay their medical treatment costs in monthly installments; Adbot, which provides online advertising solutions for small business owners; Samanjalo, a fly ash beneficiation business; and Credipple, a talent marketplace for trusted creative and digital professionals.
“This initiative exemplifies the strength of Irish-South African collaboration in technology and innovation. It underscores Ireland’s commitment to fostering global technological partnerships and supporting young entrepreneurs in realising their potential on the world stage. We look forward to their journeys and the impact they will have in promoting inclusive economic growth in South Africa,” said Ambassador of Ireland to South Africa Austin Gormley.
