Innovative entrepreneurs win €10 000 and a curated networking tour to Ireland
Five South African technology startups have been selected for support through the prestigious Irish Tech Challenge South Africa 2023. This year's challenge saw nearly 300 entries from South African-owned, growth-stage technology startups aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The announcement was made by the Embassy of Ireland in South Africa and the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) at a special event at the University of the Witwatersrand's Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct yesterday. The companies were given an opportunity to showcase their innovations.
Implemented by the Embassy in collaboration with Tshimologong, the Technology Innovation Agency (a DSI entity) and Dogpatch Labs, the Irish Tech Challenge aims to forge mutually beneficial partnerships between South African entrepreneurs and Irish technology experts, leveraging Ireland's global technology hub status.
The five selected startups have undergone an intensive pre-acceleration programme that included workshops, masterclasses and mentorship sessions.
The winners will head to Ireland in February 2024 for an acceleration programme with Dogpatch Labs, a 500-member-strong startup and innovation hub in Dublin.
The selected innovators are as follows:
- Thato Schermer – Zoie Health
Zoie Health is an all-in-one women's health and family platform. Created by women for women, Zoie Health provides accessible and comprehensive healthcare services for women and families.
- Neo Hutiri – Pelebox
Technovera is a social impact organisation that is focused on technology inclusion to improve last-mile delivery for chronic medication access in Africa. They have developed Pelebox, a smart locker system that enables patients to collect their repeat chronic medication in under two minutes.
- Vuyo Pakade – Foonda Africa
Foonda Africa is a Pan-African talent marketplace that aims to unlock Africa's next generation of talent. They connect companies with skilled young candidates quickly and affordably. Foonda Africa focuses on graduate recruitment and empowers young individuals across the continent.
- Benedicta Durcan – Afrobodies
Afrobodies is a South African biotechnology company that produces recombinant alpaca antibodies to supply the local and global life sciences, diagnostic and therapeutic markets. They are advancing scientific research and working together with scientists to make novel discoveries that will lead to new diagnostic tests and disease treatment.
- Tumelo Chiloane – Desert Green
Desert Green is an agritech startup transforming the informal agricultural value chain in Africa by enabling an efficient supply of fresh produce from small-scale farmers to informal traders. GreenKart, their B2B eCommerce platform, allows small-scale farmers to list recently planted crops to help farmers access markets and minimise post-harvest losses.
"This initiative showcases the strength of Irish-South African collaboration in technology and innovation. The Irish Tech Challenge South Africa not only highlights Ireland's commitment to fostering global technological partnerships, but also our dedication to supporting emerging entrepreneurs in realising their potential on the world stage," said the Ambassador of Ireland to South Africa, HE Austin Gormley.
If the five selected entrepreneurs stay committed to the programme for its full duration, the Irish Tech Challenge will award them up to €10 000 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 to position their global scaling strategy in collaboration with Dogpatch Labs.
The DSI's Deputy Director-General: International Cooperation and Resources, Mr Daan du Toit, expressed appreciation for Ireland's support for science and innovation partnerships with South Africa, saying that the collaboration responded directly to the objectives of the country's Science, Technology and Innovation Decadal Plan, creating new opportunities for economic growth and improving service delivery to citizens.
"This partnership is a truly mutually beneficial one, and also plays an important role in strengthening political and economic cooperation between South Africa and Ireland, reinforcing the ties of friendship between the two countries," he said.
Ms Lesley-Donna Williams, CEO of the Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct, added, "The talent and innovation we've seen this year are testament to the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit in South Africa. Our role in nurturing these startups at the Tshimologong Precinct has been immensely rewarding, and we're excited to see how they evolve and make their mark globally."
Mr Hesus Inoma, representing Dogpatch Labs Ireland, agreed. "Dogpatch Labs is excited to be part of this journey with South Africa's brightest tech startups. We believe in the power of collaboration across borders to drive innovation, and this challenge is a perfect example of how international partnerships can bring about transformative growth in the tech sector," he said.
High-growth tech entrepreneurs are pivotal for innovation, economic growth, job creation and poverty alleviation. With challenges such as limited resources, lack of access to , and high technology costs when scaling globally, the Irish Tech Challenge plays a crucial role in breaking these barriers, empowering South African startups to thrive on the global stage.
For more information contact
Julian Leshilo-Sebake
Cell: 060 961 2194
