Irish Tech Challenge Announced for SA startups; Emphasis on Young, black, Women-owned Businesses

The Irish Embassy in South Africa has announced the opening of applications for the Irish Tech Challenge South Africa 2023, in collaboration with Wits University's Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct, the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), and Dogpatch Labs Ireland. Using Ireland's prominence as a worldwide high-tech centre, this competition intends to foster profitable relationships between South African technopreneurs and Irish technology specialists.

The Irish Tech Challenge 2023 explicitly invites South African women- and black-owned tech firms to compete. It strives to recognise potential South African growth-stage ICT businesses whose objectives coincide with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. While the competition is open to all sectors, it prefers applications from firms in Clean & Green Tech, Circular Economies, Med/Health/Bio-Tech, Ed-Tech, and WASH (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene). Applicants must be either post-revenue or pre-revenue companies with well-developed intellectual property to be eligible.

Winning entrepreneurs in the Irish Tech Challenge 2023 will benefit from the following:

• Up to €10,000 in funding to support their tech ventures.
• A sponsored trip to Ireland, including participation in a carefully curated business networking program alongside Ireland's leading business figures.
• Access to Ireland's thriving tech ecosystem, with potential avenues for further financial support.
• Acceleration support, in collaboration with Dogpatch Labs, to fine-tune their global scaling strategies.

"As a global technological hub and the second-largest exporter of computer and IT services globally, Ireland is well-placed to contribute its expertise and experience to foster the growth of young South African entrepreneurs," said Paul Deane, Trade Counsellor at the Embassy of Ireland in South Africa. Furthermore, entrepreneurs may efficiently grow digital solutions that align with and contribute to the South African government's development goals by cooperating with the local South African tech ecosystem."

Deane went on to say, "Together, we can empower tech startups to expand beyond South Africa's borders, strengthening the relationship between our countries, particularly in the ICT sector."

Lesley "As a hub for digital innovation, Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct is dedicated to nurturing a community of top-tier African digital entrepreneurs," said Donna Williams, CEO of Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct. Collaboration with the Irish government and global digital hubs such as Dogpatch Labs improves our journey, allowing us to exchange knowledge and improve our assistance for African IT entrepreneurs."

The Irish Tech Challenge application period is currently open and will end on September 29, 2023. South African women-led digital firms are invited to take advantage of this opportunity to accelerate their growth, tap into the Irish tech ecosystem, and contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals.