Meet the 7 Irish Tech Challenge South Africa 2024 finalists
The Irish Tech Challenge South Africa aims to break down barriers for South African technology entrepreneurs, and empower their start-ups to thrive on the global stage.
Limited resources, lack of access to markets and high technology costs that come as part of global scaling are some of the key challenges faced by South African start-ups. Fostering connections between the South African and Irish technology ecosystems that can help overcome these challenges is at the heart of the Irish Tech Challenge South Africa.
Accelerating growth and innovation
The programme is designed to identify and nurture high potential, impact-driven South African tech-start-ups. From the 350 applicants to this year’s programme, seven finalists were ultimately selected.
Each of these finalists receives a grant of €10,000 and a funded trip to Ireland to participate in an intensive weeklong accelerator and mentorship programme hosted by Dogpatch Labs.
While at Dogpatch Labs, the start-ups met with a select group of Irish tech leaders and potential investors who will help them face the challenges of limited resources, infrastructure, networks and staffing while preparing for scalability across Africa, Europe and beyond.
Find out more from the Irish Tech Challenge South Africa finalists on their visit to Dublin
Supporting marginalised communities
Established in 2022, this leading partnership between Embassy of Ireland in South Africa, the South African Department of Science & Innovation (DSI), the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) in Pretoria, Dogpatch Labs in Dublin and the Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct in Johannesburg, is part of a broader effort to foster economic development and enhance technological collaboration between South Africa and Ireland.
Particular emphasis is placed on encouraging applications from women, young entrepreneurs, and startups aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as climate-focused start-ups.
Meet the 2024 Irish Tech Challenge South Africa winners
Discover the winners of the 2024 Tech Challenge and get a sense of the extraordinary talent for innovation and entrepreneurship in South Africa. These businesses span from blockchain to sustainability to health, and have huge potential to transform communities in South Africa and beyond.
Founder of Smartview Technology
Charnté Marthinus
SmartView Technology provides enterprise-grade utility management solutions.
Their advanced software and mobile application allows for real-time monitoring and management of consumption, making it easier for businesses to control costs, improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
Founder of Momint
Ahren Posthumus
Momint uses blockchain technology to ensure that capital is invested in renewable energy projects in a fast and safe way.
They do this by fractionalizing renewable energy projects, allowing individuals to co-invest in the financing of the projects, which in turn enables a return on investment and contributes to a just and sustainable energy transition.
Founder of The Awareness Company
Priaash Ramadeen
The Awareness Company is a situational awareness company that uses data to help organisations achieve operational efficiency and sustainability through their software product, Hydra.
This integrates with organisations’ sensors and third party systems, enabling automated data storytelling and quality insights.
Founder of Athena
Jabulani Nyembe
Athena provides affordable access to healthcare services through a platform that allows patients to pay their medical treatment costs in monthly instalments.
They use technology to administer this process for both doctors and patients.
Founder of AdBot
Michelle Geere
Adbot provides online advertising solutions for small business owners by handling all their digital marketing needs through its AdBot.
They make online advertising easy, effective and accessible.
Founder of Samanjalo
Prudence Simelane
Samanjalo is a fly ash beneficiation business that uses geo-polymer technology to turn coal waste (fly ash) into green products.
These products are then used in construction and infrastructure environments such as green cement, bricks, pavers and barricades.
Founder of Credipple
Kgololo Lekoma
Credipple is a multisided talent platform marketplace for trusted creative and digital professionals.
They reduce friction in the process of hiring remote work professionals by matching clients to trusted professionals and streamlining the admin processes, to make it easier to collaborate and do great work.