Irish Tech Challenge Empowering Local Tech Startups

Local tech businesses are becoming a more significant factor in South Africa’s economic expansion.

These entrepreneurs are creating ground-breaking answers to some of the most critical issues facing the nation, including inequality, poverty, and unemployment.

By generating jobs, tech companies are one way that they help the economy flourish. In May 2022, the 490 digital firms in South Africa had produced over 11,000 jobs, according to a report by the South African Startup Ecosystem Report. Given that the country’s current unemployment rate is 32.9%, this is a substantial amount.

The research emphasizes how tech businesses are bolstering the South African economy by providing income in addition to jobs. South African IT startups raised about 900 million dollars in investment in 2022. With the help of this finance, new services and products are being created and new markets are being entered.

According to the survey, more than 25% of South African tech firms have undergone some kind of acceleration or incubation. These kinds of assistance are crucial to the growth and resiliency of companies.

The foundation for this is provided by organizations like Johannesburg’s Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct. Through their industry-leading Enterprise Development Model, which is centered on creating skills for the digital economy, they offer startups and entrepreneurs the tools and assistance they need to create and scale their enterprises. Local hubs must collaborate with international accelerators like Dogpatch labs, who offer a comparable array of support services in the Ireland ecosystem, in order to scale and help entrepreneurs enter new markets.

For the growth of the South African IT ecosystem, opportunities like the Irish IT Challenge South Africa 2023 are essential.

The fundamental issue with many of these startup support programs is their lack of diversity and accessibility to entrepreneurs outside of the major cities. Less than 15% of firms that have undergone acceleration or incubation, according to the survey, include a female co-founder.

However, women, young entrepreneurs, and members of underprivileged communities are highly encouraged to apply for the Irish Tech Challenge South Africa 2023. It offers five digital businesses the chance to enter new foreign markets as well as grant money of up to €10,000.

The Irish digital Challenge gave support and a networking trip to Ireland to five businesses in diverse digital industries during its pilot year of 2022. Mukundi Lambani of Ambani Africa, an EdTech firm that employs technology to provide diverse solutions for public and private beneficiaries, was one of the successful technopreneurs. “Taking part in the Irish Tech Challenge has been truly transformative for me,” said Sabelo Sibanda, founder of MLX Ventures, which provides businesses with AI-powered solutions. I had the opportunity to learn about the Irish tech sector and culture. I was able to expand my business as a result of this. These endorsements from a few Irish Tech Challenge alums show just how helpful this program is.

Additionally, the Irish Tech Challenge South Africa brings together national and international accelerators (Dogpatch laboratories and Tshimologong), as well as governments (Embassy of Ireland, Department of Science & Innovation (DSI), and Technology Innovation Agency-TIA). As a result, this challenge has a fantastic value proposition that makes use of the diverse knowledge of multiple players.

Apply now to participate in this innovative tech challenge and grow your startup.