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 announced the selection of seven tech startups for the Irish Tech Challenge South Africa 2024.

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). In its third successive year, the collaboration aims to forge mutually beneficial partnerships between South African entrepreneurs and Irish technology expertise, leveraging Ireland’s global tech hub status. 

Seven selected startups will participate in an intensive pre-acceleration program in South Africa. The program will include workshops, masterclasses, and mentorship sessions and will culminate in a showcase at the Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct in late August. Following this, the startups will travel to Ireland in September 2024 for an acceleration program with Dogpatch Labs, a 500-member strong startup and innovation hub located in Dublin.

The Irish Tech Challenge will grant awards to the seven entrepreneurs who are selected:

1. Up to €10,000 (~ USD 10 K) each in funding.
2. They will receive a funded trip to Ireland, where they will participate in a curated business networking programme and have access to the country’s top business leaders.
3. Access to the Irish tech ecosystem with potential opportunities for further funding.
4. Acceleration Support to position their global scaling strategy in collaboration with Dogpatch Labs.

The selected startups are:

Charnté Marthinus – Smartview Technology

SmartView Technology provides enterprise-grade utility management solutions. Their advanced software and mobile application allow for real-time monitoring and management of consumption, making it easier for businesses to control costs, improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact.

Ahren Posthumus – Momint

Momint uses blockchain technology to ensure that capital is invested in renewable energy projects quickly and safely. They do this by fractionalizing renewable energy projects, enabling individuals to co-invest in their financing, enabling a return on investment, and contributing to a just and sustainable transition.

Priaash Ramadeen – The Awareness Company

The Awareness Company is a situational awareness company that uses data to help organizations achieve operational efficiency and sustainability through its software product, Hydra. This product integrates with organizations’ sensors and third-party systems, thus enabling automated data storytelling and quality insights.

Jabulani Nyembe – Athena

Athena enables 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.

Michelle Geere – AdBot

Adbot provides online advertising solutions for small business owners. It handles all digital marketing needs through its AdBot. They make online advertising easy, effective, and accessible.

Prudence Simelane – Samanjalo

Samanjalo is a fly ash beneficiation business that uses geo-polymer technology to turn coal waste (fly ash) into green products used in construction and infrastructure environments, such as green cement, bricks, pavers and barricades.

Kgololo Lekoma – Credipple

Credipple is a talent marketplace for 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.

Registrations are open here to see the startups at the showcase at the Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct on August 30th, 2024.