Following the successful 2023 Irish Tech Challenge programme, which saw a group of young South African entrepreneurs display their tech start-ups in Ireland, the 2024 instalment of the challenge will be launched today.
Ireland’s Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, will on Friday officially launch the 2024 Irish Tech Challenge at the Tshimologong Digital Precinct in Johannesburg.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of the Witwatersrand, Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, Ireland’s Ambassador to South Africa, Austin Gormley, and the Overseas Bilateral Cooperation Chief Director, Anneline Morgan, will join O’Brien.
The team will be joined by officials from the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI).
The Irish Tech Challenge is a partnership between the Embassy of Ireland in South Africa, the DSI, the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), Wits University’s Tshimologong Digital Precinct and Dogpatch Labs, a start-up incubator in Ireland.
“The initiative aims to help high-potential tech entrepreneurs in South Africa who are ready to scale globally and enhance their impact to overcome challenges such as limited resources, high tech costs, and network and infrastructure access,” the statement read.
Winning start-ups will receive up to €10 000 (R204 330) in funding.
The winners will also be treated to a 10-day trip to Ireland, where they will be part of a curated networking programme with access to the country’s top business leaders, and acceleration support to position their global scaling strategy, in collaboration with Dogpatch Labs in Ireland.
They will also have access to the Irish tech ecosystem with potential opportunities for further funding, and increased exposure leveraged by both the Irish and South African governments.
The DSI said it values the positive socio-economic impact of the Irish Tech Challenge, which assists South African tech entrepreneurs to contribute to driving innovation, job creation and inclusive economic growth in the country. – SAnews.gov.za
