CALLING ALL TECH ENTREPRENEURS CHAMPIONING CHANGE
The Embassy of Ireland in South Africa in partnership with Wits University’s Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct, the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), the Department of Science & Innovation (DSI) and Dogpatch Labs Ireland invite South African tech startups to apply for the Irish Tech Challenge South Africa 2024.
Irish Tech Challenge Applications NOW OPEN
THE IRISH TECH CHALLENGE WILL AWARD SEVEN COMPELLING TECH INNOVATORS:
- Up to €10,000 each in funding.
- A funded trip to Ireland where you will be part of a curated business networking programme with access to the country’s top business leaders.
- Access to the Irish tech ecosystem with potential opportunities for further funding.
- Receive acceleration support to position your global scaling strategy in collaboration with Dogpatch Labs in Ireland.
- Collaborative initiative: Spearheaded by the Embassy of Ireland in South Africa, the Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct and Technology Innovation Agency, the programme aims to fuse Irish technology expertise with the innovation of South African tech entrepreneurs.
- Focus on innovation: The Irish Tech Challenge is rooted in promoting innovation, fostering technology development, and ensuring effective technology deployment within South Africa.
- Empowering diversity: With a special emphasis on encouraging applications from women, young entrepreneurs, and startups aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including climate-focused start-ups.
- Global expansion support: The chosen entrepreneurs will receive not just financial aid, but also premier access to Ireland’s vast technological expertise and influential networks to bolster their growth.
- Overcoming challenges: The initiative understands the barriers faced by tech entrepreneurs ready for global scalability: limited resources, high tech costs, and network and infrastructure access.
PROPEL YOUR TECH START-UP TO NEW HEIGHTS
WHY APPLY?
Join the Irish Tech Challenge South Africa 2024 and seize the opportunity to change the tech landscape while making a global impact
UPCOMING KEY DATES
17 April 2024 (Hybrid)
Information Session
31 April 2024
Submission deadline
24-28 June 2024
Showcase Day
08 July 2024
Pre-Acceleration Program Begins
20-30 September 2024:
Visit to Ireland
SELECTION CRITERIA
SELECTION AND ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The selection committee comprises highly qualified and impartial experts with experience in the technology and innovation sector and experience working with entrepreneurs at varying stages of their entrepreneurship journey.
PAUL DEANE
Trade and Education Counsellor at the Embassy of Ireland
Dr Babongile Mkhize
Director for Innovation Priorities and Instruments at the Department of Science and Innovation
Contact
For general feedback and any queries not found in the FAQs, please email irishtechchallenge@tshimologong.joburg
Please expect responses within three working days.
We may be unable to answer specific questions about applications while the call for applications is still open
English