The 2024 edition of the
Irish Tech Challenge South Africa reached an exciting climax today with seven dynamic South African startups showcasing their innovations at Dublin’s
Dogpatch Labs, Ireland’s leading startup and innovation hub.
The event marks the end of an intensive accelerator week in Dublin, which drew tech leaders, investors, and political heavyweights, including South Africa’s Deputy President, Paul Mashatile, Ireland’s Minister for State of International Development and Diaspora, Sean Fleming, and South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Andrew Whitfield.
The initiative, which kicked off in 2022, is a collaboration between the Embassy of Ireland in South Africa, the South African Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), and the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA). With Dogpatch Labs in Dublin and Johannesburg’s Wits Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct as key implementation partners, the 2024 program attracted over 350 applicants from South Africa’s tech scene, narrowing down to seven exceptional finalists for this year’s showcase.
As the startups took the stage, the air buzzed with innovation. From cutting-edge FinTech and blockchain solutions to impact-driven ideas tackling sustainability and health challenges, the finalists put forward bold visions for the future of South African tech.
The showcase was not just a pitch—it was a window into the future. Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, Paul Mashatile, impressed by the calibre of talent on display, highlighted the importance of the initiative: “We are very proud of the rapid growth of the South African tech sector and our innovative startups. We are grateful to Ireland for welcoming some of our best and brightest as they develop and strengthen the links between our two tech systems. The unique insights gained in Dublin this week will continue to place South Africa as a player on the world’s tech stage.”
Austin Gormley, Ambassador of Ireland to South Africa, has praised the initiative, stating: “We are pleased to once again welcome the finalists of this year’s Irish Tech Challenge to Ireland as part of this dynamic program. This initiative not only provides a platform for South African startups to engage with Ireland’s thriving tech ecosystem but also creates valuable opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and access to international markets.”
Michelle Geere, one of the finalists and the founder of Adbot, was elated by the experience: “I truly appreciate the opportunity to be in Ireland to showcase our home-grown South African innovation, and to gain feedback from both an Irish and global perspective. We now have plans to create a presence for our company in Ireland and the relationships we have developed over the week will go a long way in helping us to take these important steps.”
Dogpatch Labs’ Entrepreneur in Residence, Hesus Inoma, ended with an optimistic outlook: “We are honoured to have hosted an incredible cohort of startups in Ireland this week. We are proud of the programme as it truly speaks to the strengths of Ireland and South Africa and all that the ecosystems have to offer to the thriving tech sector. We look forward to following the ripple effects that this initiative will ignite in the next few years and decades for both nations.”
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