Ireland to launch of 2024 Irish Tech Challenge in South Africa

Following the successful 2023 Irish Tech Challenge programme which saw a group of young South African entrepreneurs showcasing their tech start-ups in Ireland, the 2024 installment of the challenge will be launched on 15 March 2024.

Ireland's Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O'Brien, TD, will officially launch the 2024 Irish Tech Challenge, at the Tshimologong Digital Precinct in Johannesburg. Mr O'Brien will be joined by the Vice Chancellor of the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), Prof. Zeblon Vilakazi, the Ireland's Ambassador to South, HE Austin Gormley, and the Chief Director: Overseas Bilateral Cooperation, Ms Anneline Morgan, from the South African Department of Science and Innovation (DSI).

The Irish Tech Challenge in South Africa is a partnership between the Embassy of Ireland in South Africa, the DSI, the Technology Innovation Agency, 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.

Winning start-ups will receive up to €10 000 in funding, 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, acceleration support to position their global scaling strategy in collaboration with Dogpatch Labs in Ireland, 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 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.

This article was first published on 15 March by South Africa Department of Science and Innovation.