2025 Irish Tech Challenge South Africa

📖 About Irish Tech Challenge South Africa

The Irish Tech Challenge South Africa aims to support innovation and entrepreneurship by fostering connections between the South African and Irish tech ecosystems. Each year, the program identifies high-potential, impact-driven South African tech start-ups and provides them with a curated mentoring and acceleration program within the Irish tech ecosystem.

Why Apply?

• Collaborative Initiative: Spearheaded by the Embassy of Ireland in South Africa, the Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct, the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), and the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA). The program fuses Irish technology expertise with the innovation of South African tech entrepreneurs.
• Focus on Innovation: Promotes innovation, fosters technology development, and ensures effective technology deployment within South Africa.
• Empowering Diversity: Encourages applications from women, young entrepreneurs, and startups aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including climate-focused start-ups.
• Global Expansion Support: Offers financial aid and access to Ireland’s vast technological expertise and influential networks to bolster growth.
• Overcoming Challenges: Addresses barriers faced by tech entrepreneurs ready for global scalability, such as limited resources, high tech costs, and lack of network and infrastructure access.

🎁 Benefits of Irish Tech Challenge South Africa

• Up to €10,000 in grant funding.
• A funded trip to Ireland to immerse in the Irish technology ecosystem.
• Opportunity to learn from Irish business mentors on scaling, in collaboration with Dogpatch Labs in Ireland.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Stage

• Post-revenue or pre-revenue (with developed IP or prototype).
• Ventures must demonstrate commercial potential.

Sectors

• Open to all tech sectors, with particular interest in:
  • Clean/Green-Tech
  • Circular Economies
  • Med/Health/Biotech
  • Ed-Tech
  • WASH (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene)

Impact

• Must address one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Team

• At least one founder/CEO must be full-time.
• Women-led or youth-led businesses are particularly encouraged to apply.

Ownership

• At least 51% owned by a South African and/or in partnership with an Irish national.

Geography

• Headquartered in South Africa or Ireland.

📅 Application Date and Process

• Application Deadline: 04 August, 2025
• To apply, visit the Irish Tech Challenge South Africa Application Portal.

For more information, refer to the FAQs.
For general feedback or queries, email: irishtechchallenge@tshimologong.joburg

🌟 Sponsor Organisation

The Embassy of Ireland in South Africa is the primary sponsor of this initiative.

Take advantage of this unique opportunity to scale your tech start-up globally while fostering innovation and collaboration between South Africa and Ireland!

• Up to €10,000 in grant funding.
• A funded trip to Ireland where you will be immersed in the Irish technology ecosystem.
• An opportunity to learn from Irish business mentors on how to scale in collaboration with Dogpatch Labs in Ireland.