The Cape IT Initiative (CITI) is looking for 20 local women who have a great business idea, but have, until now, lacked the support to turn that idea into a flourishing technology business.
CITI's Women in IT competition is entering its second year, with a tailored programme and a prize worth R100 000 up for grabs.
Viola Manuel, CITI executive director, says: "We are looking for women in the Western Cape who may have just started a technology business, but are struggling with the logistics of running it. CITI has put together a practical programme of resources, courses and mentoring that will help get their business from start-up to secure and flourishing."
The 12-month programme will see all 20 participants receive an intensive and customised course, structured to fit in with the demands of running a business. At the end of the programme, one woman will be chosen to be this year's "Woman in IT" and will benefit from business support worth more than R100 000.
The prize includes office premises at CITI's business accelerator, the Bandwidth Barn, as well as business support in the form of mentoring, overseas business trips to further global initiatives and access to CITI's public and private IT business network.
Tangible results
Last year's winner, Bronwyn Johnson, of MyMobilIT, says she has enjoyed tangible results from the initiative.
Johnson's business performed well this year and she is signing with an Australian company for a closed user-group mobile instant messaging product.
She has also had interest from African networking companies that are looking at taking her quarterly magazine "Cellfhelp" into other African regions, translated into French and Portuguese.
Johnson is looking for financing to continue growth. She attended German IT exposition Cebit, with CITI, in March, and has come back with a number of international leads.
The call for interest closes at the end of April and all interested women should contact Leigh Holt on (021) 407 7000 or leigh.holt@citi.org.za.
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