The Cape Innovation and Technology Initiative (CiTi), an incubator for local tech and tech-enabled entrepreneurs in Cape Town, has unveiled its Women in Business (WIB) programme which aims to help women entrepreneurs gain useful insight into using digital tools that improve business practices.
The initiative, which is jointly sponsored by the City of Cape Town, is part of a venture to empower female entrepreneurs by giving them access to workshops, mentors and tools that will enrich their knowledge of tech and business strategies, as well as enhance their practical business skills, says CiTi.
CiTi has chosen 41 out of 103 applicants who own and operate a diverse mix of businesses across industry sectors, from agriculture and travel, to construction and IT, to participate.
To apply, the women have to be South African, Cape Town-based and have a business that is three or more years old.
The 10-week programme will provide valuable support through weekly meetings and networking, learning through storytelling, training, as well as exposure to tech tools that will help grow these businesses, it adds.
According to the Gender-Global Entrepreneurship and Development Index conducted in 2014, SA is still behind many countries in terms of workplace equality, says Dylan Kohlst"adt, CEO of Shift ONE Digital and WIB programme co-facilitator.
Certain economic conditions, as well as traditional stereotypes, make it not only difficult for more female entrepreneurs to emerge, but to prosper as well, she says.
While female entrepreneurship is on the rise, there is still a big gap between the number of male versus female-run businesses, notes Kohlst"adt. The Women in Business programme provides a platform for women to network and share war stories, as well as learn vital tech skills in order to grow their businesses, she continues.
Female entrepreneurs often face hurdles unique to women that are seldom addressed, says Phillipine Francke, one of the programme's chief facilitators.
"We all know how difficult it is to launch and run a successful business in this economic climate, even with the support of government and top incubators like CiTi.
"The topics covered in this programme will give women insight into some of the tools, apps and software available to them that could propel their businesses through tech."
Women have a great inborn capacity for building communities, says Kohlst"adt. However, that is often pushed aside in their efforts to become successful in a man's world, she notes.
"Instead of linking arms, women might feel they need to compete with one another; sort of as if there is a quota on the number of successful women allowed. We hope to turn this thinking around in SA and encourage a more collaborative and generous way of thinking."
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