Not so long ago, conversations about women in technology centered on whether space would be created for them to lead. Today, the answer is visible in the work itself. Women across South Africa are actively building businesses, creating employment, and solving complex problems that reshape how communities and organizations connect.
To celebrate this momentum, the Innovator Trust Women in Tech (WIT) Awards returns on Tuesday, 24 November 2026. As one of South Africa’s premier platforms for women-led ICT SMEs, the event shines a national spotlight on female founders driving real economic impact.
Honoring Growth from Incubation to Impact:
The WIT Awards recognize female entrepreneurs who have completed the Innovator Trust’s Start-up Enterprise Development, Youth Entrepreneurship, and Supplier Development incubation programs. Through these initiatives, founders gain the tools to digitize, monetize, and scale their businesses effectively.
Beyond celebrating individual awards, the event features a world-class speaker program connecting business success to broader discussions on leadership, economic access, and sector growth.
- Previous Keynote Voices: Thought leaders such as Prof. Thuli Madonsela, Dr. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, business icon Irene Charnley, African Futurist Dr. Roze Phillips, Vodacom’s Tsatsi Mthimunye, and Cisco’s Charmaine Houvet.
- Commercial Visibility: Awards build the credibility required to open doors to supply chains, investment capital, and long-term procurement opportunities.
Theme for 2026: Tech Believers
This year’s theme, Tech Believers, centers on conviction and action. Women founders consistently believe in their vision long before the market offers validation, investing time, taking risks, and building capability.
WIT celebrates evidence and action. We see it in growing businesses, new jobs, and technology that solves very real problems in our country. Through this year’s theme, Tech Believers, WIT and its partners recognize the women who have backed their ideas with action and call on the market to back proven ability with real opportunity – Tashline Jooste, CEO of the Innovator Trust
The theme serves as a call to action for the broader tech ecosystem. For South Africa’s digital economy to thrive, the market must match the conviction of these founders through concrete opportunities: capital, mentorship, strategic partnerships, and enterprise contracts.
Join the Movement:
Registration for the virtual event on 24 November 2026 is completely free. Entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and tech enthusiasts across South Africa are invited to take part, support emerging leaders, and celebrate the women moving technology forward.