Telkom has recently announced the winners of the second edition of its Transformation and Innovation Awards, an event designed to recognise start-ups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that have demonstrated resilience and innovation through the company's FutureMakers programme. This awards ceremony took place this week and highlighted the significant contributions of South African entrepreneurs in the face of economic challenges.
Despite the economic landscape, South Africa remains a vibrant hub for entrepreneurial activity, with many new businesses expecting to increase employee numbers and revenue in the coming year. Telkom, a leading telecommunications provider in the country, has aimed to amplify these entrepreneurial success stories through this initiative.
The awards ceremony showcased various technology trends and innovative solutions emerging from South Africa's burgeoning start-up ecosystem, providing a platform for networking and collaboration among entrepreneurs. Prominent among the award recipients were tech start-ups Droppa, Delivery Ka Speed, and Welo Health, each recognised for their significant contributions in the SME category.
Sello Mmakau, group chief digital officer at Telkom, commented on the remarkable entrepreneurial spirit in South Africa. Speaking to ITWeb, he stated, “Through the Telkom Transformation and Innovation Awards, we aimed to highlight the incredible work being done by local start-ups and entrepreneurs who are driving positive change and shaping the future of our nation.”
Telkom has invested in the FutureMakers initiative with the goal of diversifying value chains, uplifting township economies, democratizing technology innovation, and providing access to venture capital. Mmakau highlighted the need for such measures in response to government initiatives aimed at economic transformation and job creation. He asserted that the winning solutions have established a new benchmark for the industry, showcasing resilience, creativity, and a vision for a better future.
For almost a decade, FutureMakers has been instrumental in empowering ICT social entrepreneurs, helping them transition innovative digital ideas into commercially viable and scalable ventures that address pressing social issues in their communities.
The awards featured multiple segments, recognising various facets of innovation and transformation within Telkom’s ecosystem. In the first segment focusing on SMEs, notable winners included Advannotech for AI Innovation of the Year, Delivery Ka Speed for E-commerce Innovation of the Year, and Mmapaseka Academy for Edtech Innovation of the Year.
Other categories acknowledged included:
- Fintech Innovation of the Year: Level Finance
- Healthtech Innovation of the Year: Welo Health
- Most Jobs Created: Droppa
In a subsequent segment for SME winners, the Top Performer Award was granted to Mafoko Global, while the Resilience Award went to Mzali App. The Openserve People’s Choice Award was awarded to NetCampus Group, and Delivery Ka Speed also claimed the Consumer Small Business People’s Choice Award. Mzali Development received recognition in the corporate category.
The final segment featured overall SME winners, with NetCampus Group recognised as Tech Woman of the Year and Credipple awarded the Tech for Good Award. Additionally, Khoitech earned the title of Tech Trailblazer of the Year.
The event not only celebrated individual achievements but also underscored the collective impact of South Africa’s start-up ecosystem in fostering innovation and driving economic growth.
Source: Noah Wire Services