Every thriving innovation ecosystem has two kinds of infrastructure: the visible, such as devices, networks, and platforms; and the invisible, which are the people who design, optimise, and expand it. Hosted on November 20 at Vodacom World in Midrand, the 2025 Innovator Trust SMME Women in Tech (WIT) Awards celebrated this invisible infrastructure by lauding women who are driving SA’s digital economy forward. In addition, they featured a full programme of thought-provoking keynote presentations and panel discussions with insights from trailblazing female professionals.
This year’s awards marked more than a decade of partnership between theInnovator Trust— an enterprise and supplier development and empowerment business incubator dedicated to supporting the growth of SMEs in the ICT industry — and Vodacom. This partnership has made one point unmistakable: women are stepping into the tech economy with support, momentum and the tools to shape what comes next. That momentum is reflected in the Innovator Trust’s investment in equipping women founders with the structure, insight, and practical support needed to grow enduring businesses.
It creates real pathways for women to not only participate in tech but to build and scale with confidence, especially in an AI-driven era. When women are given the tools and engage with the intelligence reshaping our world, they begin architecting the future with intention. The awards reflected this journey by celebrating all that women are: creators, leaders, thinkers, and builders who bring depth and originality to SA’s digital landscape.
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“When women build in the tech ecosystem, they shape industries with intention and bring solutions that speak to the realities of our communities. “Our focus is to provide the environment, expertise, and networks that allow their ideas to grow into strong, competitive enterprises,” says Tashline Jooste, CEO of theInnovator Trust. “The theme of this year’s awards — ‘Code It. Scale It.’ — captures the discipline and purpose with which women approach growth, and the awards honour the full power of who they are and what they bring to the future of technology.” The awards brought together founders, industry leaders and partners who reflected on the evolution of women in the digital economy and the growing need for African solutions built with local relevance.
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