About The EPF Annual Tech Awards


The Empire Partner Foundation (EPF) has been actively involved in promoting the development of youth and entrepreneur skills in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector since 2016. EPF has a strong focus on recognizing and supporting local talent and technology in South Africa.


To highlight and celebrate the achievements in this field, EPF organizes the Annual South African Technology Awards. This prestigious event aims to showcase the talent and technology of tech-based businesses across all nine provinces of South Africa. The awards will provide an opportunity for these businesses to gain recognition and exposure for their innovative contributions to the ICT sector.

EPF is enthusiastic about creating a platform that not only acknowledges the achievements of South African tech businesses but also encourages their continued growth and success. By organizing the Annual South African Technology Awards, EPF aims to foster a vibrant and competitive tech ecosystem within the country while promoting local talent and homegrown technology solutions.

Type of Awards

Lifetime Achievement

Tech Industry leaders

NPO/NGO Impact in Social,
youth & Innovation

Outstanding Women in Tech

Young/Emerging Innovator

Global Impact - Foreign companies making an impact in SA

Best Tech Solution

Best Tech Start-up

Best Tech Product

Entrepreneur of the Year

Social Impact Creator (Company/Project)

Leadership & Community Builder


CRITERIA PER AWARD

Should be a South African Citizen

Youth Aged 18 - 35 years

Be a Registered business in South Africa

1 - 3 Years SMME in operation

Social Impact Creator (Company/Project)

Entrepreneurs:

18 - 35 Years old
Technology Readiness Level - 6

Technology Readiness Level 6 Description:

Prototype System Verified: System/process prototype demonstration in an operational environment (beta prototype system level).

Impact Sectors:

1. Water 2. Energy 3. Unemployment
4. Health 5. Agriculture

6. Housing 7. Education 8. Rural
9. Transport 10. Safety

2023 Epf Annual Tech Awards

Impact

The individual should have made a significant impact in their field or industry, and have a track record of achieving excellence and success throughout their career.

Contribution

The individual should have made notable contributions to their field or industry, such as developing new concepts, theories, or technologies, advancing the state of the art, or driving innovation and progress.

Leadership

The individual should have demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, inspiring and motivating others, and mentoring and developing new talent in their field or industry.

Recognition

The individual should have received recognition and acclaim for their work, such as awards, accolades, or honors from peers, colleagues, or professional organizations.

Longevity

The individual should have maintained a consistent level of excellence over a prolonged period of time, showing a sustained commitment to their field or industry.

Inspiration

The individual should have inspired others, serving as a role model and mentor, and motivating others to achieve their full potential in their field or industry.

Form:

First Name & Last name (contact info) Documents - Business Reg Form & Pitch Deck

Innovation

The leader should have a track record of driving innovation in their industry, bringing new products, services, or technologies to market, and pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

Vision

The leader should have a clear and compelling vision for their company, industry, or society, and be able to articulate it to others, inspiring and motivating them to follow.

Business Acumen

The leader should have strong business acumen, with a deep understanding of the market, competition, and trends, and be able to make strategic decisions that drive growth and profitability.

Leadership

The leader should have exceptional leadership skills, building and managing high-performing teams, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration, and empowering others to achieve their full potential.

Socio-economic Impact

The leader should have made a significant impact on their industry, transforming it in a positive way.

Agility

The leader should be able to adapt to change and uncertainty and respond quickly and effectively to new challenges and opportunities.

Diversity and Inclusion

The leader should value and prioritize diversity and inclusion, creating a culture that welcomes and celebrates differences, and fosters a sense of belonging for all employees.

Impact

The NPO should have made a significant impact on socio-economic issues, such as poverty, inequality, education, health, or environmental sustainability, at a global level.

Innovation

The NPO should have introduced new and creative solutions to address socio-economic challenges and demonstrated a willingness to take risks and experiment with new ideas.

Sustainability

The NPO should have demonstrated a long-term commitment to sustainability, by adopting responsible and ethical practices and ensuring the long-term viability of their programs and initiatives.

Collaboration

The NPO should have formed strategic partnerships with other organizations, governments, or communities, to create opportunities for collaboration and mutual benefit.

Outreach

The individual should have maintained a consistent level of excellence over a prolonged period of time, showing a sustained commitment to their field or industry.

Leadership

The individual should have inspired others, serving as a role model and mentor, and motivating others to achieve their full potential in their field or industry.

Diversity and Inclusion

The NPO should value and prioritize diversity and inclusion, creating a culture that welcomes and celebrates differences, and fosters a sense of belonging for all members.

Transparency

The NPO should be transparent in their operations, by sharing information on their financials, activities, and impact, and maintaining accountability to stakeholders.

- Foreign companies making an impact in SA -

Socio-economic Impact

The company should have made a significant impact in South Africa, such as creating jobs, investing in infrastructure or education, or advancing social and environmental causes.

Innovation

The company should have introduced new products, services, or technologies that have helped to drive growth and development in South Africa.

Partnerships

The company should have formed strategic partnerships with local businesses, organizations, or governments, creating opportunities for collaboration and mutual benefit.

Sustainability

The company should have demonstrated a commitment to sustainability, minimizing environmental impact, and promoting social responsibility and ethical business practices.

Diversity and Inclusion

The company should value and prioritize diversity and inclusion, creating a culture that welcomes and celebrates differences, and fosters a sense of belonging for all employees.

Customer Focus

The company should be customer-focused, understanding the needs and preferences of South African customers, and delivering products and services that meet or exceed their expectations.

Leadership

The company should have strong leadership, a clear vision and strategy for their business in South Africa, and a demonstrated ability to execute their plans and deliver results.

LeadCorporate Social Responsibility

The company should have a strong corporate social responsibility program, with a focus on giving back to the local community, supporting education, healthcare, or other important causes.

Technology Transfer

The company should have helped to transfer technology and knowledge to South Africa, building local skills and capabilities, and promoting innovation and growth.

Industry Impact

The company should have positively impacted their industry in South Africa, promoting competition, driving innovation, and raising standards of excellence.

Technical Excellence

The nominee should have demonstrated exceptional technical expertise and skill in the field of technology.

Innovation

The nominee should have made significant contributions to the field of technology by developing new and innovative solutions, products, or services.

Leadership

The nominee should have demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities, such as the ability to inspire and motivate others, to make strategic decisions, and to effectively communicate a vision for the future.

Impact

The nominee should have made a significant impact on the technology industry and/or society, such as through the development of new technologies or by influencing public policy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The nominee should have shown a commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in the technology industry, such as by advocating for underrepresented groups, mentoring, and supporting others, or creating inclusive workplace cultures.

Community Involvement

The nominee should have demonstrated a commitment to giving back to the community through involvement in charitable or volunteer organizations, mentorship programs, or other initiatives that support and empower others.

Originality and Creativity

The innovation should be original, innovative, and creative. It should solve a problem or address a need in a unique way.

Impact

The innovation should have a significant positive impact on society, the environment, or the economy.

Feasibility and Sustainability

The innovation should be feasible and sustainable. It should have a clear plan for implementation and scalability.

Market potential

The innovation should have potential for commercialization or demonstrate the potential to create new markets or transform existing ones.

Collaborative approach

The innovation should reflect a collaborative approach, with a diverse team working together to create the solution.

Demonstrable Results

The innovation should have achieved demonstrable results, with a clear plan for continued development and growth.

Scalability

The innovation should have the potential to be scaled up and implemented on a larger scale.

Social responsibility

The innovation should be socially responsible and align with ethical standards, with consideration given to the impact on human rights, equality, and sustainability.

Innovative use of technology

The innovation should demonstrate the innovative use of technology, including emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Presentation and Communication

The innovation should be presented in a clear, concise, and compelling manner, with effective communication of the problem, solution, and impact.


Innovation

The solution should be unique, creative, and innovative. It should offer something new to the market and solve a problem in a novel way.

Functionality

The solution should work effectively, efficiently, and reliably. It should deliver its intended benefits to its users and be easy to use and maintain.

Scalability

The solution should be scalable, meaning that it should be able to grow and adapt to changing user needs, business requirements, and market conditions.

User Experience

The solution should provide a seamless and intuitive user experience, with a focus on user engagement, satisfaction, and retention.

Impact

The solution should have a positive impact on its users, the environment, society, or the economy. It should demonstrate a measurable and meaningful contribution to a particular domain or industry.

Security and Privacy

The solution should be secure and protect the privacy of its users. It should comply with relevant laws and regulations and adhere to best practices in data protection and cybersecurity.

Integration

The solution should be compatible and interoperable with other systems, tools, and platforms. It should offer easy integration and customization options for its users.

Cost-effectiveness

The solution should provide good value for its cost. It should offer competitive pricing, reasonable licensing terms, and clear ROI for its users and investors.

Technical Excellence

The solution should demonstrate technical excellence, with robust architecture, high performance, and reliable uptime. It should follow industry standards and best practices and have a strong development team and support infrastructure.

Future Potential

The solution should have a clear roadmap for future development, with a vision for continued innovation, growth, and market leadership. It should be poised to disrupt its industry or domain in a positive way and have a strong competitive advantage over its rivals.

Innovation

The startup should offer a unique, innovative product or service that addresses a real need or problem in the market.

Growth potential

The company should have a clear plan for scaling up and expanding its business in the future.

Market traction

The startup should have demonstrated some level of success in gaining customers, generating revenue, and/or establishing partnerships.

Team

The founders and team members should have the skills, experience, and passion necessary to execute on their vision and drive the company forward.

Social impact

The startup should have a positive impact on society, whether by addressing social or environmental issues or creating jobs and economic growth.

Financial viability

The startup should have a sound financial plan and a path to profitability, with realistic projections and clear metrics for success.

Industry potential

The company should operate in a growing or emerging industry with significant potential for disruption and innovation.

Competitive advantage

The startup should have a clear competitive advantage over existing players in the market, whether through technology, intellectual property, or other factors.

Innovation

The product should demonstrate innovative technology or features that set it apart from others in the market.

User experience

The product should be easy to use, intuitive, and provide an enjoyable user experience.

Design

The product should have an aesthetically pleasing and functional design.

Functionality

The product should perform as advertised and have a high level of reliability and durability.

Impact

The product should have a positive impact on society or the industry it is targeting.

Scalability

The product should be scalable to meet the needs of a large user base and have potential for growth.

Accessibility

The product should be accessible to a wide range of users, including those with disabilities.

Security

The product should have robust security features to protect users' data and privacy.

Cost-effectiveness

The product should offer good value for money and be affordable for its intended audience.

Customer support

The product should have a high level of customer support and be responsive to user feedback and concerns.

Innovation

The entrepreneur should have developed an innovative product, service, or business model that solves a significant problem or meets a market need in a unique way.

Impact

The entrepreneur should have made a significant impact on their industry, community, or society. This could be measured in terms of job creation, revenue growth, social or environmental impact, or other relevant metrics.

Leadership

The entrepreneur should demonstrate strong leadership skills, including vision, strategic thinking, communication, and the ability to motivate and inspire others.

Resilience

The entrepreneur should have demonstrated the ability to overcome challenges and persevere through difficult times, such as economic downturns, industry disruptions, or personal setbacks.

Customer Focus

The entrepreneur should prioritize customer satisfaction and have a deep understanding of their customer’s needs and preferences.

Financial Performance

The entrepreneur should have achieved strong financial performance, including revenue growth, profitability, and return on investment.

Ethical Standards

The entrepreneur should demonstrate a commitment to ethical and socially responsible business practices, including transparency, integrity, and respect for stakeholders.

Scalability

The entrepreneur should have developed a business that has the potential to scale and grow rapidly, either nationally or globally.

Teamwork

The entrepreneur should have built and led a strong team, including attracting and retaining top talent, fostering a positive company culture, and developing employees' skills and abilities.

Industry Recognition

The entrepreneur should have received recognition from their industry peers, such as awards, accolades, or invitations to speak at conferences or events.

Scope and Scale of Impact

The size and depth of the impact on the targeted social issue should be considered. The project should demonstrate a significant impact on a specific community or population.

Innovation and Creativity

The project should showcase new and creative ideas and approaches that address social problems in unique ways.

Sustainability

The project should have a clear plan for long-term sustainability and be designed to create a lasting impact rather than just providing temporary solutions.

Collaborations and Partnerships

The project should demonstrate collaboration with relevant stakeholders, including government agencies, non-profits, and local communities.

Measurable Results

The project should provide clear evidence of measurable outcomes and demonstrate that it is achieving its intended goals.

Adapting to Challenges

The project should show the ability to adapt to changing circumstances and be flexible in its approach.

Scalability and Replicability

The project should be scalable and replicable, meaning that it can be applied in other contexts and communities.

Ethics and Transparency

The project should adhere to ethical principles and be transparent in its operations, finances, and decision-making processes.

Impact on Diversity and Inclusion

The project should promote diversity and inclusion, demonstrating a commitment to social justice and equity.

Positive Impact on Multiple Levels

The project should have a positive impact on multiple levels, including individuals, communities, and society.

Vision and Strategy

The leader should have a clear and inspiring vision for their organization or team and be able to articulate a strategy to achieve it.

Communication

The leader should be an effective communicator, able to convey their vision and strategy to their team and stakeholders and be able to listen actively and respond appropriately.

Decision Making

The leader should be able to make well-informed and timely decisions, considering both short-term and long-term implications, and be able to justify their decisions.

Team Building

The leader should be able to build a strong and diverse team, promoting collaboration, empowerment, and accountability, and fostering a positive work culture.

Results Orientation

TThe leader should be able to deliver results, meet or exceed goals and objectives, and continuously improve performance.

Ethics and Integrity

The leader should be ethical and act with integrity, modeling the behaviours and values they expect from their team, and being transparent and accountable for their actions.

Innovation and Creativity

The leader should encourage and foster innovation and creativity, promoting experimentation, risk-taking, and learning from failures.

Resilience and Adaptability

The leader should be able to navigate challenges and uncertainties, adapt to changing circumstances, and demonstrate resilience and perseverance in the face of setbacks.

Become A Sponsor

Brand visibility and exposure

By sponsoring a tech event, sponsors can increase their brand visibility and exposure to a relevant and engaged audience. This can help to increase brand recognition and awareness.

Lead generation

Tech events can provide sponsors with opportunities to generate new leads and potential customers. By interacting with attendees and showcasing their products or services, sponsors can attract new business.

Networking opportunities

Sponsoring a tech event can provide sponsors with opportunities to network with other industry professionals, potential partners, and investors. This can help to build valuable connections and relationships.

Thought leadership

By sponsoring a tech event and providing thought leadership content or speakers, sponsors can position themselves as experts in their industry. This can help to build credibility and trust with potential customers.

Talent acquisition

Tech events can provide sponsors with opportunities to connect with talented individuals in the industry, including potential employees, contractors, and freelancers. This can help to build a strong team and support business growth.

Importants Awards Dates To Remember

Open for entries:
10 June 2023
Entries close:
30 September 2023
Judging:
01 - 15 October 2023
Awards:
11 November 2023
Proud

sponsors




Donate

FNB

Branch Code: 250955
Account no: 62630239243
Account type: Cheque

Contact

Ground Floor, 35 Ferguson Road, Illovo, Sandton, Gauteng, 2196

Call: +27 11 084 1100

Email: info@empirepartnerfoundation.org