Nominations open for Africa Tech Festival Awards 2023

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – Taking place at the Bay Hotel in Camp's Bay, Cape Town on November 15, 2023, the achievements of some of the African technology, telecommunications, and media industry's most illustrious pioneers and tech entrepreneurs, will once again be fêted at the prestigious Africa Tech Festival Awards.

As awards ceremonies go, Africa Tech Festival's are a standout, not only in their recognition of the achievements of the companies and people who are making a difference in the lives of countless Africans, but for their reputation as an unforgettable evening of fun, food, and conversation in the company of some of the industry's hottest talent.

The Awards Ceremony will welcome Africa's leaders to an elegant evening celebration beginning with a cocktail reception at Tides restaurant with its magnificent seafront views, followed by a gala dinner in the Rotunda accompanied by live music. The night will end with an afterparty soundtracked by a live DJ.

As encouragement to enter and commenting on the impact of winning the Startup of the Year Award in 2022, Motunrayo Opayinka, founder of Womenovate said that it has: "brought significant visibility and recognition to Womenovate. As a result, we experienced various positive changes, including increased brand visibility and new collaboration opportunities."

She said that, after the award, Womenovate was able to expand its network with like-minded individuals, experts, and mentors, which was very valuable in its mission to support Nigerian women in science, technology, engineering, agriculture, and mathematics (STEAM).

"Winning the prestigious award added to our credibility, helping us to further gain trust from our stakeholders, beneficiaries, and the public," she added.

In 2023, the Africa Tech Festival team has taken the event up yet another notch, introducing a new award category – the Creative Visionary Award – to commend the remarkable forerunners in the African media, broadcasting, and entertainment industries.

Award Categories

Creative Visionary Award – this new award is dedicated to honoring exceptional media, broadcasting, and entertainment professionals across Africa.

Connecting for All Award – dedicated to recognizing and honoring network providers and services that have demonstrated exceptional commitment and effort in ensuring connectivity for all.

Innovation for Impact – recognizes innovations in products or services that have disrupted traditional approaches, introduced novel solutions, and created tangible value for businesses and individuals in Africa.

CXO of the Year – honors exceptional leaders in Africa and their outstanding contributions in building teams, setting new standards, and delivering on a clear vision in a rapidly changing business landscape.

Changing Lives Award – dedicated to recognizing and honoring organizations and initiatives that are committed to improving lives across the continent.

Female Innovator of the Year Award – honors the women who have made significant contributions to the fields of tech, media, and telecoms across Africa.

Sustainability Champion of the Year – formerly the "Green ICT Champion Award," this award celebrates the remarkable achievements of individuals or organization leading the way in the development and integration of sustainable energy solutions for the continent.

Fintech Innovation Award – acknowledges the transformative power of financial technology in driving economic growth, financial inclusion, and digital transformation.

Startup of the Year Award – acknowledges the entrepreneurial spirit, technological innovation, and potential impact of startups in driving growth, solving challenges, and contributing to the advancement of Africa's tech ecosystem.

Healthtech Innovation of the Year Award – recognizes innovative solutions that are changing lives, advancing healthcare, and making a significant positive impact on individuals and communities.

Overseeing the development of the awards and responsible for the overall festival's successful delivery each year, James Williams, director of events for Connecting Africa at Informa Tech, commented that "these awards are all about celebrating the optimists in industry for whom every challenge is a possibility and a solution waiting to be discovered and implemented."

"The wealth of talent on the African continent is exceptional, which makes the public voting to select only one hero per category a highly competitive process and extremely difficult. That said, it is an honor to be amongst them all and we look forward to this event every year and to sharing their achievements with our connected community," Williams added.

Nominations are open until September 7, 2023, with short-listed candidates announced on September 11, 2023.

To enter, nominations need to be submitted on the Africa Tech Festival website.

The short-listed candidates will be chosen by a panel of judges, and thereafter, the winners will be selected via a public vote.

To register for a free visitor pass for Africa Tech Festival 2023, please use this link.

Africa Tech Festival