Meet The Standard Chartered Women in Tech Cohort!

Founders and their businesses.

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Dimakatjo Maila
BrainGiga Pty Ltd

Dimakatjo Maila is the founder of BrainGiga, an experiential learning platform designed to connect students with real-world projects to enhance their employability.

She founded BrainGiga in the belief that young people in Africa have infinite talent and ingenuity, but lack the opportunity and pathways to showcase their abilities.

Passionate about inclusive innovation and the future of work, Dimakatjo is committed to driving change within the education system. Her vision is to empower young people with problem solving, critical thinking and creative thinking skills, so they can be motivated and inspired to find solutions for challenges in their communities and the African  continent we can all be proud of. As a dedicated change agent in the realm of education and social impact,  she supports the following Global Goals:Quality Education, Decent Work and Economic Growth,  and Reduced Inequality . 



​Connect: LinkedIn | Website | Facebook
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Kamogelo Motshidi
The Zora Group

Kamogelo is a seasoned entrepreneur and strategic advisory expert with extensive experience in program planning and operational improvement. Her ability to drive impactful outcomes stems from her rich academic background and versatile skill set. Kamogelo holds multiple technology certifications, a Bachelor of Social Science in Economics and Politics from the University of Cape Town (UCT), an Honours in Social Development (UCT), and a Master’s in Economics from the University of Rome, Tor Vergata.

She is the visionary behind The Zora Group, a 100% black women-owned technology services firm that specializes in cutting-edge solutions in Cloud, Security, Automation, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Under her leadership, the company developed the VITA-4-U tool, an innovative platform that leverages AI, machine learning, and blockchain serialization technology to track and trace medication and medical supplies. This solution is especially beneficial for the pharmaceutical industry and international development agencies in addressing the critical issue of counterfeit medications, which cost health systems in sub-Saharan Africa an estimated $38.5 million annually. Through The Zora Group, Kamogelo is driving transformative change in healthcare supply chains, ensuring transparency and safeguarding public health.



Connect: LinkedIn

Portia Ligege
Isivuno BizAnalytics Hub

Portia Ligege is a dynamic entrepreneur and co-founder with a passion for innovation and strategic growth across diverse industries. As the founder of Isivuno Group, she leads two entities: Isivuno BizAnalytics Hubs, focused on IT services, and Isivuno Agri Industries, which emerged in 2017 after Portia expanded the business to include agriculture through the acquisition of a farm. Her leadership drives both technology and agricultural development in Africa. 

She also co-founded PP Africa Group, a strategic investment company committed to advancing economic growth across the continent. With over 14 years of experience in the private and public sectors, Portia's extensive background spans IT consulting, change management, business analysis, and project management. Her academic credentials include qualifications in Consumer Science, IT, Business Analysis, and PROSCI Change Management, along with specialized training from the Graca Machel Institute, GIBS, and the Standard Basali Development Program.

Isivuno Group offers a broad range of services, from IT consulting, software quality assurance, and ERP consulting, to data governance, application support, and custom IT solutions. Under Portia's visionary leadership, the company continues to drive innovation across sectors, contributing to Africa's economic development.




Connect: LinkedIn | Website

Matshepo Soto
MoveMates

Matshepo is a passionate and visionary leader, serving as the founding CEO of Tech Crafter's Studio. Her innovative approach to technology and commitment to inclusivity have made her a rising star in the tech industry. She has been honored with accolades such as the Rising Star in Coding Women Award and being a finalist in the Top 15 Young Geeks Awards 2024. Matshepo’s influence in the tech space is further recognized by her candidacy for the 100 Influential Women in Tech magazine, a testament to her growing impact.

As the founder of the Thuma Mina Tech Foundation, Matshepo is deeply committed to empowering autistic children by teaching them valuable technology skills. This initiative reflects her belief in the transformative power of technology for everyone, regardless of their background. Her advocacy for meaningful change extends beyond tech as she engages with international television to promote diversity and inclusion in the industry. 

In addition to her leadership in tech, Matshepo is at the helm of MoveMates, a comprehensive platform that revolutionizes the moving process. MoveMates offers instant pricing, easy booking, and real-time tracking for customers, empowering drivers with consistent work and flexible schedules, and providing estate owners with free logistics services for tenants. By streamlining the moving process, MoveMates enhances customer experience, creates job opportunities, and helps estate owners attract and retain tenants.

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Connect: LinkedIn | Website

Merishka Harilall
Spenda Holdings

Merishka Harilall is the co-founder and CEO of Spenda, a forward-thinking leader who channels her entrepreneurial expertise to drive financial inclusion and social impact across Africa. Her passion for empowering people and communities through technology and innovation is at the heart of Spenda's mission.

Spenda is dedicated to developing products that address critical challenges in emerging markets, offering tailored solutions that create real-world impact. In 2023, Spenda launched its flagship product, Spenda Scan to Pay—a digital voucher linked to a phone number, enabling seamless payments for goods and services. This revolutionary payment solution is just one of many innovations Spenda has introduced to the South African market.

In addition to Scan to Pay, Spenda’s Business to Business (B2B) solutions offer cost-effective, customized services for businesses, including rewards and loyalty disbursements, employee incentives, payment acceptance options, and white-label solutions. Under Merishka's leadership, Spenda continues to pioneer technology-driven solutions that uplift communities and enhance financial access in Africa.

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Connect: LinkedIn | Website

Queen Nomasonto Ndlovu  
QP Drone Tech 

Queen Ndlovu is the CEO and Founder of QP Drone Tech, a trailblazer in drone services focused on climate change solutions and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education initiatives. With over 25 years of entrepreneurial experience, Queen also leads South Africa Flying Labs, an organization dedicated to harnessing drone technology for social good. 

A celebrated international author, Queen wrote 'Drone Professional 2' and has been interviewed by global outlets such as Voice of America and the BBC. Her contributions to the technology and innovation space have earned her notable awards, including the Charlotte Maxeke African Women Leadership Award for Women in ICT and the Innovation Award from the Black Industrialists and Exporters Conference, presented by President Cyril Ramaphosa. She holds a Master’s Degree in Entrepreneurship from Wits Business School and is currently pursuing a PhD in Drone Economy.

QP Drone Tech provides advanced drone solutions across various sectors, from disaster management to environmental monitoring, with a focus on innovation, safety, and community empowerment. Queen’s leadership ensures that QP Drone Tech remains at the forefront of technological innovation, blending global insights with local expertise to drive growth and resilience. Her dedication to youth and women’s empowerment continues to inspire, making her a transformative force in the drone industry and beyond.




Connect: LinkedIn | Website

Thabile Makhoba
Makhoba Professional Services

Thobile Makhoba is a renowned specialist in event management, with expertise in international large-scale events, exhibitions, groups, and conferences. She is the founder of Makhoba Professional Services, a leading Information and Communication Technology (ICT) company. 

Makhoba Professional Services excels in delivering high-performance, uninterrupted internet solutions, enabling clients to seamlessly connect with the digital world. The company is known for its comprehensive installation, maintenance, and cloud computing services. With a team of dedicated experts, Makhoba Professional Services provides cutting-edge solutions tailored to the diverse needs of its clients. Core services include installations, maintenance support, fiber optics deployment, and AWS cloud computing solutions. Under Thobile's leadership, the company has established itself as a trusted partner in the ICT sector, known for its commitment to excellence and innovative technology solutions.

Connect: LinkedIn

Thootse Lengolo-Langa
Nokulunga Consulting

Thootse Lengolo-Langa is a dynamic and vibrant young entrepreneur with a passion for Digital Transformation, Adoption, and Change Management. As a PROSCI-certified Change Management Practitioner, Thootse has honed her skills through working with some of the largest corporations in South Africa, spanning industries such as Telecommunications, Petrochemical, Mining, Security, and ICT. Her most recent role at Microsoft South Africa saw her collaborate with over 50 SMMEs, helping them evolve into value-adding IT firms and driving their growth to contribute actively to the economy while creating much-needed employment.

Thootse’s business operates in a niche market, providing cutting-edge services in Data and AI, Infrastructure, Modern Workplace solutions, and Business Automation. Her company focuses on enabling clients to maximize their investments in technology through tailored digital transformation strategies. By delivering high-impact solutions, Thootse’s work empowers businesses to harness the full potential of digital innovation, ensuring that they thrive in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. Her enthusiasm and forward-thinking approach make her a standout leader in the field of digital transformation.



Connect: LinkedIn

Zandile Mkwanazi
GirlCode Talent

Zandile Mkwanazi is a pioneering entrepreneur and advocate for women in technology. As the Founder and CEO of GirlCode, she has transformed the lives of over 60,000 girls and women through her organization's impactful programs. To further address the gender gap in tech, Zandile launched GirlCode Talent, a groundbreaking job marketplace that connects top female tech professionals with innovative companies.

GirlCode Talent is dedicated to revolutionizing tech recruitment by curating a pool of highly skilled female candidates and partnering with forward-thinking organizations. This platform not only streamlines the hiring process but also helps build diverse and high-performing tech teams, aligning with Zandile’s mission to ensure women are equally represented and valued in the tech industry.

With a distinguished career in both education and entrepreneurship, Zandile is a leading authority on women in tech in South Africa. Her commitment to inclusivity and equity drives her efforts to create a more balanced and innovative tech landscape.


Connect: LinkedIn

Fanelesibonge Mbuyazi
Seen

Fanelesibonge Mbuyazi is a Full Stack Software Engineer at MultiChoice, bringing a rich educational background with a BA in Computer Science, Film & Television, Media & Writing from UCT, and a BA (Hons) in Digital Arts (VR/AR) from Wits. Recognized as a Black Women in Science Fellow 2022, she has also been honored as one of the Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans 2024 in Technology and Innovation and one of the Top 15 Young South African Geeks in ICT 2024. Fanelesibonge is known for her innovative work that merges technology with creativity and her dedication to empowering young girls in coding.

She is the founder of SEEN, a platform designed to support South African photographers and creatives by providing them with the tools, resources, and opportunities to showcase their work, connect with clients, and advance their careers. Unlike fragmented solutions available on existing platforms, SEEN offers a comprehensive hub that effectively manages professional identities, projects, and client relationships. With support from sponsors like JP Morgan, Telkom, and the Irish Tech Embassy, SEEN is committed to ensuring African talent can excel in the competitive global market.


Connect: LinkedIn

Nivashnee Ramparsad
Iconix Engineering Solutions (Pty) Ltd trading as Smartee

Nivashnee Ramparsad is the Founder and CEO of Iconix Engineering Solutions (PTY) Ltd, trading as Smartee, since 2017. She is also the Franchise Owner of Young Engineers Johannesburg, a global STEM, Robotics, and Coding franchise, since 2015. As CEO of Smartee, Nivashnee leads business strategy, development, marketing, and sales. Under her leadership, Smartee was honored as the winner of the City of Johannesburg's Smart City Innovation Challenge in 2022.

Before founding Smartee, Nivashnee accumulated seven years of experience at Aberdare Cables, where she worked in Product Development and Application and served as the Head of Engineering Services. There, she was involved in technical customer support, new product development, and participated in international working groups like Cigre, SANS, and AECMSA. Her career began at Roshcon, a subsidiary of Eskom, where she contributed to capital expansion projects for four years.

Smartee specializes in delivering cutting-edge technology solutions for the 4th Industrial Revolution, focusing on IoT products and services. The company provides asset protection and monitoring solutions using innovative cloud-based and IoT technologies to address real-world problems in South Africa. Smartee leverages its extensive relationships and influence within the ICT sector to enable a thriving technology ecosystem. Their vision is to create purpose-built solutions that empower individuals and businesses, driving economic growth through enhanced intelligence and technology.


​Connect: LinkedIn | Website

Tsholofelo Ramokoka
AddressDox

Tsholofelo Ramokoka is the co-founder and CEO of AddressDox, a social entrepreneur dedicated to rural digital transformation. As a PhD candidate specializing in blockchain and digital identities, Tsholofelo is committed to leveraging cutting-edge technology to drive social impact.

AddressDox focuses on providing easy access to valid proof of address documents for rural communities in South Africa. The company's innovative solutions address a critical need by facilitating secure and efficient document verification in areas where traditional methods are often inaccessible. Through her leadership and expertise, Tsholofelo is making significant strides in improving digital infrastructure and empowering underserved populations.


Connect: LinkedIn

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