Innovator Trust WIT Awards 2025: Shaping the growth of female-owned SMME's building the future

Every thriving innovation ecosystem has two kinds of infrastructure: the visible, such as devices, networks, and platforms, and the invisible, which are the women who design, optimise, and expand it. The 2025 Innovator Trust Women in Tech (WIT) Awards celebrated this invisible infrastructure. This marked more than a decade of partnership between the Innovator Trust and the Vodacom Group. This partnership made one point unmistakable: women are stepping into the tech economy with support, momentum and the tools to shape what comes next.

Issued by The Innovator Trust

2 Dec 2025

Innovator Trust WIT Awards 2025: Shaping the growth of female-owned SMME's building the future

By design, AI (artificial intelligence) was the thread running through every keynote, panel and conversation. When women are given the tools and engage with the intelligence reshaping our world, they begin architecting the future with intention. The Awards reflect this journey by celebrating all that women are: creators, leaders, thinkers, and builders who bring depth and originality to South Africa’s digital landscape.

Code It. Shape 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,” emphasises Tashline Jooste, CEO of the Innovator Trust.

The awards brought together SMME’s, 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.

The insights carried into the plenaries, skillfully moderated by Nozipho Tshabalala's presence and expertise, who drew the entire room into the conversation effortlessly. Under her direction, speakers explored the role of AI, digital tools, and cross-border integration in strengthening SMME growth.

Winners, nominees and Innovator Trust alum reflected on their incubation experience and the interventions that helped them refine operations, strengthen governance, and approach growth with intention. The Awards concluded with the announcement of the 2025 recipients across the Innovator Trust Enterprise Development, Supplier Development, and Youth categories.

2025 Women in Tech SME Award winners

Enterprise Development Top Female Achiever

Quarter 1 (Apr ' 25-Jun '25-jun'25)
Overall winner: Bilion Power Networks – Tanya Ahjam
First runner up: Samo Engineering – Nonhlanhla Moloko
Second runner up: New Era IT – Unathi Nuku

Enterprise Development Top Achiever Highest % Growth

Overall winner: Simphiwe Security Consulting – Moira Mazibuko
First runner up: Tsokotla Engineering – Lethabo Ramotshela
Second runner up: Olem Business Boutique – Aphiwe Tafeni

Enterprise Development Top Achiever Highest % Growth

Overall Winner: Simphiwe Security Consulting – Moira Mazibuko
First Runner Up: Tsokotla Engineering – Lethabo Ramotshela
Second Runner Up: Olem Business Boutique – Aphiwe Tafeni

Enterprise Development Annual Revenue Top Achiever

Overall Winner: Thaman Technologies & Systems – Bongeka Nyembezi
First Runner Up: New Era IT – Unathi Nuku
Second Runner Up: Simphiwe Security Consulting – Moira Mazibuko

Enterprise Development Top Employment Creator

Winner: Olem Business Boutique – Aphiwe Tafeni

Vodacom

Supplier Development Top Achiever Highest % Growth

Bolunga Systems – Siphokazi Simandla

Vodacom Innovator Trust Pinnacle Award

Winner: Khayakhulu Enterprises – Akhona Mfaba

The Youth Top Achiever 2025

Ayanda Nene – This award Celebrates the leading young woman entrepreneur on the Innovator Trust Youth Entrepreneurship Program, under the age of 35, who has shown significant achievement and innovation.

As the celebration closed, Jooste’s words of inspiration resounded through the room: “You have to code in courage. You have to code in conviction. You have to code in care.” The Innovator Trust SMME Awards 2025 remind us that when women have the space and resources to grow, their impact extends beyond technology and strengthens the future of South Africa as a whole.

The Innovator Trust was created to support the growth of small black-owned Information and Communications Technology (ICT) businesses in South Africa. Through our programmes, we support and nurture the growth of SMMEs by facilitating training that develops their skills as business owners, and providing necessary resources and mentorship, ensuring they become sustainable businesses contributing meaningfully to the ICT sector and the country's economy.