Old Mutual Insure, the Cape Innovation & Technology Initiative (CiTi) and the VeloCiTi Entrepreneurial programme, are partnering together to help 30 female founders build their businesses through the Top Tech Tools for Women in Business Programme.
This online programme, which started on 10 June 2022, sees Old Mutual Insure sponsor the participation of female-owned businesses from diverse industries such as finance, payroll/HR, education, and retail, in an ‘infusion learning’ type experience consisting of fireside chats, workshops and masterclasses. The programme aims to provide strategic and developmental support to female entrepreneurs in their pursuance of entrepreneurial excellence.
“We support job creation by championing South African entrepreneurs and small businesses and have worked hard to ensure that our skills development and entrepreneurship programmes have a focus on empowering women in a sustainable manner,” explains Antonia Oakes, Old Mutual Insure’s Executive for Customer Experience and Responsible Business.
She adds that the company endeavours to reinforce sustainability in the mainstream economy by providing adequate training and investment.
“We are therefore proud to support this programme, which will allow 30 women to benefit from an in-depth, hands-on experiential learning experience of game-changing tools available to aid in the growth and development of their business. We look forward to seeing the growth in these women’s businesses,” says Oakes.
The Women in Business programme is a flagship entrepreneurial development programme aimed at providing strategic support and developing the capacity of female entrepreneurs. It includes a 10-month entrepreneurial development programme sponsored by Old Mutual Insure.
“Melinda Gates has said that she firmly believes that we are missing out on transformational ideas by not putting resources behind women. The CiTi team agrees whole heartedly with her sentiment. We have created a programme to provide women business owners in Africa who are defying social norms in the face of systemic obstacles that include limited access to funding, inadequate scaling resources, and challenges with work-life balance with an opportunity to overcome these hurdles with strategic support, mentoring, peer to peer learning, and networking opportunities that enable them to navigate tough competition and thrive. Our Top Tech Tools For Women in Business aims to grow and develop women business owners and thereby create a more prosperous and inclusive economy for everyone,” adds Lara Rosmarin Head of Incubation and Entrepreneurial Development, Cape Innovation & Technology Initiative.
Dating back more than 180 years, Old Mutual Insure is the oldest insurance company in South Africa. As one of the leading companies in southern Africa’s non-life insurance landscape, they are justifiably proud of their tradition of service and quality and their range of insurance solutions, which are amongst the best on offer anywhere in South Africa. Old Mutual Insure provides insurance services to personal, commercial, and corporate clients in South Africa and operates in Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria under the Old Mutual brand. Old Mutual Insure Limited is a licensed FSP and Non-Life Insurer.
The Cape Innovation and Technology Initiative (CiTi) has a history of 22 years of impact in building a future-fit, inclusive society through technology and innovation. Working with government, business and society, CiTi promotes the inclusive growth of the digital economy. CiTi plays an integral role in catalysing and supporting the South African tech ecosystem.
