The Cape Innovation and Technology Initiative (CiTi) today announced the launch of a programme aimed at enriching women entrepreneurs’ knowledge of tech and business strategies.

The Women in Business (WIB) programme, a partnership between CiTi and the City of Cape Town, will give women entrepreneurs access to workshops, mentors and enhance their practical business skills.

“As a small business owner, who is also a mother of two children, I understand the demands placed on women to do it all. While female entrepreneurship is on the rise, there is still a big gap between the number of male versus female-run businesses,” Dylan Kohlstädt, CEO of Shift ONE Digital and WIB programme co-facilitator, said in a statement.

“The Women in Business programme provides a platform for women to network and share war stories, as well as learn vital tech skills in order to grow their businesses,” she added.

The ten-week programme will also feature guest speakers such as Hayley Grey from Forge Technologies, Gillian Geldenhuys from 2D Mobile and Chantelle Bowyer from METIS Online Marketing, who will help give topical advice on turning a business into a successful venture in the local startup sector.

Workshops will cover topics such as developing a tech strategy, project management, financial strategy, trends and IT tools, and digital marketing, to name but a few.

If you’d like to be a part of the programme, you must fit the following criteria:

• Have been the CEO or founder of your own business for no less than a year
• Must be using tech in your businesses and must have a desire to learn more
• Must have a desire to implement a tech strategy in your business
• Should preferably have a least one other staff member

“Statistically, businesses that use software and apps to support sales, marketing, data collection and productivity are likely to experience faster growth, both in size and revenue, which is why we believe in empowering women entrepreneurs with an effective tech strategy. We look forward to sharing tips, tools and techniques that will boost these businesses,” Kohlstädt said.

WIB launches on 7th April in Cape Town and you can apply to be part of it on the CiTi website.