The Role of Women in Tech in Cape Town, South Africa

Let's talk about the tech scene in Cape Town, South Africa, and how the ladies are holding it down (or trying to, at least). While they make up a good chunk of the workforce, the tech industry is still a total sausage-fest, with women barely cracking 30% of the jobs, according to the folks at Women in Tech® Global.

It's a global issue, for sure, but Cape Town's got its own unique challenges and opportunities with its rapidly growing tech scene.

The deal, though: having more women in tech isn't just about equality (although that's important too).

Teams with a good gender balance tend to be more innovative, bring different perspectives to the table, and generally crush it. So, if Cape Town wants to keep leveling up its tech game, it needs to bridge that gender gap.

This blog is all about shedding light on what it's really like for women in Cape Town's tech world – the struggles, the triumphs, and everything in between.

We'll be highlighting dope events like the 2nd Annual Women in Tech (WiT) Africa Awards, and hooking you up with resources to help the ladies get ahead.

It's all part of Nucamp's mission to make tech more inclusive and diverse, just like we did with our article on the state of women in tech in Johannesburg.

We're all about empowering everyone, regardless of gender, to chase their tech dreams.

The tech game in Cape Town has been a wild ride for the ladies. Back in the day, they were hustling hard in the shadows of their dude counterparts. But their grind wasn't for nothing.

In the late 20th century, Dr. Carol Thomas kicked down doors and co-founded Women in Tech South Africa.

This squad's all about lifting up women in tech, hitting those UN goals, and hosting fire events like hackathons and networking seshes.

But that's not all! Baratang Miya dropped GirlHype on the scene, and it's been a game-changer.

They're empowering young queens with coding and STEM skills. GirlHype's impact in Cape Town is real.

Over 10,000 girls and women have leveled up their digital literacy, and it's been a pivotal program for gender diversity in tech across Africa. And let's not forget Emma Dicks, who co-founded Code for Cape Town and helped pave the way for future tech bosses.

The Women in Tech Africa squad is also making moves across the continent, including Cape Town.

With SAWISE and all these dope initiatives, the ecosystem for female tech talent is lit. There are challenges, but the momentum is real. Every achievement is a milestone in this journey that's far from over.

Cape Town's tech scene is getting a fresh new look, thanks to these organizations and individuals.

I know the tech scene in Cape Town can be pretty wild, but it's not always easy for the ladies out there. Check this - last year, a survey came out and it showed that 70% of women in tech experienced some serious gender discrimination.

That's just not cool. It's like they're getting paid 20% less than the dudes for doing the same work. And let's not even get started on the lack of female leaders - only 15% of tech bosses are women.

But that's not all.

Trying to juggle a career and personal life is mad stressful for these queens. 80% of them struggle with that work-life balance thing. Imagine having to deal with that on top of the other BS they face.

It's gotta be rough.

On the bright side, there are some cool initiatives out there trying to help the situation. GirlCode is all about empowering young women in tech.

They run coding bootcamps, career days in schools, and stuff like that. It's dope that they're providing mentorship and skills development for the ladies.

But even with that, women in Cape Town's tech scene still face some serious challenges, like:

• Lack of mentors, which is key for career growth.
• Workplace cultures that don't cater to moms and caretakers, making it tough to come back after maternity leave.
• Not getting recognized for their contributions in tech communities and forums.
• Major struggles in getting funding for their startups, especially for African women compared to their counterparts in Europe and Asia.

One female tech leader in Cape Town said it best: "Dealing with these barriers requires individual resilience, but also systemic change in organizations to create an inclusive culture that actually supports diversity." We need to work on making the tech community in Cape Town more inclusive if we want it to thrive, you feel me? That means targeted support systems and interventions to tackle the gender-specific obstacles these ladies face.

Things like diversity in tech recruitment and getting more women into cyber security roles as the industry grows.

It's a lot to take in, but we gotta step up and make some changes.

These women are hustling hard, and they deserve a fair shot in the tech game.

Check this out! Cape Town's tech scene is straight-up killing it, and these boss ladies are leading the charge. First up, Rapelang Rabana, a dope keynote speaker and entrepreneur, made it onto Forbes Africa's 30 under 30 list.

That's some serious recognition for her work revolutionizing education through mobile platforms. Not only is she changing the game in Africa, but her models are setting the standard worldwide.

Next, we've got Baratang Miya, the CEO of GirlHype.

This badass chick is all about empowering young women and girls by teaching them coding and tech skills. Under her leadership, GirlHype has already helped over 10,000 girls learn to code.

That's insane! Imagine the impact of that many girls armed with tech knowledge.

And let's not forget Emma Dicks, the founder of Code for Cape Town.

She's a true advocate for women in tech, creating education and career opportunities in software development. This woman is a game-changer.

But it's not just these individuals doing their thing; Cape Town is really stepping up its game in terms of inclusivity in the tech world.

Groups like Women in Tech Cape Town are building communities to empower women in the industry, and projects like the Philippi Village project are providing digital skills and tech access to youth.

It's like a whole movement is happening, and it's pretty dope.

Just to drive the point home:

• Rapelang Rabana: Made it onto Forbes Africa's 30 under 30 list. Baller move.
• Baratang Miya: Empowered over 10,000 girls with coding skills. That's mind-blowing!
• Emma Dicks: Creating opportunities left and right for women in tech through CodeSpace Academy.

"Technology is a great equalizer. We just need to ensure we have more women harnessing this power to shape our world."

Cape Town is where it's at when it comes to uplifting and empowering the ladies in the digital game. There are some dope support systems and resources helping female tech bosses and entrepreneurs crush it.

Leading the pack, we've got Women in Tech Cape Town (WiTCT) and Women in Tech® Global, bringing the heat with their platforms for sharing knowledge, mentorship, and leveling up your career.

They're serving up workshops, networking events, and mentor programs that reach a global audience, and they're all about promoting diversity in the tech scene.

data shows that 35% of tech startups receiving funding from Cape Town's hottest incubators are female-founded, and that number keeps rising.

That's what I call progress! Plus, initiatives like Techstars Cape Town and Silicon Cape's Women Founders Fund are not only providing the funds but also crucial mentorship for female-led tech startups.

And let's not forget the importance of mentorship in helping ladies climb the tech ladder. Programs like Lean In Cape Town Circle are creating a supportive network for personal and career growth through meaningful mentor-mentee connections.

With all these resources and online communities at your fingertips, Cape Town is building a solid ecosystem for women to thrive in tech. The future of technology is bright when it's shaped by diverse perspectives, and these support systems are making that happen!

The future of women in tech here in Cape Town looks promising, with more support systems and recognizing how crucial ladies are in the tech game. Cape Town's tech sector is booming, and we need a diverse squad to keep it going.

Women are at the heart of this evolution, and by 2025, we're expecting a massive surge of females taking on tech roles. But to make this happen, we gotta put in the work:

• Level Up Education: Programs like Code4CT are hooking up young girls with coding skills, setting them up for success in the tech world. And events like the GirlCode Hackathon are giving ladies a chance to get hands-on with software development and innovation.
• Mentorship and Networking on Fleek: Having communities like Women in Tech Cape Town is a gamechanger. It's a space where up-and-comers and seasoned tech bosses can link up, share stories, and grow together. Events like Women in Technology Africa 2019 in Cape Town are also for networking and learning.
• Corporate and Government Support on Lock: We need companies and the government to have our backs. Policies that promote hiring diverse teams and supporting women-led startups are crucial for change. Organizations like Black Bean are highlighting the importance of getting more women into ICT roles, which are still dominated by dudes but important for South Africa's economy.

As one tech boss in Cape Town said,

The future of tech is inclusive, and women are indispensable to this future.

This statement sums up Cape Town's commitment to shaking up the industry and making it a beacon for women in tech, both locally and globally.

With schools, communities, and the government all stepping up, the tech scene in Cape Town is about to get way more diverse. If you want to learn more about the tech ecosystem in Cape Town and the role of women in it, check out our detailed article.