Under the programme, Microsoft, its advisors and venture capital backers Vunani will immediately start working with the successful companies – based on their specific needs – to help them become internationally competitive exporters of home-grown software solutions.
The companies chosen include Pietermaritzburg-based Chillisoft, which creates public health software solutions that assist in alleviating service delivery bottlenecks; Cape Town-based Maxxor, which creates consumer applications for mobile phones; security solutions specialists BUI from Johannesburg; and Durban-based Home Grown Business Integrations, which creates cloud-based software that boosts government service delivery to rural people.
Microsoft’s managing director, Mteto Nyati, said the investment directly addresses key challenges facing the government and South Africa – namely creating jobs, developing enterprises, building the local software economy and developing scarce technology skills. It is anticipated that the deal will take Microsoft from a Level 4 to a Level 2 BEE contributor, subject to the relevant audits.
The four companies were chosen after a panel – including representatives from the Black Management Forum and the UKZN Centre for Entrepreneurship and well-known venture capitalist head, Julia Fourie – had shortlisted 12 companies. These companies were invited to present their business plans and demo their technologies to the panel, with the DTI observing. Following the panel interviews, seven companies were shortlisted to proceed to the due diligence phase, after which four were selected to be the first beneficiaries of the programme.
Microsoft will review the programme on an ongoing basis, and will select additional partners over the seven-year period depending on market conditions and performance.
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