Powered By Darkies in Tech

access, equity and belonging
in South African Tech*/

We’re building an ecosystem where founders of colour, investors and ecosystem partners can connect,
collaborate, and drive lasting change from the inside out.
apply to join

why we exist

Building, Breaking Barriers & Reshaping the Ecosystem

The tech startup space has long been skewed against founders of colour. We’re here to change that By connecting the right people, resources, and opportunities, DIT helps founders grow, strengthens programs, and drives real transformation in the South African tech ecosystem
Who we serve
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vision and mission

Shaping the Ecosystem
We Deserve Together*/

Founded by people of colour, DIT is creating a startup ecosystem where founders and ecosystem builders of colour can belong, access resources, and thrive.

Connecting founders
to community,
capital, and tools.

memberships

Helping programs
design for inclusivity and
real results.



PROGRAMS

Enabling partners to drive
transformation and lasting change.

PARTNERSHIPS

connecting

building

growing

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testimonials

what ouR network
has to say

Ndabenhle Jr. Ngulube

Co-founder of Pineapple

DIT is a community of like minded individuals who share the common goal of growing South Africa's startup ecosystem. It brings me joy to be able to share my learnings, and learn from others in the DIT community.

Sibusiso Buna

Founder of Jobox

My journey with DiT has been transformative. It has never left a plea for help unanswered, offering solace and understanding during my toughest times. The path of entrepreneurship is fraught with difficulties, yet DiT provides a sliver of ease, making the arduous journey somewhat more manageable.

Bertha Kgokong

Founder of Skhokho

It has been a great experience, I have personally made deals and found clients who are still with our company today. DIT is a great place to meet like minded people and collaborate on ideas and projects.

Zachariah George

Partner at Launch Africa

Great interactions with founders, investors, ecosystem service providers re: the growth of the tech & innovation ecosystem across Africa especially for under-represented founders. I think the future is really inspiring given how much value has been shared amongst the DIT members.

Brandon Nkabinde

Founder of Blocklabs

I was referred to by someone who had been a member of the group as they believed the group would benefit me, which it could. Being surrounded by people who have walked the road has not only been comforting, but inspiring to continue building within the tech space. From the topics that are regularly spoken of, to the access of ecosystem players, as a black entrepreneur this is where you would need to be.

Mnqobi Msweli

Co-founder of Wyer

I'd been cold emailing/messaging people in the start-up ecosystem via LinkedIn with little to no luck but I found that a lot of them were in the DIT community. By just mentioning DIT, I got more responses and an "in". DIT is a warm lead to a lot of ecosystem players but more than that, it really is a community.

Mvelo Hlophe

Co-founder of Zaio

DiT is exactly what we needed at Black Founders. It has been a space where we can talk openly and honestly about our unique journeys as Founders. It has been a space to share ideas, collaborate and seek encouragement from other Founders on a similar path as you. The community is active so there is always someone ready to give advice or a new perspective about any challenge you may be facing. The events have been great platforms for learning and networking.

Thandeka Xaba

Partner of DAV

As a fund focused on underrepresented founders in tech, one of our biggest challenges was finding a sizable and active community of our target founders. DiT not only helped us form part of this community, but allowed us to engage with the founders to see how we could do better as a team.

Mashokane Ramusetheli

Founder of Pale

Positive! All positive. It’s been very valuable to be amongst new and established tech founders, industry leaders and ecosystem members. It’s not only the sharing of opportunities, but the invaluable nuggets of wisdom, tips and tricks that are constantly shared in the group is what I appreciate very much. It’s also comforting to know the challenges or issues you face as a founder, you are not alone and so the community aspect of it is really for my mental psyche. plus everyone is helpful!

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blog

Stories From
Our Network

Stay updated with insights and lessons from our community.

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20-04-26: From Subscriptions To Usage-Based Billing

A conversation is currently unfolding in SaaS that many global commentators are treating as a new phenomenon. Usage-based pricing is having its moment, AI has made the cost of running software visible in a way it never was before, and flat monthly subscriptions are buckling under the weight of variable compute costs that nobody budgeted for. Everyone is scrambling to figure out how to charge for software when the marginal cost of running it is no longer close to zero.‍

20-04-26: Intra-African Tourism Needs Our Attention

In 2024, I spent considerable time talking to tour operators in Cape Town, South Africa. As someone interested in technology and intra-African travel, I wanted to understand how tourism impacts their businesses. I was also on a quest to discover a real-world problem that I could solve through technology.

20-04-26: How We Built a R50M ($3.1M) Sales Pipeline From a Warehouse Podcast Studio

You've built something real. Revenue. Users. Traction. ‍But here's the problem: the people you need to reach don't know you exist. Not because your product isn't good enough, but because you're invisible to the decision-makers who matter: the investors who could write the check, the enterprise clients who could 10x your revenue and the partners who could unlock distribution.

FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONs

What is Darkies In Tech (DIT)?
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DIT is a registered non-profit and online network of founders, investors, and ecosystem builders of colour working in South Africa’s tech startup ecosystem. Our network is united by a shared mission to uplift, support, and empower each other to thrive and lead meaningful change.

Why does DIT exist?
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DIT exists to help build a future where founders, investors, and ecosystem builders of colour have equitable access to knowledge, networks, community, and capital. 

We aim to create an inclusive tech ecosystem that reflects South Africa’s rich diversity.

What are DIT’s core values?
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All DIT members are expected to uphold the following values:

  • Give before you take
  • Show up as your whole self
  • Engage with care
  • Hold your views with openness
  • Learn out loud 
What are the admissions requirements?
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We welcome applications from individuals who meet the following criteria:

  • You identify as Black, Coloured, or Indian
  • You are South African, or your startup operates primarily in South Africa
  • You are one of the following: 
    • A high-calibre founder of a high-growth, scalable tech startup with a proven track record of execution (not a consultancy or service provider)
    • An investor in high-growth tech startups
    • A program manager or lead of a tech startup support program.
Why is DIT so selective?
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Our goal is to maintain a high-quality network of professionals of colour actively shaping the tech startup ecosystem. Selectivity ensures that members gain meaningful value from the community and that the network delivers strong outcomes for our partners and the broader ecosystem.

Is DIT anti-white?
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No. DIT is not anti-white; it is proudly pro-Black. The South African tech startup ecosystem often marginalises professionals of colour. DIT exists to address this imbalance by creating a space that supports and uplifts these individuals to build, grow, and break through systemic barriers.

What are the benefits of joining the network?
(Founders version)
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As a DIT member, you’ll be surrounded by values-aligned founders who are building boldly. You’ll gain access to tailored resources, practical masterclasses, and meaningful meetups designed to help you grow with intention. Membership also unlocks exclusive perks on tools, events, support programs, and even classic DIT merch to help you extend your runway or treat yourself.

For your startup, DIT connects you to warm investor networks and high-value opportunities that move the needle. We’ll match you with startup support programs that align with your stage and goals—no more wasting time on ones that don’t. You’ll also get access to a directory of vetted service black-owned providers, and a curated kit of business tools and templates to help you build smarter and scale faster.

What are the benefits of joining the network?
(Program version)
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Partnering with DIT gives your program access to South Africa’s largest vetted network of high-growth Black-founded startups. We help you source quality candidates that align with your program’s goals, saving your team time and ensuring stronger outcomes. Our support spans the full program lifecycle: from shortlisting and founder engagement to demo day planning and investor connections. We also provide feedback on program design to help improve relevance, fairness, and impact.

Who is already a member of DIT?
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For confidentiality reasons, we don’t publish member names. However, our members include:

  • Founders of high-growth, scalable tech startups and scale-ups
  • Investors and fund managers
  • Program managers and leads of tech startup support programs such as accelerators and incubators
Can my co-founder join automatically if I’m admitted to the network?
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Each application is reviewed individually. Co-founders are welcome to apply, but we require separate submissions for data collection and tracking purposes. Please note: admission is limited to senior founders and organisational leaders (e.g. fund managers, program managers and program leads).

How can I help advance DITs’ mission if I’m not a professional of colour?
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We welcome allies who believe in our mission. Here are a few ways you can partner with us:

  • Program Enablement Partner: Support new initiatives that strengthen and de-risk member ventures.
  • Event Sponsor: Help expand and enhance our events to create more meaningful moments of learning and connection.
  • Community Perks & Advocacy Partner: Offer discounts or perks to our members and help share DIT’s mission across your platforms.
  • Network Ambassador: Spread the word through word of mouth or by wearing our merch to help us gain visibility.

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African Tech

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