A reported 23% of jobs in the field of information and communications technology (ICT) industry are held by women.
With this in mind, three renowned female tech entrepreneurs have five tips for women wanting to dive into this sector. These pioneering female businesswomen are Samantha Staats and Claire Storm and Heather Mostert, the founders of Airshot.
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The three female founders of Airshot provide some help tips for aspiring tech entrepreneurs
Airshot is a forward-thinking digital solution that boosts employee engagement and productivity across a company’s value chain. The startup reports that it now has one of the country’s largest retailers as a client and over 1000 users.
Challenging the status quo in the tech industry, these three female entrepreneurs wanted to address a gap in the market by providing tech-centered solutions and have established their own businesses. With little to no background in tech, these business leaders equipped themselves with the skillset to start their own tech startups.
Mostert explains that one does not have to be tech-savvy to enter this industry.
“We’d like to think of us as having exactly the right skill set to make this happen. Whilst having a tech background would’ve been an added advantage; it wasn’t critical. Leadership, project management, problem-solving, delegation, and networking are the skills that have served us best.”
5 tips for ‘shetrepreneurs’
1. Know your vision, make your tribe and start
Storm shares that taking the first step was critical to their success. “Airshot started with a conversation! Sam and I had realised that a technical solution needed to be developed. It took all of five seconds for Felix to agree and a few months later, the team was completed by Heather. Step One: Know your vision. Step Two: Make your tribe. Step Three: Start!”
2. Affect change no matter the circumstances
Mostert believes that when you have an opportunity to affect change, you don’t necessarily need all the required skills, education or background to make that happen; you do however need the right people.
“They say to do what you love, with the people you love. My approach is to work with a group of creative, energetic, and captivating people, who bring a different set of skills to the table that, when combined are perfect alchemy.”
3. It’s not going to be for everybody
“When someone says ‘No’ to your product, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it won’t be a success,” says Staats.
She adds that it’s important to remember that your product or service is not going to be for everyone. “I am so passionate about Airshot that I just want everyone to have it and love it, but realistically, it’s not going to be for everyone and that’s okay. Every no is closer to a yes!”
4. Be agile and open to learning
No business is without its challenges, but being able to quickly adjust and lean on the collective skills within your business, plays a pivotal role in your ability to bounce back.
“We have an all-hands-on-deck approach when it comes to challenges. We believe in fixing problems immediately and when one partner knows more than the other, we support them in finding a solution that has a positive impact for our clients,” says Mostert.
5. Talk about your ideas
Don’t be scared to talk about your business for fear of someone stealing your ideas says Storm.
“Talking, connecting, sharing, and networking can only grow your abilities, and hiding it, is just one potential customer down the drain. There are more collaborators than destroyers in business.”
“Women can become leaders in any industry, but a strong vision and a formidable team are great contributors to overall success,” Staats concludes.
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Featured image: (left to right) Samantha Staats, Heather Mostert and Claire Storm (Supplied)
