Recognizing Regional Allies, Cloud Success: AWS’ EEIP Awards

Amazon Web Services- AWS is delighted to announce the winners of its 2024 Equity Equivalent Investment Program- EEIP Partner Awards, held on May 2nd at the Indaba Hotel and Conference Centre in Johannesburg.

According to Country Manager for AWS, Chris Erasmus “The awards were a significant occasion for us to take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate our outstanding partners who are part of the global community of 130 thousand AWS Partner Network – APN partners. These partners have grown from strength to strength, increasing their revenues at an average rate of 126%, while also creating jobs for youth in South Africa. Their performance is nothing but exemplary, and their contributions foster diversity and inclusion in the South African AWS Partner Ecosystem.”

The AWSEEIP Partner Awards for 2024 acknowledge partners who have delivered exceptional results during their tenure in the program, showcasing their dedication, innovation, and commitment to growth within the APN.

Black SMEs

AWS’ EEIP is an 18–24-month enablement and acceleration program designed for South African Black-owned small and medium enterprises- SMEs seeking to expand their AWS practice.

“Through the EEIP, AWS empowers underrepresented voices, fostering diversity, while providing invaluable support to SMEs on their journey to cloud-centric success,” says Erasmus.

Thus far, the AWS EEIP team has onboarded 27 partners since 2020. The awards ceremony celebrated the achievements of cohorts 1, 2, and 3.

The 2024 AWS EEIP Partner Award winners include:

Training and Certification: Awarded to partners who exceeded their certification requirements.

• Cohort 1 Winner: Disraptor
• Cohort 2 Winner: Batsamayi
• Cohort 3 Winner: Pax Divitae

Innovation: Recognising partners who demonstrated innovation on behalf of their customers.

• Cohort 2: Batsamayi
• Cohort 3: One Linkage

AWS Specialisation Programme: Awarded to partners who earned specialisation based on technical expertise validated by AWS or third-party auditors.

• Cohort 1: Reliance Cloud
• Cohort 2: Cloudza
• Cohort 3: Koedr

Partner Tier Progression: Recognising partners who were first to achieve Advanced tier on the Amazon Partner Network in less than 18 months.

• Cohort 1: Disraptor
• Cohort 2: Batsamayi
• Cohort 3: Pax Divitae

Software Path Validation: Awarded to partners who validated their software path.

• Umdoko Internet Solutions

Training Path Validation: Awarded to partners who validated their training path.

• Think Tank

Social Impact: For partners contributing to social impact through the AWS YES4YOUTH programme by encouraging youth development and job creation.

• Reliance Cloud
• Disraptor
• Solvyng
• Cloudza
• Batsamayi

Diversity, Transformation and Inclusive

Aligned with the program’s mission to promote diversity and inclusion, AWS’ EEIP Partner Awards recognized 100% Black-owned SMEs that excelled in training and certification, innovation, advancement through the APN, and their contribution to social impact through the employment of South African youth. Through AWS’ EEIP, participating SMEs have leveraged AWS resources, expertise, and programs to develop, market, and deliver innovative solutions to customers.

AWS congratulates all the winners of AWS’ EEIP Partner Awards for 2024 and extends its gratitude to the entire South African AWS Partner Ecosystem for their continued dedication and partnership.

“As one industry, we look forward to driving innovation together, empowering our economy, and creating lasting impact in the South African market and beyond,” says Erasmus