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Adbot Wins 2025 Top Women Business in ICT & E-commerce Award for Empowering African SMEs

Prime Highlights

  • Adbot secured the 2025 Top Women Business in ICT & E-commerce award, outperforming major finalists like Vodacom and Smollan.
  • The recognition highlights Adbot’s impact in making AI-powered digital marketing accessible and affordablefor small businesses across Africa.

Key Facts

  • Adbot has supported over 2,000 businesses across Africa, offering AI-driven Google Ads optimisation for solo marketers and SMEs.
  • The company developed first-of-its-kind tools, including the world’s first USSD-based Google Ads system for businesses without stable internet and South Africa’s first local CPC/CTR benchmarks.

Background

Adbot, an AI-powered marketing platform based in Cape Town, won the 2025 Top Women Business in ICT & E-commerce award at the Standard Bank Top Women Awards held at the Sandton Convention Centre. This achievement shows how Adbot makes digital advertising simple, accessible, and affordable for small businesses across South Africa.

The award, sponsored by Standard Bank, honours leadership and innovation across the private and public sectors. Adbot stood out against major finalists such as Vodacom and Smollan, despite being a smaller team with fewer resources. CEO and co-founder Michelle Geere said the win validates the company’s work in helping small business owners use AI-driven marketing tools effectively.

Adbot has supported more than 2,000 businesses across Africa, offering AI-powered Google Ads optimisation that helps one-person marketing teams compete with large enterprises. The platform automates ad campaigns and improves conversion rates, giving small businesses better returns on their advertising.

The company has also pioneered several first-of-its-kind solutions tailored to African market challenges. These include the world’s first USSD-based Google Ads system for businesses without stable internet access, South Africa’s first local CPC and CTR benchmarks, and AI-powered 24/7 optimisation built locally at lower costs than traditional agencies.

Geere said investors once doubted whether Adbot could succeed against global tech giants, but the company proved that understanding local needs gives it a strong edge. She added that their tools help solo marketers avoid wasting budgets and run ads effectively.

The awards ceremony brought together leading women in business, with speakers from Standard Bank and the government celebrating women’s influence in shaping South Africa’s future.

Adbot’s win places the company among the country’s top innovators. Geere said the recognition will fuel their next phase of growth as they continue expanding AI tools that support underserved businesses.