The 2026 Aurora Tech Award, an international competition spotlighting women-led tech startups with social impact, has officially opened for applications. Organised by inDrive, the award invites female founders from emerging markets worldwide to apply between August 12 and November 12, 2025, for a chance to win part of $85,000 in prizes along with global recognition and access to investors and mentors.
Since its launch in 2021, the Aurora Tech Award has become a leading platform championing women tech entrepreneurs, especially in Africa. Women founders from the continent have won the grand prize for three consecutive years, including Nigeria's Solape Akinpelu who won in 2025.
Last year's competition attracted a record 2,018 applications from 116 countries. The top startups operated in diverse sectors like health tech, AI, fintech, education, and agriculture, with 31 finalists coming from Africa.
To qualify, startups must be majority woman-owned, less than five years old, at pre-seed stage, and have raised no more than $6 million in funding. A working prototype is also required.
Beyond cash awards—$50,000 for the winner and smaller amounts for runners-up—finalists gain mentorship, investor access, and international exposure. According to Isabella Ghassemi-Smith, Head of the Aurora Tech Award, the competition serves as a launchpad for bold women founders in emerging markets by providing both capital and vital networks.
The competition timeline includes announcing the Top 100 quarterfinalists in December 2025, followed by semifinalists and finalists in early 2026, with mentorship and an award ceremony scheduled for the first quarter of 2026.
Judges, including investors and industry experts, will evaluate entries based on innovation, scalability, and social impact.
Past winners have praised the award's impact. Solape Akinpelu said it helped her organization grow significantly through funding and mentorship. Other finalists from Chile and India highlighted the award's role in providing visibility and essential capital to women entrepreneurs.
The 2026 edition aims to reach even more women innovators, continuing to support the growth of women-led tech startups across emerging markets.
