Lagos, Sept. 2, 2025 — Global mobility and urban services company inDrive has announced the opening of applications for the 2026 Aurora Tech Award, an annual prize dedicated to recognising and supporting women founders of technology startups.

The application window runs from August 12 to November 12, 2025, with winners set to be unveiled at the award ceremony scheduled for March–April 2026.

Established in 2021, the Aurora Tech Award has grown into a global platform spotlighting underrepresented voices in the technology sector. African women entrepreneurs have won the top prize for the past three consecutive years, including Nigeria’s Solape Akinpelu, who clinched the 2025 edition.

Global Stage for Female Founders

Head of the Aurora Tech Award, Isabella Ghassemi-Smith, described the initiative as a catalyst for scaling ventures led by women in emerging markets.

“The Aurora Tech Award is more than a prize; it’s a springboard for the next generation of bold women founders,” Ghassemi-Smith said.
“We provide not just funding, but access to top investors, global networks, and the tools to help scale ventures that will shape the future of entire industries.”

The 2025 award attracted a record 2,018 applications from 116 countries, double the previous year’s total, with startups competing in fields such as health tech, AI, fintech, edtech, and agrotech.

Eligibility and Process

To qualify, startups must:

• Be owned or co-owned by women.
• Have been incorporated within the last five years.
• Possess a working prototype at the pre-seed stage.
• Have raised less than $6 million in total funding.

The 2026 award process will begin with the announcement of the Top 100 quarter-finalists on December 8, 2025, followed by the unveiling of the Top 30 semi-finalists and the three finalists in early 2026.

Finalists will enter a mentorship programme from February to March 2026, before pitching at the award ceremony.

Prizes and Support

• Winner: $50,000
• First Runner-Up: $20,000
• Second Runner-Up: $15,000

Beyond financial support, finalists will gain access to inDrive’s global expertise, tailored mentorship, and a curated network of investors and strategic partners to help scale internationally.

Past Winners Speak Out

Highlighting the impact of the award, 2025 winner Solape Akinpelu said:

“Winning the Aurora Tech Award proved that African women founders can thrive on the global stage. The funding, mentorship, and exposure transformed my organisation’s growth.”

Chilean finalist Loretxu Garcia praised the recognition of “courage to innovate from lived realities,” while India’s Shreya Prakash, who placed third, emphasised the rarity of women-centric programmes that provide tangible funding and support.

With applications now open, women innovators across emerging markets are being urged to apply and showcase their ventures on a global platform.