inDrive is offering a total prize pool of $85,000 and global exposure to innovative female entrepreneurs driving social impact through the Aurora Tech Award. The 2026 edition will run from August 12 to November 12, 2025, inviting women founders worldwide to showcase tech solutions that combine innovation with measurable change.
Since its inception in 2021, the Aurora Tech Award has been elevating underrepresented voices in technology. In 2025, the award received a record-breaking 2,018 applications from 116 countries, with African innovators winning the top prize for three consecutive years.
Isabella Ghassemi-Smith, Head of the Aurora Tech Award, explains its purpose: “We provide more than just funding – we offer access to top investors, global networks, and the tools to help scale ventures that will shape the future of entire industries.”
The award aims to be a springboard for the next generation of bold women founders from emerging markets, providing them with the necessary support to drive meaningful change.
Female tech founders stand a chance to receive the following prices:
Grand Prize: $50,000 for the winner.
First Runner-Up: $20,000.
Second Runner-Up: $15,000.
Access to inDrive’s global expertise, curated mentorship programmes, and strategic networking opportunities.
Direct exposure to investors and industry partners.
Increased visibility and credibility on the global stage.
Support in scaling, fundraising, and market expansion.
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Eligibility
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
The startup must be owned or co-owned by a woman.
Must be less than 5 years old.
Have a working prototype and be at the pre-seed stage.
Total funding raised must not exceed $6 million.
How to Apply
Eligible candidates can apply online via the website before the deadline on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
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Competition Timeline
8 December 2025: Announcement of the Top 100 quarter-finalists.
Following weeks: Selection of the Top 30 semi-finalists.
Early 2026: Announcement of the Top 3 finalists.
February–March 2026: Tailored mentorship programme for finalists.
March–April 2026: Aurora Tech Award ceremony.
A panel of investors and industry experts will assess entries for the Aurora Tech Award, focusing on innovation, scalability, and social impact. Past winners and finalists have praised the award for its impact on their careers.
Solape Akinpelu, the 2025 winner from Nigeria, says, “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.” She encourages South African women innovators to apply, emphasizing that their ideas deserve recognition.
Loretxu Garcia, a finalist from Chile, adds, “I was inspired by the award’s recognition of not just technology, but the courage to innovate from our own lived realities.” Shreya Prakash, third-place winner from India, notes, “The Aurora Tech Award backed its belief in women entrepreneurs with actual funding, which is rare for women-centric programs.”
inDrive, a global mobility and urban services platform, runs the Aurora Tech Award as a non-profit initiative. The company aims to address the disparity in VC funding for women-led startups, which receives less than 2% of global funding. Through the award, inDrive provides resources and recognition to women founders building their own platforms.
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