The 2026 edition of the Aurora Tech Award, an international competition that celebrates women-led tech startups creating social impact, has officially opened for applications. Organised by global mobility and urban services company inDrive, the award is open to female founders in emerging markets worldwide, with entries running from August 12 to November 12, 2025.
Winners will share $85,000 in cash prizes, alongside mentorship opportunities, investor access, and global recognition. The grand prize winner will receive $50,000, while smaller awards will be given to runners-up.
Since its launch in 2021, the Aurora Tech Award has emerged as a key platform for promoting women innovators, particularly in Africa. Founders from the continent have taken the grand prize three years in a row, most recently Nigeria’s Solape Akinpelu in 2025. The 2025 edition recorded 2,018 applications from 116 countries, with African startups accounting for 31 of the finalists.
To be eligible, startups must be majority woman-owned, less than five years old, at the pre-seed stage, and must not have raised more than $6 million in funding. Applicants are also required to have a working prototype of their product or solution.
The competition places emphasis on innovation, scalability, and social impact, with judges drawn from investors and industry experts. Timelines for the 2026 edition include the announcement of the Top 100 quarterfinalists in December 2025, followed by semifinalists and finalists in early 2026. Mentorship sessions and the award ceremony will take place in the first quarter of 2026.
Beyond the financial support, finalists gain global exposure and access to networks that help them scale. Past winners and finalists from Nigeria, Chile, and India have credited the award with providing critical visibility, mentorship, and resources that boosted their ventures.
The 2026 Aurora Tech Award seeks to reach even more women innovators, extending its mission of driving inclusive entrepreneurship and supporting transformative startups across emerging markets.
