InDrive, the global mobility and urban services company, has officially opened applications for the 2026 Aurora Tech Award, an annual prize that celebrates women founders of technology startups. Applications will run from August 12 to November 12, 2025.
Launched in 2021, the Aurora Tech Award recognises women entrepreneurs who are using technology to drive social impact while reshaping industries. The award has gained global attention as a platform amplifying underrepresented voices, with African women winning three consecutive editions.
“The Aurora Tech Award is more than a prize; it’s a springboard for the next generation of bold women founders from emerging markets,” said Isabella Ghassemi-Smith, Head of the Aurora Tech Award.
“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.”
A Global Platform with Strong African Representation
The 2025 edition recorded a record-breaking 2,018 applications from 116 countries, doubling the previous year’s total. Finalists came from regions including Africa, MENA, Latin America, Central Asia, and Asia-Pacific, working on solutions in health tech, AI, fintech, edtech, and agrotech.
Out of the Top 120, 31 African innovators were selected, with Nigeria’s Solape Akinpelu emerging as the overall winner.
Speaking after her victory, Akinpelu, Founder & CEO, noted:
“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. I urge women innovators across Africa to apply; your ideas deserve to be seen and celebrated.”
Eligibility and Award Process
To qualify, startups must:
Be owned or co-owned by women
Be incorporated within the last five years
Have a working prototype at the pre-seed stage
Have raised less than $6 million in funding
The 2026 selection process will unfold as follows:
December 8, 2025: Announcement of the Top 100 quarter-finalists
Early 2026: Announcement of the Top 30 semi-finalists and 3 finalists
February–March 2026: Tailored mentorship programme for finalists
March–April 2026: Aurora Tech Award Ceremony
Winners will receive:
$50,000 for first place
$20,000 for first runner-up
$15,000 for second runner-up
Beyond funding, finalists gain mentorship, investor access, global visibility, and inDrive’s strategic support to scale their businesses internationally.
Why This Matters for African MSMEs
The Aurora Tech Award continues to spotlight Africa’s innovation ecosystem, proving that women entrepreneurs from the continent are globally competitive. For MSMEs and startups led by women, the award not only provides capital but also connects them to networks that fuel long-term growth and sustainability.
Past finalists have reinforced the value of this initiative:
Loretxu Garcia (Chile, 2025 finalist): “What inspired me was knowing there’s an award that recognises not just technology but the courage to innovate from our own lived realities.”
Shreya Prakash (India, 2025 third-place winner): “Very few women-centric programmes provide actual funding. Aurora backs its belief in women entrepreneurs with the catalyst of capital.”
With applications now open, women innovators across Africa are encouraged to apply and join a growing community of global trailblazers shaping the digital future.
