A worldwide prize for women
founders of Tech startups
An inDrive project

Winners
of the Aurora Tech Award announced!

Research Women in tech
918
918
participants submitted

Winners 2024

Discover the winners who have achieved excellence in the Aurora Tech Award!

  • Folake Owodunni
    1st place

    Folake Owodunni

    For their sustainable and scalable solution providing emergency medical services.


    Emergency Response Africa is a health tech company that combines emergency response training with intelligent dispatch, communications technology and alternative medical transportation.

  • Hannah Töpler
    2nd place

    Hannah Töpler

    Intrare, Mexico

    For their efforts focused on fair employment for all diverse groups.


    Intrare is a social tech that builds proprietary AI to eliminate bias from recruitment. Intrare mission is to match millions of refugees, marginalized women, LGBTIQ+, and other diverse talents with fair jobs to break the poverty cycle.

  • Sarah Phiri-Molema
    3rd place

    Sarah
    Phiri-Molema

    For their solar-powered hearing aid for children and people from unprivileged communities.

    Deaftronics (Pty) Ltd developed the first rechargeable hearing aid battery, which lasts for 2-3 years and can be used in 80% of hearing aids on the market today. It is solar powered and can be charged via the sun, household light, or a cell phone plug.

Shortlist 2024

Meet our finalists and explore their startups

Daniella Castro
Marwa Hage
Candace Chen
Joselyne Del Rosario
Nadejda Anpilogova
Maria Dmitrieva
Sandra Montes Pérez
Paula Monticelli
Rim Jourdan
Aidana Aituarova
Hannah Töpler
Firouza Eshonova
Assem Tazhiyeva
Aira Mongush
Chinwendu Nweke
Alena Shchavleva
Megan Lam
Jasmijn Kok
Sarah Molema
Folake Owodunni
Learn more
Aurora Award Logo
A worldwide prize for women founders of Tech startups
An inDrive project
Open call starts on September 5th
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68
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The Aurora Tech Award is an annual global prize for women founders of tech startups. We believe in breaking down barriers and promoting equality in tech entrepreneurship

Women entrepreneurs in IT face challenges like investor bias, stereotypes, and a lack of role models, limiting their representation.

According to Crunchbase, only 2.3% of venture funding goes to women-led startups. And we're here to change that! Our mission is to discover hidden gems among startups led by women, providing the support they need to shine brightly. Join us in setting new, fair standards in the venture world.

If you're a woman founder with a tech startup, regardless of the specific industry, and have a functional prototype or an early version of your product, the Aurora Tech Award is just for you.

We're interested in your company, your journey, and the challenges you've overcome.

The Aurora Tech Award is an annual global prize for women founders of tech startups. We believe in breaking down barriers and promoting equality in tech entrepreneurship

Women entrepreneurs in IT face challenges like investor bias, stereotypes, and a lack of role models, limiting their representation.

According to Crunchbase, only 2.3% of venture funding goes to women-led startups. And we're here to change that! Our mission is to discover hidden gems among startups led by women, providing the support they need to shine brightly. Join us in setting new, fair standards in the venture world.

If you're a woman founder with a tech startup, regardless of the specific industry, and have a functional prototype or an early version of your product, the Aurora Tech Award is just for you.

We're interested in your company, your journey, and the challenges you've overcome.

Applications are closed.
We will announce finalists soon!
Meet the Aurora Tech Award finalists!
918
applications submitted
68
days before
ceremony

The Aurora Tech Award is an annual global prize for women founders of tech startups. We believe in breaking down barriers and promoting equality in tech entrepreneurship

Women entrepreneurs in IT face challenges like investor bias, stereotypes, and a lack of role models, limiting their representation.

According to Crunchbase, only 2.3% of venture funding goes to women-led startups. And we're here to change that! Our mission is to discover hidden gems among startups led by women, providing the support they need to shine brightly. Join us in setting new, fair standards in the venture world.

If you're a woman founder with a tech startup, regardless of the specific industry, and have a functional prototype or an early version of your product, the Aurora Tech Award is just for you.

We're interested in your company, your journey, and the challenges you've overcome.

Tune in for the Aurora Tech
Award Ceremony Today!

The Aurora Tech Award is an annual global prize for women founders of tech startups. We believe in breaking down barriers and promoting equality in tech entrepreneurship

Women entrepreneurs in IT face challenges like investor bias, stereotypes, and a lack of role models, limiting their representation.

According to Crunchbase, only 2.3% of venture funding goes to women-led startups. And we're here to change that! Our mission is to discover hidden gems among startups led by women, providing the support they need to shine brightly. Join us in setting new, fair standards in the venture world.

If you're a woman founder with a tech startup, regardless of the specific industry, and have a functional prototype or an early version of your product, the Aurora Tech Award is just for you.

We're interested in your company, your journey, and the challenges you've overcome.

Why
participate?

Fuel business growth with cash prizes for winners:

First prize
$30,000
Second prize
$20,000
Third prize
$10,000
  • Connect with a global community of women tech entrepreneurs
  • Amplify brand visibility with PR support for finalists, attracting new audiences, partners, and investors
  • Get valuable feedback from Venture Capital experts and jury members to improve your startup
  • Receive guidance from inDrive's C-level executives and industry experts with a finalist mentorship program
  • Expand your network and gain recognition in the startup world

How to apply

  1. Follow our template to showcase your startup. Highlight your achievements, challenges, startup details, and your plan for the prize. You can use our design or create yours
    [download template]
  2. Fill out the application form on our website
  3. Attach your PDF presentation
  4. Submit your application before 1st December and best of luck!

Requirements

Firstly, your application must meet the following criteria

FAQ close icon
Woman founder
The startup must be founded or co-founded and led by a woman entrepreneur
Funding stage
The startup should not have received investments exceeding $4 million in funding, including the seed round
Operation time
The startup must be no more than 5 years old
Minimum Viable
Product (MVP)
The startup should have a functional prototype. If you have only an idea, your application will not be considered

Secondly, after meeting the initial criteria, analysts from our partner's VC funds will evaluate the following aspects

FAQ close icon
Personal

Leadership skills: Assessing your ability to lead, inspire your team, and make strategic decisions.

Overcoming personal challenges: Understanding the challenges you faced as an entrepreneur and how you overcame them.

Startup

Potential market size: Examining the size and growth potential of your target market.

Scalability:
Assessing the potential for your business model to scale efficiently.

Profit generation (unit economics): Analyzing your ability to generate profits.

Unique competitive advantage: Evaluating what sets your startup apart from competitors.

Product-market fit: Assessing how well your product meets market needs.

Go-to-market strategy: Reviewing your plan for effectively entering the market.

Team potential: Evaluating your team members' expertise.

Social impact: Considering your startup's positive impact on society.

For full terms and conditions, please refer to this [link]

Award calendar

September 5, 2023
Open Call
December 1, 2023
End of Open Call
January 24, 2024
Shortlist Announcement
March 8, 2024
Ceremony and announcement of the winners
Application acceptance
Application evaluation on formal criteria
Application evaluation by VC analysts
Mentorship program for the finalists
Evaluation by the Jury members
September 5, 2023
Open Call
Application acceptance
December 1, 2023
End of Open Call
Application evaluation on formal criteria
Application evaluation by VC analysts
January 24, 2024
Shortlist Announcement
Evaluation by the Jury members
March 8, 2024
Ceremony and announcement of the winners

Our partners

Venture Capital Partners

Analysts from these VC funds review applications and provide valuable feedback

Our Community Partners

We collaborate with these partners to promote a supportive community for women entrepreneurs

See all partners

If you're interested in becoming our partner, please contact us via aurora@auroratechaward.com

Jury

Sadaffe Abid
Founder & CEO of CIRCLE
Mai Medhat
CEO and co-founder of Eventtus
Leonor Cogneau
Ex-head of User Experience at Carsome
Charlot Magayi
Founder and CEO of Mukuru Clean Stoves
Sullyen Almeida
Principal at monashees
Tatyana Terentyeva
General Counsel at inDrive
More info

Mentors

Zhanargul Izimova
Strategy and Operations, Eurasia Advisory, PwC
Olga Ivanova
ex-Customer Experience Director at Citymobil
Rukayyat Kolawole
Founder and CEO PaceUP Invest
Elena Mazetova
ex-Vice-President of Legal at InDrive
Julieta Trotta
Creator - Doer - Passionate - Builder
Egor Fedorov
Chief of Staff at inDrive
Dmitry Sedov
CFO at inDrive
Nikita Yuriev
Investment Director, ultra.vc
Bruno Paim
Head of Product at Cromai
More info

Explore the Archive

Discover the journey of our previous participants and celebrate their accomplishments! Find relatable stories from those who've already walked the same path.

Explore the pages from past years, which feature the jury, partners, finalists, winners, and recordings of the award ceremony

About inDrive

inDrive is a mobility app that lets both passengers and drivers get a fair deal across 45 countries worldwide.

Having been a startup from a remote region ourselves, we understand the challenges firsthand. That's why our mission is to challenge injustice and create equal development and prosperity opportunities for people and communities globally.

We believe everyone should have an equal opportunity to pursue entrepreneurship, regardless of where they come from or who they are. We are here to change the status quo and defy unfair barriers.

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Research Women in tech