Aurora Tech AwardAurora Tech Award
Sector AgnosticFinTechPre-seedSeed

Aurora Tech Award

Global prize for women tech founders—$85k equity-free awards, mentorship & investor access.

Organizer: inDrive
Deadline: November 12, 2025 (in a month)
Categories: Competition, Funding Opportunity, Award
Regions: Rwanda, Burundi, Liberia, Tanzania, Benin, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Sudan, Central African Republic, Djibouti, South Africa, Madagascar, Tunisia, Gambia, Togo, Equatorial Guinea, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Botswana, Mozambique, Comoros, Mauritius, Morocco, Ghana, Algeria, Chad, Cabo Verde, Namibia, Somalia, Niger, Seychelles, Congo, Zimbabwe, Senegal, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Mali, Eritrea, South Sudan, Egypt, Gabon, Malawi, Angola, Eswatini, Uganda, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Lesotho, Ethiopia, Sao Tome & Principe, Libya, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, DR Congo
Back to All Opportunities

The Aurora Tech Award 2025, created by inDrive, is now accepting applications from women founders in IT. This global prize provides funding, mentorship, and exposure to support female-led startups tackling some of the most pressing challenges in technology.

About the Program

  • Annual international prize organized by inDrive
  • Exclusively for women entrepreneurs in IT
  • Aims to close the gender gap in the venture ecosystem and provide visibility for women founders

Prize Fund and Benefits

  • Total prize pool: $85,000
    • First Prize: $50,000
    • Second Prize: $20,000
    • Third Prize: $15,000
  • Financial support for the top three winners
  • Networking and community-building opportunities for women in IT
  • Guidance from inDrive executives and industry experts
  • Feedback from VC partners for longlist participants
  • Media exposure for shortlisted startups

Program Impact

  • Over 3,400 female founders applied in previous years
  • Participants reported significant growth, with some startups achieving five-fold revenue increases after the program
  • 2023 winner: Elizabeth Mwangi, Gwiji for Women (Kenya), who emphasized the award’s role in breaking cycles of poverty and empowering women workers

Key Dates for 2025–2026

  • August 12, 2025: Applications open
  • November 12, 2025: Applications close
  • December 8, 2025: Top 100 announced (Quarterfinalists)
  • January 14, 2026: Top 30 announced (Semifinalists)
  • February 16, 2026: Top 10 announced (Finalists)
  • February 23 – March 13, 2026: Mentorship program for finalists
  • March 28 – April 1, 2026: Award ceremony (exact date and location announced by February 1, 2026)

Eligibility Criteria

  • Startup must be founded or co-founded and led by a woman
  • Functional prototype of a product required
  • Startup must have raised no more than $6 million in funding (including seed rounds)
  • Company should be less than 5 years old
  • Presentation must be provided in English
  • The program seeks startups with potential to positively impact society

Partners and Community

  • VC fund partners provide feedback to longlist applicants
  • Community partners support visibility and outreach for the program
  • Bi-weekly newsletters and events keep founders engaged with resources and opportunities

How to Apply

  • Applications are open worldwide through November 12, 2025
  • Details, terms, and conditions are available on the official program website
  • Interested founders can apply online and join a growing network of women innovators

The Aurora Tech Award 2025 continues to spotlight and support women founders who are driving innovation in IT. With funding, mentorship, and global exposure, the program not only empowers individual entrepreneurs but also contributes to building a more inclusive tech ecosystem worldwide.