Aurora Tech Award 2026 opens with $85,000 for women founders

Aurora Tech Award 2026 is set to award with inDrive an offer of $85,000 in prize money to women-led startups combining innovation with social impact.

Founded in 2021, the award has become a launchpad for female tech entrepreneurs from emerging markets and African founders have dominated for three years in a row, with Nigeria’s Solape Akinpelu winning the $50,000 grand prize in 2025 from a record 2,018 applications spanning 116 countries.

The launch of applications for the 2026 Aurora Tech Award comes at a time when women-led startups still attract less than 2 percent of global venture capital, according to industry estimates.

Organised by global mobility platform, inDrive, the award offers $85,000 in prize money and access to investors for women founders tackling innovation and social challenges.

Eligibility criteria include women’s ownership or co-ownership, under five years in operation, pre-seed stage, and total investment below $6 million. The competition will name its top 100 quarterfinalists on December 8, 2025, with finalists announced in early 2026 ahead of a March–April ceremony.

Finalists will also gain access to inDrive’s global investor network, tailored mentorship, and strategic resources to scale internationally beyond the funding.