Nigerian female founders lead top tech award list

Female founders in Nigeria are leading the Aurora Tech Award, an annual award celebrating the boldest and most ambitious female founders in emerging markets.

According to the award’s Top 120 Founders for 2025, Nigeria leads the longlist with an impressive 21 founders out of 2,018 applications from 116 countries maintaining its role as a hub for innovation and female entrepreneurship.

Brazil and the United States follow, with Egypt close behind. Other notable contributors include Colombia, Kenya, the United Kingdom, India, and Kazakhstan, reflecting the award’s global impact.

This year’s Aurora Tech Award highlights the remarkable talent emerging from Nigeria and underscores its growing influence in the tech and startup ecosystem, further inspiring female founders across the continent and beyond.

“These founders are poised to shape the future of their industries and countries, making them the ones to watch in 2025,” said Isabella Ghassemi-Smith, Head of the Aurora Tech Awards.

Over the years, women’s participation in entrepreneurship has grown, which marks a significant global trend. According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), women’s startup activity rates rose from an average of 6.1 percent (2001-2005) to 10.4 percent (2021-2023) across 30 countries.

Also, a report by Research WE-FI revealed that 17 percent of working-age women in developing economies are already entrepreneurs, with 35 percent aspiring to join them. In 2023, emerging economies received 17 percent of global Venture Capital investment, underscoring their resilience.

The Aurora Tech Award celebrates the boldest and most ambitious female founders in emerging markets, offering more than just recognition.

It provides access to expertise, resources, and transformative opportunities to scale their businesses and shape the future. Award applicants gain mentorship, guidance on fundraising and pitching, support in preparing pitch decks, and validation of their efforts. They also connect with investors, VC funds, and PR support, opening doors to valuable networks and resources to drive their success.

The four leading sectors that dominated the nomination list were Healthtech, Agrotech, Edtech, and e-commerce. The list of top finalists will be announced in February 2025, with winners celebrated at a global ceremony later in the year.