Aurora Tech Award 2026 Seeks to Empower Women Founders in Tech

The Aurora Tech Award 2026 has officially opened its doors for applications, inviting women founders of early-stage tech startups to compete for a share of $85,000 in prize money, alongside invaluable mentorship and support. This initiative, spearheaded by inDrive, a global mobility and urban services platform, aims to spotlight and empower women entrepreneurs who are developing scalable, socially impactful tech solutions. Applications are accepted from August 12 to November 12, 2025, via auroratechaward.com.

Eligibility criteria for the award include being a woman founder or co-founder leading a startup that is no more than five years old, has a working prototype or early customer traction, is at the pre-seed or seed stage, and has raised less than $6 million. The award not only provides financial support but also access to a network of investors, strategic partners, and inDrive's global expertise, offering a comprehensive support system to help startups grow and scale internationally.

The 2025 edition of the award saw a record-breaking 2,018 applications from 116 countries, doubling the previous year's submissions and showcasing the diverse sectors within the tech industry, including AI, health tech, fintech, edtech, and agrotech. The 2026 winners will be announced in a ceremony in the spring of 2026, following a two-month mentorship program for the finalists.

Isabella Ghassemi-Smith, Head of the Aurora Tech Award, emphasized the award's role as a springboard for women founders from emerging markets, offering not just funding but also the tools and networks necessary to scale their ventures. Past participants, like Shreya Prakash and Thais Sterenberg, have highlighted the award's impact in providing both visibility and tangible support, underscoring the importance of initiatives that back women entrepreneurs with capital and recognition.

The Aurora Tech Award is part of inDrive's broader impact initiatives, reflecting the company's commitment to fostering innovation and gender equality in the tech industry. With the 2026 edition, the award continues to build on its mission to empower women founders, offering them a platform to showcase their solutions and access the resources needed to make a lasting impact.