Aurora Tech Award

Meet our absolutely unstoppable Top 10 female founders! Out of 2,018 applicants, you made it to the Top 10, proving what we’ve known all along: women entrepreneurs in tech are the true superstars! Thank you, ladies, for being unapologetically marvelous! Watching your pitches, traction, and thriving businesses is absolutely priceless. Congratulations to these legends: Gulnaza Khalmanbetova, Shreya Prakash, Laura Velásquez Herrera, Nyifamu Ogechi Manzo, MBA, Thais Sterenberg, Leonie Korn, Veronica Lee, 'Solape Akinpelu, LORETXU GARCIA ARRAZTOA, Heiura Itae-Tetaa! You’re making us so proud!

Honored to Be Among the Top 10 Female Founders! I’m beyond excited to share that I’ve been recognized as one of the Top 10 Female Founders by the Aurora Tech Award 2024! This journey has been one of resilience, innovation, and passion, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of a community that champions women in tech. Congratulations to my fellow finalists together we are shaping the future! Thank You Aurora Tech Award This win is for the amazing humans of HerVest #AuroraTechAward #WomenInTech #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #Grateful #Auro

Out of 2,018 applicants, only 10 startups made the cut. After a rigorous, multi-stage selection process, we've narrowed it down to the finalists—less than 0.5% of the original pool. These founders have proven their potential, and on April 12, 2025, they’ll pitch their ventures to a panel of top investors and industry leaders. Five will be selected for the cash award, but the real value lies in everything that follows: the doors opened, connections made, and the exposure we've built—a platform designed to boost these women to the next step. What makes them stand out? Why did the jury choose them? Swipe through to discover their startups and hear from the investors fueling their success. ? Meet the women behind this year’s 10: ?? Shreya Prakash, Laura Velásquez Herrera, Nyifamu Ogechi Manzo, MBA, Gulnaza Khalmanbetova, Thais Sterenberg, Leonie Korn, Veronica Lee, 'Solape Akinpelu, LORETXU GARCIA ARRAZTOA, Heiura Itae-Tetaa! And their ?? startups: FlexiBees (India), Arkangel AI (Colombia), Farmatrix (Nigeria), HerVest (Nigeria), Elephan.ai ?? (Brazil), Mama Space (Kyrgyzstan), UpLeap (by breathe medical) (Switzerland), Borderless Community (US), NIDO Contech (Chile), E-Reo (French Polynesia).

??Welcome Aurora Tech Award 2025 Finalists! The Aurora Tech Award is a non-profit initiative by inDrive, dedicated to supporting women tech startup founders who use technology to create meaningful social impact. For the third year in a row, we are excited to announce the top 10 finalists! The future of tech is female! Meet the visionary women-led startups shaping industries and driving innovation. From AI and fintech to sustainability and healthcare, these entrepreneurs are using technology to create meaningful social impact. * Shreya Prakash, founder of FlexiBees (India)? * Laura Velásquez Herrera, founder of Arkangel AI (Colombia)? * Nyifamu Ogechi Manzo, MBA , founder of Farmatrix Agro (Nigeria)? * Gulnaza Khalmanbetova, founder of Mama Space (Kyrgyzstan) * Thais Sterenberg de Oliveira, founder of Elephan.ai ?? (Brazilia)? * Leonie Korn, founder of UpLeap (by breathe medical) (Switzerland)? * Veronica Lee, founder Borderless Community (Uzbekistan) * Solape Akinpelu Akinpelu, founder of HerVest (Nigeria) * Loretxu García, founder of NIDO Contech (Chile) * Heiura Itae Tetaa, founder of E-Reo (French Polynesia) The winners will be revealed this April—stay tuned! ?? Follow us for updates: Aurora Tech Award on LinkedIn and visit our website to learn more about their projects: https://lnkd.in/e7z7UMtr

We have announced the Aurora Tech Award finalists! One of the most inspiring parts of this journey is congratulating the finalists and seeing their genuine emotions! ?? This moment is especially meaningful to me, as I had to select just 10 finalists from 2,018 applications! The process was far from simple—we implemented a multi-stage selection system with numerous criteria to identify the best startups in developing markets. Congratulations to all the finalists! Your ideas and dedication are changing the world! ???

Women around the world are no longer waiting for a 'seat at the table' or for the table to be built for them—they’re building their own. ???? One example? Creating space and new standards for female leadership. Jennifer (Jay) Palumbo’s latest Forbes article explores a crucial truth: ?? Workplaces still aren’t built for diverse and neurodivergent leaders. I had the chance to share my thoughts in the piece on why the solution isn’t just adapting to old standards—it’s setting new ones. That’s exactly what the Neurodivergent Leaders Cohort by 92NY Women inPower, developed with The Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact at 92NY, is doing. ?? Because leadership isn’t one-size-fits-all—and when we design with inclusivity in mind from the start, everyone benefits. ?? Because at the end of the day, we can’t afford to wait. ?? We’re seeing this shift in entrepreneurship, too. With the Aurora Tech Award, we’re backing the boldest female founders from emerging markets. These women don’t wait. They build. AND WE ARE HERE FOR IT. ?????? Progress doesn’t come from fitting in—it comes from building something better. And that’s exactly what’s happening. To all those who didn’t give us a seat at the table… sorry to break it to you, but it’s your loss. ?? #Leadership #Diversity #Inclusion #WomenInBusiness #Neurodiversity #FemaleFounders

These were the best calls I’ve had in a year (or maybe in my entire life)! Ksenia Matveeva and I personally congratulated our Top 10 Female Founders — the finalists for the Aurora Tech Award 2025. We picked up them from 2,018 applicants across 116 countries. Their reactions to the news were everything, such a powerful reminder why I love what I do! Meet the Top 10 Female Founders: ? Gulnaza Khalmanbetova, Mama Space, ???? ? Shreya Prakash, FlexiBees, ???? ? Laura Velasquez Herrera, Arkangel AI, Colombia ???? ? Nyifamu Ogechi Manzo, MBA, Farmatrix Agro, Nigeria ???? ? Thais Sterenberg, Elephan.ai ?? , Brazil ???? ? Leonie Korn, UpLeap (by breathe medical), Switzerland ???? ? Veronica Lee, Borderless, the USA ????, Japan ???? ? 'Solape Akinpelu, HerVest, Nigeria ???? ? LORETXU GARCIA ARRAZTOA, NIDO Contech, Chile ???? ? Heiura Itae-Tetaa, E-Reo, French Polynesia ???? Can’t wait to see all of you at the final pitch competition in Cairo!

Really really happy to share that FlexiBees is among the top 10 finalists for the Aurora Tech Award ! Coming this far, chosen from among 2,018 applications from 116 countries, it feels like nothing else. Let's change the game, let's change the way work is done, let's create scaled avenues for women to have amazing careers! Thanks much Isabella Ghassemi-Smith and the entire team. And of course congratulations to everyone in Team FlexiBees ????

?? Exciting News! ?? We’re super thrilled to share that our Co-Founder, Leonie, has been named one of the Top 10 Female Founders in the Aurora Tech Award 2025! ?? Representing UpLeap (by breathe medical), we’re honored to be among founders that are "building the solutions the world needs"- by making AI-driven medical training more accessible worldwide. Being selected alongside such an inspiring group of female-led startups is a true privilege, and we can’t wait to pitch UpLeap (by breathe medical) at the finals in Cairo on April 12th! ??? ?? Meet this year’s incredible finalists: https://lnkd.in/e7z7UMtr #AuroraTechAward #WomenInTech #HealthTech #AIforGood #MedicalInnovation #Startups #TechForImpact

I’m heading to Egypt to pitch about our work in NIDO Contech in the finals of the Aurora Tech Awards Female Entrepreneur 2025! Grateful and excited to participate, supporting female entrepreneurship in STEM fields. Aurora Tech Award ?? ——- Hi, Loretxu! We’re super excited to have you as one of the finalists for the Aurora Tech Award 2025! You did an amazing job. Out of 2,018 applications from 116 countries, you’ve made it to the Top 10. Huge congrats again! Mujeres Empresarias, Chile Her Global Impact NIDO Contech EEN Madrid Premio Avonni