This event highlighted talented founders from around the world who are making positive changes in their communities. It underscored the significant contributions women are making to advance gender equality in the technology field.

Among the distinguished entrepreneurs being recognised for their outstanding achievements are:

Folake Owodunni, Emergency Response Africa (Nigeria):

First Place: Owodunni's startup is working to improve the accessibility of emergency medical care across Africa, starting in Nigeria, by seamlessly connecting a network of independent medics, ambulance service providers, and hospitals through its platform, transforming them into a cohesive emergency medical services system.

Hannah Töpler, Intrare (Mexico):

Second Place: Töpler's Intrare is on a mission to ensure job applicants from diverse backgrounds are treated equally by leveraging proprietary AI to eliminate bias from recruitment processes.

Sarah Phiri-Molema, Deaftronics (Pty) (Botswana):

Third Place: Phiri-Molema's startup has developed the world’s first solar-powered, rechargeable hearing aid, ensuring access to essential healthcare resources for children and underserved communities.

Ekaterina Smirnova, Head of the The Aurora Tech Award, commented: “Today we celebrate the remarkable achievements of Folake Owodunni, Hannah Töpler, and Sarah Phiri-Molema. Their pioneering startups not only address the critical needs of their communities, but also serve as inspiration to prospective women founders across the globe. Initiatives like the Aurora Tech Award play a vital role in providing much-needed recognition to women in the tech industry, amplifying their contributions and helping pave the way for greater gender equality and diversity in innovation.”

The Aurora Tech Award, established in 2020 by the US-headquartered inDrive, a global platform for mobility and urban services, received an unprecedented 649 applications from 102 countries this year. This highlights the significant global impact women are having in technology and innovation.

The Aurora Tech Award 2024 will grant cash prizes of $30,000, $20,000, and $10,000 to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners, respectively, along with access to inDrive's mentorship programme. This non-profit initiative, overseen by inDrive, recognises women tech startup founders whose projects significantly contribute to global development. Its aim is to support female entrepreneurs and address gender bias in the venture capital and technology industries.

inDrive, a player in global mobility and urban services, has seen its app downloaded more than 200 million times, becoming the second most downloaded mobility app in 2023. The company offers a range of urban services beyond ride-hailing, including intercity transport, freight delivery, task assistance, and courier services. In 2023, inDrive introduced New Ventures, a venture and M&A arm, and currently operates in over 700 cities across 46 countries. Driven by its mission to challenge social injustice, inDrive aims to positively affect the lives of one billion people by 2030. This ambition is pursued through its core business, which supports local communities with a fair pricing model, and through the efforts of inVision, its non-profit arm. inVision's community empowerment programmes focus on advancing education, sports, the arts and sciences, gender equality, and other crucial initiatives.