Launched in 2021 by inDrive, a US-based global mobility and urban services platform, this year's award saw an unprecedented 649 applications from 102 countries, a twofold increase from last year. The shortlisted candidates are exceptional women founders spearheading innovative projects aimed at bringing positive changes to their communities.

Ekaterina Smirnova, Executive Director of the Aurora Tech Award, remarked, "Our venture capital partners have meticulously evaluated each of these submissions, which showcase the increasing participation of women leaders in tech and the role they play in enhancing the quality of life in their communities despite the challenges they face. This year's awards celebrate the work of these founders and highlight both the diversity of projects and the vital contributions local role models make to inspiring change. The inDrive team passionately advocates for gender equality in the tech industry. We are proud to recognise and support women through awards that honour their achievements, and actively promote their impactful contributions."

Three cash prizes will be awarded to the winners: $30,000, $20,000 and $10,000 for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, respectively. In addition to the prizes, entrepreneurs will gain access to inDrive’s mentorship program.

The winners of the 2024 Aurora Tech Award will be announced on March 8th, 2024 at an online ceremony streamed via auroratechaward.com.

Aurora Tech Award 2024 shortlist

• Daniella Castro from Brazil: leader of Huna, a startup focused on the development of cutting-edge AI models for the early detection of chronic diseases in women.
• Marwa Hage from Colombia: her startup, Munily App, uses software to create secure and connected communities.
• Candace Chen from Taiwan: CEO & Founder of Fluv, a pet care marketplace for urban pet parents in Asia.
• Joselyne Del Rosario from Ecuador: her startup, DREx, is developing a platform that unlocks the potential of sustainable finance, avoiding E.S.G. greenwashing practices, and championing traceability and transparency.
• Nadejda Anpilogova from Kazakhstan: Co-Founder of Your Accessible Guide, an ecosystem of inclusive digital products designed to develop accessible tourism for people with disabilities and special needs.
• Maria Dmitrieva, based in Kazakhstan: CEO & Co-Founder of EcoDisclosure, a company revolutionising the way businesses approach environmental, social, governance (ESG) scoring and disclosure.
• Sandra Montes Pérez from Spain: with the ScrapAd startup, a marketplace platform for recyclable materials that operates in 70 countries, she works tirelessly to bring disruptive solutions to the market.
• Paula Monticelli from Argentina: through her startup, CryptoMate, she wants to improve access to web3 with innovative digital solutions.
• Rim Jourdan from UAE: her startup, Skatch, is a professional platform for blue and grey-collar workers. Focusing on the MEA region, Skatch aims to help technicians, workers, vendors and other professionals with lower education levels to secure jobs, and upskill through AI, gaming and community building.
• Aidana Aituarova from Kazakhstan: as Founder of Porte Tech, she contributes to the sustainable development of her hometown. Her company’s ESG-friendly web application provides an automated “master key”, which helps to reduce financial and time costs by integrating RFID cards, parking remotes, paper passes and magnets in one application.
• Hannah Töpler from Mexico: Founder and CEO of Intrare, a social tech that builds proprietary AI to eliminate bias from recruitment. Intrare’s mission is to match millions of refugees, marginalized women, LGBTIQ+, and other diverse talents with fair jobs, to break the poverty cycle.
• Firouza Eshonova from Uzbekistan: creator of Mila4AI, an app that aids those with speech disorders to improve their speaking ability. The app employs AI to prescribe oral motor and articulation exercises without having a therapist present during their treatment, giving those who live in places that lack access to speech therapists an opportunity to improve their condition.
• Assem Tazhiyeva from Kazakhstan: Founder of Ozim Platform, a social project dedicated to supporting families with children who have special needs, by connecting them with research-based educational and psychological resources.
• Aira Mongush from Cyprus: her startup, Mathhub, seeks to create global high value deep tech projects, building accessible tech education and reinforcement Learning and Group theory applications in Machine Learning Research.
• Chinwendu Nweke from Nigeria: founder of Bridge Merchant Enterprises. Her vision is to see world hunger and poverty eradicated using technology and people-empowered solutions.
• Alena Shchavleva based in Indonesia: Founder of Effelp, a startup that matches  patients  with the help and support available in his/her local area.
• Megan Lam from Hong Kong: Co-Founder & CEO at Neurum Health. She is excited about meaningful changes in mind and lifestyle health.
• Jasmijn Kok from Netherlands: Founder of Nina.care, a database of reliable and loving nannies and au pairs. Her super-fast app arranges everything in no time. 
• Sarah Molema from Botswana: Founder of Deaftronics (Pty) Ltd. She believes that deaf people should live without limits, which inspired her to invent the first solar powered hearing aid made by people who are deaf for people with hearing loss in developing countries.
• Folake Owodunni from Nigeria: her startup, Emergency Response Africa, is dedicated to making healthcare accessible in Africa.

The panel of judges will include prominent women tech entrepreneurs, winners of last year’s Aurora Tech Award, and key industry experts. Prominent members of the jury include Ms Sadaf Abid, a social entrepreneur and CEO of Kashf Foundation (Pakistan); Leonor Cogneau, Head of User Experience at Carsome (Malaysia); Mai Medhat, CEO and co-founder of Eventtus (Egypt); Charlot Magayi, Founder and CEO of Mukuru Clean Stoves (Kenya); Sullyen Almeida, Principal at monashees; and Tatyana Terentyeva, General Counsel at inDrive.