This year’s shortlist features trailblazing founders from MENA, LATAM, Central Asia, and APAC, who lead startups across industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), fintech, healthtech, and more. This year’s finalists have demonstrated exceptional leadership and technological advancements in their respective fields. The 2025 Aurora Tech Award finalists are:

• Shreya Prakash, Founder, FlexiBees (India) – flexible talent platform, helping businesses source part-time and project-based workers pooled from highly qualified women seeking remote work
• Laura Velásquez Herrera, Founder, Arkangel AI (Colombia) – AI SaaS that transforms medical data into AI algorithms without code
• Manzo Nyifamu Ogechi, Founder, Farmatrix (Nigeria) – an easier means to buy and supply farm products
• Gulnaza Khalmanbetova, Founder, Mama Space (Kyrgyzstan) – an AI-guided support system for moms and moms-to-be
• Thais Sterenberg de Oliveira, Founder Elephan (Brazilia) – an AI-enabled B2B SaaS that helps to attract and manage leads and clients
• Leonie Korn, Founder, UpLeap (Switzerland) – an AI-driven platform to revolutionize medical training through short, hands-on simulations
• Veronica Lee, Founder, Borderless ( Uzbekistan) – an all-in-one AI-powered college counseling platform for international students
• Solape Akinpelu, Founder, HerVest (Nigeria) – a  fintech platform empowering women through inclusive financial services
• Loretxu García, Founder, Nido Contech (Chile) – nature-based solutions for the construction industry
• Heiura Itae Tetaa, Founder, E-Reo (French Polynesia) – a solution for digitising indigenous languages

Half of the startups represented by the finalists are at the seed stage; three projects are at the pre-seed level; and the rest are at the so-called friends & family and angel investment stages.

The Aurora Tech Award is a global prize dedicated to supporting and recognising women founders of early-stage technology startups. Established in 2020 by inDrive, the award is granted annually to champion female entrepreneurs who drive innovation and create meaningful social impact through technology.

Isabella Ghassemi-Smith, Head of the Aurora Tech Award, commented: “Aurora isn’t just a tech award – it’s a launchpad for the next generation of unicorn founders in emerging markets. With funding, high-profile investor access, and a global network, we back the boldest women in tech who are building ventures that will redefine industries.”

The finalists were selected based on the innovation, scalability, and social impact of their startups. A distinguished panel of industry experts and investors will evaluate their work before announcing the winner at the upcoming Aurora Tech Award series of events in Cairo on April 11-13, 2025. The final pitch competition will be held at SHE CAN 2025, organized by Entreprenelle, whose primary objective is to support and empower women who seek to be entrepreneurs and business leaders.

The Aurora Tech Award's panel of venture capitalists highlighted this year’s finalists for their exceptional potential, strong market traction, and innovative solutions addressing critical challenges. The startups that these women founders represent have demonstrated impressive growth, clear business models, and proven market demand, backed by highly skilled and experienced founding teams. From leveraging cutting-edge technology to filling key industry gaps, their impact is evident through third-party recognition, strong customer engagement, and scalable business strategies. The Aurora Tech Award team looks forward to seeing the startups’ continued success in transforming industries and creating lasting impact and value.

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