The 2025 Aurora Tech Award invites women tech entrepreneurs worldwide to apply starting September 2nd, showcasing their innovative solutions. As the tech landscape evolves, the demand for diverse voices and leadership becomes increasingly important. Established in 2020, the Aurora Tech Award aims to recognize and empower women founders of IT startups who are leading innovation and breaking barriers. This year, the award returns with enhanced opportunities, increased financial support, and a commitment to nurturing the next generation of women tech leaders.
2025 Highlights: What’s New This Year
The Aurora Tech Award 2025 introduces several updates to better support women entrepreneurs:
- Increased Prize Fund: Acknowledging the crucial role women play in tech, the prize fund has been significantly enhanced:
- 1st Prize: $30,000
- 2nd Prize: $20,000
- 3rd Prize: $15,000
- 4th Prize: $10,000
- 5th Prize: $10,000
- Refined Evaluation Process: The application procedure now consists of three assessment stages: longlist, midlist, and shortlist. After an initial evaluation by venture fund analysts, 100 participants will be selected for pitching sessions, with 15 advancing to the final shortlist.
- Expanded Mentoring Opportunities: Shortlisted participants will benefit from an enhanced mentoring program featuring sessions with industry experts over a period of 2 to 2.5 months, offering critical insights and guidance to help refine their projects.
Asya Vildt, Operations Excellence and Sustainability Director at inDrive, emphasizes the importance of supporting women in tech: “Empowering women in tech is not just about leveling the playing field; it’s about unlocking innovation’s full potential. Women entrepreneurs bring fresh perspectives essential for tackling today’s complex challenges. At inDrive, we are dedicated to creating opportunities that enable women to lead in technology, as their success fosters positive change across industries and communities. The Aurora Tech Award embodies our belief in diverse leadership’s power to shape a better, more sustainable future.”
Eligibility Criteria
Women entrepreneurs interested in applying should meet the following criteria:
- Leadership: The startup must be founded or co-founded and led by a woman.
- Funding: The startup should not have received more than $4 million in funding, including the seed round.
- Age of Startup: The startup must be no older than 5 years.
- Minimum Viable Product: A functional prototype is required; idea-stage projects are not eligible.
How to Participate
Applications will be accepted from September 2 to November 21, 2024. Interested applicants can submit their entries via the Aurora Tech Award website at https://www.auroratechaward.com/.
Key Dates
- Application Period: September 2 – November 21, 2024
- Finalist Announcement: Spring 2025 (between March and May)
- Winners Announced: Spring 2025
