The Aurora Tech Award annually recognizes brave women entrepreneurs whose startups are changing the future of technology by offering innovative solutions with broad social impact. The initiative was launched in 2021 and today the award has become a global platform that amplifies voices that often remain in the shadows. 

In 2025, a record 2,018 applications were received from 116 countries, including participants from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Latin America (LATAM), Central Asia and the Asia-Pacific Region (APAC). Four businesswomen from Kazakhstan entered the top 100 strongest according to the results of the initial global selection: Aliya Sabitova with the InCare KZ marketplace, Alua Sharisheva with the Jolym application, Makpal Ikramova with the Inventivo project and Marzhan Kabduakhitova, the founder of the Ratio platform. And in 2024, Asem Tazhieva, with the Ozim Platform project from Kazakhstan, became one of the finalists of the project. 

"The Aurora Tech Award is not just an award, but a global movement that opens the way for women in IT to invest and helps to close the gender gap in entrepreneurship. I am proud to be a part of this community. The status of the nominee gave me confidence, and I took a fresh look at my project: the Ozim Platform grew and transformed into the Ozim Academy. Now we not only support families, but also provide teachers with modern tools and knowledge, teach them innovative and scientifically based methods so that they can change the lives of children with special needs," said the finalist of the 2024 prize. Asem Tazhieva. 

In 2026, the prize pool will be $85,000 and will be distributed among three winners: $50,000 for the first place, $20,000 for the second and $15,000 for the third. In addition to cash prizes, finalists receive access to a network of investors and partners, support from InDrive experts, and resources to scale their business internationally.

"The Aurora Tech Award is a springboard for a new generation of female founders. We provide not only financing, but also access to leading investors, international communities and resources that help grow projects that can change entire industries," said Isabella Ghassemi-Smith, head of the award.

The finalists will be selected by an independent jury of investors and industry leaders. In 2025, projects from health tech, agrotech, ecotech, edtech, fintech and HR tech reached the finals. 

To apply for the award, startups must meet the following criteria: the startup is founded and / or co-founded and headed by a woman; the duration of the startup is no more than five years; the total amount of funding raised is no more than $ 6 million; also the presence of a developed functional prototype of the product, MVP or first customers and be at the stage of development — pre-seed or seed. 

Interested participants can submit their applications until November 12, 2025 on the website auroratechaward.com The announcement of the top 100 will take place on December 8, 2025, and the top 30 and finalists will be announced in early 2026. The award ceremony will take place in the spring of 2026.

About the project

Founded by InDrive in 2021, the Aurora Tech Award supports the most promising technology startups founded by women in emerging markets. And it's not just about financing. The award recognizes brave women entrepreneurs whose startups are changing the future of technology and offering innovative solutions with strong social impact. The winners receive funding, access to investors, a global network of InDrive contacts, and strategic media support.

Today, female-led startups account for less than 2% of global venture capital funding. Aurora is changing these statistics by directing attention and resources to those who are not waiting for a free seat at the table, but are paving their own way to it.

The award is a non—profit initiative of InDrive, a global urban and transportation services platform that does business in 982 cities in 48 countries. InDrive is known for its direct price negotiation model and ranks second in the world in terms of the number of downloads among taxi services. Through the Aurora Tech Award, InDrive is fulfilling its mission to challenge injustice and promote gender equality by supporting women in technology.

Learn more on www.inDrive.com