Who Aurora is for:
Are you our next winner?
We back the boldest female tech founders in emerging markets by tossing out the startup rulebook and building what they actually need
Aurora is a good fit if you
Are focused on scaling and seeking visibility, funding, or connections
Are building a tech or tech-
enabled startup
Are aligned with Aurora’s ethos: ambitious, impact-driven, and bold
Wondering if your startup qualifies?
The award is open to female-founded or co-founded tech startups that meet the following criteria
You have a working MVP
or early traction
You have raised up to $6
million in total funding,
including seed
Your startup is under
5 years old
Aurora is the only 
startup award exclusive
to female tech
founders in emerging
markets
How we define ”Tech”
At Aurora, “tech” means that technology is not just a tool, but the foundation of how the company creates value and scales. In other words, without technology, the business model would not exist or be able to grow.
A startup is considered tech if:
- Its core product or service is built on technology (e.g., software, data, AI, digital platforms, hardware innovation).
- Technology enables the scalability of the business (reaching many users or markets efficiently).
- The business is innovating through technology, not just using it for support functions (like having a website or social media).