The award, the only global initiative dedicated to supporting exceptional female founders from emerging economies, received 3,400 applications from 127 countries, marking a dramatic increase from last year’s 2,018 submissions across 116 nations. The surge reflects not only growing interest in the program but also a wider wave of women-led innovation across the globe.
The Top 100 list highlights an extraordinary range of founders tackling challenges in health, education, agriculture, fintech, and more. The countries with the most applications include Nigeria, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Colombia, Egypt, Brazil, India, Chile, Pakistan, and Mexico, showcasing the global reach of emerging-market innovation.
Healthtech remains the leading sector in this year’s cohort, with 23 startups developing solutions in digital medical tools, life sciences, wellness, productivity platforms, sports tech, and longevity-focused services. This continues a trend from 2025, emphasizing how women founders frequently design products that address tangible, locally-rooted problems.
Other high-performing sectors include agritech, edtech, and fintech. Notably, fintech has gained momentum thanks to a dedicated track launched in partnership with inDrive, highlighting innovative solutions in digital payments, lending, financial inclusion, and other emerging-market needs. Across all sectors, AI, blockchain, and IoT technologies feature prominently, signaling a universal reliance on advanced tech as a driver of impact.
Regionally, HR tech is gaining traction among founders from Latin America, Africa, and MENA, while agritech remains strong in Africa and LATAM, focusing primarily on B2B models. Edtech startups—18 in total—showcase significant adoption of AI-driven tools, underlining how digital learning solutions are scaling rapidly. In countries such as Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa, agritech and foodtech startups also demonstrate the intersection of technological innovation and energy solutions, vital for sector growth.
Two trends stand out in this year’s submissions: the widespread integration of AI into healthtech and edtech solutions, and a clear alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), reflecting a new generation of impact-driven entrepreneurship. Business models skew strongly toward B2B, particularly in Chile (84%), India (79%), and Peru (69%), demonstrating maturity and demand for enterprise solutions.
The award also provides insight into the funding needs of early-stage founders. Indian startups are seeking the largest average investment at around $1.25 million, followed by Kenyan ($840,000) and Colombian ($620,000) ventures. Egyptian founders aim for roughly $540,000, while Nigerian startups are targeting $510,000. Other countries generally request under $500,000, with Peru and Morocco at the lower end of the spectrum, seeking between $300,000 and $340,000.
“From more than 3,400 applications, our Top 100 represent the top three percent—truly exceptional founders. They’re building commercially powerful, category-defining companies that solve real problems their communities and markets face. We’re thrilled they chose to apply and proud to spotlight their impact,” said Isabella Ghassemi-Smith, Head of the Aurora Tech Award.
Aurora’s network now spans LATAM, MENA, Africa, and South Asia, covering roughly 70% of the world’s emerging-market innovation hubs. Beyond recognition, the award provides winners with up to $50,000 in non-dilutive funding, tailored support, and access to a network of investors and industry experts. This combination of financial resources and mentorship helps amplify their global visibility and scale their impact.
Last year, the 2025 winners celebrated in Cairo included Solape Akinpelu (HerVest, Nigeria), Loretxu Garcia Arraztoa (Nido Contech, Chile), and Shreya Prakash (FlexiBees, India), among others, showcasing a diverse array of solutions spanning continents and sectors.
The full list of top finalists for 2026 will be announced in February, with winners celebrated at a global ceremony later in the year, marking another milestone in supporting women shaping the future of technology in emerging markets.