South African Female Tech Founders Can Win R1.9 Million to Scale Their Innovations
Female entrepreneurs leading tech startups in South Africa have a remarkable opportunity to secure up to R1.9 million in funding and gain global recognition through the prestigious Aurora Tech Award. This initiative is designed to empower women who are using technology to create social impact and drive progress. The award offers a vital platform for innovators to scale their businesses, providing not only financial capital but also invaluable mentorship and access to an international network of investors, helping to elevate groundbreaking local solutions onto the world stage.
Addressing the Funding Gap for Women in Tech
Despite the rapid expansion of South Africa’s tech ecosystem, female founders continue to encounter significant obstacles. Globally, startups led by women receive less than 2% of all venture capital funding, a statistic that reflects the persistent local challenges in accessing capital, mentorship, and professional networks. The Aurora Tech Award, founded by inDrive in 2021, was established specifically to address this disparity. By celebrating and supporting women who are reshaping technology, the award aims to create a more equitable and inclusive landscape for innovation across sectors ranging from AI and fintech to health tech, edtech, and agrotech.
The award’s growing influence is evident in its global reach. The 2025 competition attracted a record 2,018 applications from 116 countries, demonstrating a worldwide demand for such platforms. African innovators have consistently shown their strength, with 31 startups from the continent making the Top 120 in the last edition. This strong performance, highlighted by Nigerian founder Solape Akinpelu winning the top prize, underscores the immense potential of African female entrepreneurs and provides a powerful incentive for South African founders to apply and showcase their world-class innovations.
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