Isabella Ghassemi-Smith, head of the Aurora Tech Award, said, “The Aurora Top 120 is a first for us this year, created from a three-month open call that attracted over 2,000 applications from female founders. Through a rigorous selection process, we’ve identified 120 standout women entrepreneurs who are building bold and innovative businesses in emerging markets. These founders are poised to shape the future of their industries and countries, making them the ones to watch in 2025.”
The top five recipients of the award will receive a total prize fund of $85,000. Solape Akinpelu was awarded the first prize of $30,000. The award offers mentorship, networking opportunities, media exposure, and financial support to assist female entrepreneurs in expanding their startups.
The final pitch competition was held during the SHE CAN 2025 event in Cairo, and the victors were honoured in front of a global community of female entrepreneurs.
This acknowledgment underscores Nigeria’s expanding status as a technological innovation and entrepreneurship center, which incentivises additional women to establish technology-based enterprises in Africa and beyond.
