Indian startups Aica Health, Dzylo, MAMMA-MIYA, and Tech4Good Community have secured spots on the prestigious Aurora Tech Award 2025 longlist. The annual award, organized by inDrive, a global mobility and urban services platform, recognizes innovative female-led startups in emerging markets. This year’s longlist features 120 standout founders, with the finalists to be revealed in February 2025, followed by a global awards ceremony.
Founded by Manishaa Soin, Aica Health is a health-tech venture that employs AI-driven solutions to manage chronic illnesses and deliver coordinated geriatric care at home. Dzylo, co-founded by Anita Tailor, offers an all-in-one AI-enabled SaaS platform aimed at empowering interior designers and enhancing their business operations. Similarly, MAMMA-MIYA utilizes AI-powered tools to address the productivity and well-being challenges of mothers. Tech4Good Community earned its place on the list for creating Flake, an open-source data management platform that simplifies tech adoption for NGOs and non-technical users.
This year, the Aurora Tech Award attracted an unprecedented 2,018 applications from 116 countries, doubling last year’s numbers. The initiative also saw an increase in support from venture capital firms, with 35 VC partners participating, up from 23 last year. Notably, new partners from Egypt, Brazil, and Pakistan joined the initiative, highlighting its expanding global recognition.
“The Aurora Top 120 is a milestone for us, formed after a three-month open call that drew over 2,000 entries from female founders. Through a meticulous selection process, we identified 120 exceptional women entrepreneurs driving bold, innovative ventures in emerging markets. These leaders are shaping the future of their industries and communities,” said Isabella Ghassemi-Smith, Head of the Aurora Tech Awards.
Healthtech emerged as the most prominent sector among Aurora’s Top 120, with 30 startups dedicated to advancing healthcare solutions globally. Other notable sectors included agritech, edtech, and evolving e-commerce models. Though fewer in number, renewable energy and HR tech startups showcased strong potential, with entries from regions like Colombia, Iraq, Brazil, and Singapore.
Women’s entrepreneurship is gaining momentum globally. The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor reports a rise in women-led startups, with participation rates increasing from 6.1% (2001–2005) to 10.4% (2021–2023) across 30 countries. Emerging markets lead this shift, where 17% of working-age women are already entrepreneurs, and 35% aspire to follow suit, compared to lower rates in high-income countries.
The growing influence of women entrepreneurs has also drawn significant venture capital interest, with emerging markets receiving 17% of global VC investments in 2023. Female-led startups have demonstrated greater efficiency, generating 78 cents per dollar of funding compared to 31 cents by male-led counterparts and achieving 10% higher revenue growth over five years.
The Aurora Tech Award not only celebrates trailblazing female founders but also provides access to critical resources, including mentorship, fundraising guidance, investor connections, and PR support. These opportunities help participants scale their ventures and create lasting impacts on their industries and communities.
The Aurora Tech Award, an initiative by inDrive, honors women tech founders whose projects significantly impact global development. inDrive, a global mobility and urban services platform, operates in over 700 cities across 46 countries. Its app, downloaded more than 200 million times, is the second-most popular mobility app globally.
Beyond its core services, inDrive is dedicated to empowering communities and promoting social justice through initiatives like inVision, which supports education, sports, arts, sciences, and gender equality. By 2030, inDrive aims to positively impact one billion lives, aligning its mission with sustainable development and social empowerment.
