Nigeria Dominates Aurora Tech Award 2025, with 21 Founders Making the Top 120 List

The Aurora Tech Award, an esteemed annual recognition of the most daring and influential female entrepreneurs in emerging markets, has revealed its Top 120 founders for 2025. Nigeria is leading the charge, with 21 standout female entrepreneurs, underscoring the nation’s growing prominence as a powerhouse for innovation and women-led businesses.
Out of a record-breaking 2,018 applications from 116 countries, Nigeria’s impressive representation places it at the forefront of the global tech landscape. Other countries, including Brazil, the United States, and Egypt, are also notable contributors to the list, along with Colombia, Kenya, the United Kingdom, India, and Kazakhstan, reflecting the truly global nature of the awards.
Isabella Ghassemi-Smith, Head of the Aurora Tech Awards, commented on this milestone: “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 set to shape the future of their industries and countries, and they are the ones to watch in 2025.”
This announcement comes amidst growing research highlighting the power of women-led startups. A recent report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) revealed that female-founded businesses generate 78 cents of revenue per dollar of funding, compared to just 31 cents for male-led startups, reaffirming the impressive revenue efficiency of women in entrepreneurship.
The Aurora Tech Award goes beyond recognition, offering selected founders mentorship, resources, and the opportunity to expand their businesses on a global scale. This initiative has a profound impact on women entrepreneurs, who are not only driving economic growth but also inspiring future generations.
The full list of top finalists will be announced in February 2025, and the winners will be celebrated in a global ceremony later in the year, marking another significant achievement for women entrepreneurs worldwide.





