Aurora Tech Award 2025: Four female entrepreneurs from Kazakhstan have made it to the list of the best in the world

The Aurora Tech Award 2025, established by inDrive, has announced a global list of 120 female founders of startups on emerging markets. The list includes the 120 boldest and most ambitious female entrepreneurs from around the world, four of whom are from Kazakhstan.

The Kazakhstani finalists for the award include:

— Marzhan Kabduakhitova, founder of the Ratio platform, which provides clinics and private users with modern AI solutions for skin condition analysis, treatment recommendations, and progress monitoring.

— Alua Sharishova, a 15-year-old schoolgirl from Kazakhstan. She presented the Jolym app, which helps students prepare for admission to international educational programs.

— Aliya Sabitova, with the InCare KZ marketplace for finding specialists to care for people with special needs and the elderly.

— Makpal Ikramova, with the Inventivo project, which uses computer vision technology to track joint movements via a mobile device or computer camera. This method provides patients with sensory control and real-time feedback, making joint health care accessible and convenient from anywhere in the world.

This year, the award received a record-breaking 2,018 applications from 116 countries, double the number from last year. Nigeria led the countries represented in the top 120, followed by Brazil and the United States, and then Egypt. Other notable participants include Colombia, Kenya, the United Kingdom, India, and Kazakhstan.

Healthtech emerged as the leading category among Aurora finalists — 30 of the 120 selected projects operate in the digital health sector. The Kazakhstani startups Ratio and Inventivo reflect this global trend in medical technology development.

In 2024, the organizers increased the award's prize fund to $85,000. Five participants will now receive awards: $30,000 for first place, $20,000 for second, $15,000 for third, and $10,000 each for fourth and fifth places.

The award has also expanded its support network: the number of Aurora Tech Award partner venture capital funds has increased from 23 to 35, including new partners from Egypt, Brazil, and Pakistan. Finalists will gain access to mentorship, investment consulting, assistance in preparing pitch decks, and networking opportunities with international investors.

The Aurora Tech Award recognizes the boldest and most ambitious female founders on emerging markets, offering them not only recognition. The award provides access to expert knowledge, resources, and transformative opportunities for scaling businesses and shaping the future. The list of award finalists will be announced in February 2025, and winners will be honored at a global ceremony in 2025.

The full list of the top 120 female-founded startups is available here.