Aica Health, Dzylo, MAMMA-MIYA, and Tech4Good Community are the four Indian firms that have made it to the longlist for the prestigious Aurora Tech Award. The Aurora Tech Award honors the most fearless and aspirational female entrepreneurs in emerging countries. It is a non-profit program of inDrive, a global platform for mobility and urban services.

The top 120 founders for 2025 were included in the longlist. In February 2025, the number of top candidates will be revealed, and later that year, the winners will be honored in a worldwide celebration.

Aica Health is a health-tech firm that was founded by Manishaa Soin. It uses AI-powered help to manage chronic illnesses and provide integrated geriatric care at home.

Anita Tailor is one of the co-founders of Dzylo, a comprehensive AI-powered SaaS platform that enables interior designers to create businesses.

 In a similar vein, MAMMA-MIA uses an AI-powered co-pilot to meet the demands of mothers in terms of both productivity and wellbeing. For creating Flake, an open-source data management platform for non-technical users that improves NGO tech skills, Tech4Good Community was listed.

A record 2,018 applications from 116 nations were submitted this year, more than twice as many as the previous year. Additionally, venture capital firms stepped up their support for the program, increasing the number of VC partners from 23 to 35. Notably, new partners from Egypt, Brazil, and Pakistan are on this year's list, highlighting the award's and its mission's increasing international reputation.

With 30 startups in this space, healthtech emerged as the top industry among Aurora's Top 120, demonstrating a global focus on healthcare innovation.

Furthermore, while e-commerce seems to be changing into more dynamic marketplace models, agritech and edtech have remained quite significant. In the field of renewable energy, there are only a few firms, including one from Iraq and one from Colombia. Brazil is home to the most of HR tech startups, with Singapore coming in second and the UK having one.

More than merely recognition, the Aurora Tech Award honors the most fearless and driven female entrepreneurs in developing markets. It gives them access to knowledge, assets, and game-changing chances to grow their companies and influence the future. Recipients of awards receive mentoring, pitch deck preparation assistance, fundraising and pitching advice, and recognition for their work. In order to propel their growth, they also establish connections with VC firms, investors, and PR agencies.

Speaking to this, Head of the Aurora Tech Awards, Isabella Ghassemi-Smith says, "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”.