JURY

For the 2025 Aurora Tech Award, we received 2,018 applications from 116 countries. Through a rigorous selection process, in partnership with top VCs, we identified the top 10 finalists — the boldest, most innovative female founders leading the charge for change.
The final stage of the competition is the live pitching event. On April 12th, these 10 finalists will take the stage in Cairo, Egypt, to pitch in front of investors and a distinguished panel of judges, who will determine the winners.
Learn more about our jury members and get inspired by their projects
Abstract illustration featuring a black starburst, a bright green star shape, and a stylized white figure in the center.Abstract design featuring geometric shapes in black, white, and neon green, with starbursts and sparkles creating a vibrant composition.
  • Vice President of the Nigerian chapter at VRARA.
  • Enlightening young individuals about the potential in Mixed Reality technologies.
  • Co-founding unStack Africa, a conference for tech talents which focuses on workshops and talks to empower people by practically taking them through the rudiments.
Adora Nwodo
Founder of AdoraHack
  • Vice President of the Nigerian chapter at VRARA.
  • Enlightening young individuals about the potential in Mixed Reality technologies.
  • Co-founding unStack Africa, a conference for tech talents which focuses on workshops and talks to empower people by practically taking them through the rudiments.
  • A healthcare technology veteran with a decade of experience as a President of Medtronic
  • Driving strategy, international market development and new product development.
  • Leading a non-profit initiative providing technology-powered healthcare delivery solutions to improve access to care for underserved communities around the world.
Ruchika Singhal
President of Medtronic LABS
  • A healthcare technology veteran with a decade of experience as a President of Medtronic
  • Driving strategy, international market development and new product development.
  • Leading a non-profit initiative providing technology-powered healthcare delivery solutions to improve access to care for underserved communities around the world.
  • A professional consulting & service provider of sustainable Facility Management (FM) in the Middle East.
  • Bringing an entirely new concept to the Facility Management industry in the Middle East, striving to rechannel this industry towards achieving sustainability.
Adrienne Doolan
CEO of Green Touches
  • A professional consulting & service provider of sustainable Facility Management (FM) in the Middle East.
  • Bringing an entirely new concept to the Facility Management industry in the Middle East, striving to rechannel this industry towards achieving sustainability.
  • A connector and partnership catalyst with a master degree in International and European Law.
  • Creating an amazonian-based company that uses regional expertise and international experience to design projects and partnerships based on disruptive mindset, partnership and strategy.
Mayra Castro
Founder of InvestAmazonia
  • A connector and partnership catalyst with a master degree in International and European Law.
  • Creating an amazonian-based company that uses regional expertise and international experience to design projects and partnerships based on disruptive mindset, partnership and strategy.
  • An award-winning entrepreneur, co-founder and CEO of the first-of-its-kind learning experience platform CanopyLAB.
  • Creating analog and digital social learning experiences with groundbreaking results.
Sahra-Josephine Hjorth
CEO of Green Touches
  • An award-winning entrepreneur, co-founder and CEO of the first-of-its-kind learning experience platform CanopyLAB.
  • Creating analog and digital social learning experiences with groundbreaking results.

An advocate of women's economic empowerment, Vice Chair of the Pakistan Microfinance Network, former CEO and COO of Kashf Foundation.A recipient of the Mount Holyoke Alumni Achievement Award for her contributions to serve women and communities.

Ahu Serter
Founder of Arya Women’s Investment Platform

An advocate of women's economic empowerment, Vice Chair of the Pakistan Microfinance Network, former CEO and COO of Kashf Foundation.A recipient of the Mount Holyoke Alumni Achievement Award for her contributions to serve women and communities.

  • Overseeing key operationd at inDrive, a global transportation network company that currently operates in over 700+ cities in 47 countries and serves 150M users.
  • Aiming to mentor young female professionals and help them unleash their full potential in the world of business.
Sardana Mikheeva
VP of Operations at inDrive
  • Overseeing key operationd at inDrive, a global transportation network company that currently operates in over 700+ cities in 47 countries and serves 150M users.
  • Aiming to mentor young female professionals and help them unleash their full potential in the world of business.
  • Winner of the Aurora Tech Award 2021.
  • Leading a platform that helps to collect and dispose of recyclable materials from Bishkek city.
  • A passionate entrepreneur included in the list of the most influential and inspiring women of 2022 according to the BBC.
Ainura Sagyn
Co-founder and CEO of Tazar
  • Winner of the Aurora Tech Award 2021.
  • Leading a platform that helps to collect and dispose of recyclable materials from Bishkek city.
  • A passionate entrepreneur included in the list of the most influential and inspiring women of 2022 according to the BBC.
  • Vice Chair of the Pakistan Microfinance Network, ex-CEO of Kashf Foundation.
  • A recipient of the Mount Holyoke Alumni Achievement Award for her contributions to serve women and communities.
  • Bridging the digital gender divide through the impactful Digital Literacy Programme with UN Women support.
Sadaffe Abid
Founder & CEO of CIRCLE | Pakistan
  • Vice Chair of the Pakistan Microfinance Network, ex-CEO of Kashf Foundation.
  • A recipient of the Mount Holyoke Alumni Achievement Award for her contributions to serve women and communities.
  • Bridging the digital gender divide through the impactful Digital Literacy Programme with UN Women support.

Hany is a driving force in Egypt’s innovation landscape, leading the Innovation Support Fund under the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. He empowers young entrepreneurs through strategic initiatives, drawing on over fifteen years of experience bridging academia and industry.

Hany Ayaad
Executive Director at ISF, MOHESR

Hany is a driving force in Egypt’s innovation landscape, leading the Innovation Support Fund under the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. He empowers young entrepreneurs through strategic initiatives, drawing on over fifteen years of experience bridging academia and industry.

Aya is a dynamic individual with a diverse background, acting as a Co-Founder and Programs Director at Entlaq Holding for Supporting Entrepreneurship. Armed with a Business Administration and Management Career Certificate from The AUC and a B.Sc. in Petroleum Engineering, alongside this she has a 10 years experience as a public speaking and presentation skills coach that has been coaching and training speakers in different fields and setups.

Aya Ismail
Co-Founder at Entlaq Holding

Aya is a dynamic individual with a diverse background, acting as a Co-Founder and Programs Director at Entlaq Holding for Supporting Entrepreneurship. Armed with a Business Administration and Management Career Certificate from The AUC and a B.Sc. in Petroleum Engineering, alongside this she has a 10 years experience as a public speaking and presentation skills coach that has been coaching and training speakers in different fields and setups.

  • A seasoned entrepreneur with over 13 years of experience in the tech industry and a strong track record in fundraising, business strategy, financial planning, and operational excellence.
  • Pushing the boundaries of technology and business strategy in her role as VP of Innovation at Bevy.
  • Well known for representing Middle East startups on a global stage.
Mai Medhat
CEO and co-founder of Eventtus | Egypt
  • A seasoned entrepreneur with over 13 years of experience in the tech industry and a strong track record in fundraising, business strategy, financial planning, and operational excellence.
  • Pushing the boundaries of technology and business strategy in her role as VP of Innovation at Bevy.
  • Well known for representing Middle East startups on a global stage.
  • A strong leader with a background in consulting and skills for connecting UX to a business strategy, former Head of User Experience at Malaysia's first unicorn startup.
  • A global mentor and an advocate for women in Tech.
  • Helping companies with millions of customers reach their goals.
Leonor Cogneau
Ex-head of User Experience at Carsome | Malaysia
  • A strong leader with a background in consulting and skills for connecting UX to a business strategy, former Head of User Experience at Malaysia's first unicorn startup.
  • A global mentor and an advocate for women in Tech.
  • Helping companies with millions of customers reach their goals.

Sam Marchant is a former founder now Partner at AI focused venture builder, Inaugural. Prior to launching Inaugural, Sam was a seed stage VC investor at Salica Investments. Alongside his team at Inaugural, Sam has launched and scaled 7 AI companies over the last 18 months.

Sam Marchant
Partner at Inaugural

Sam Marchant is a former founder now Partner at AI focused venture builder, Inaugural. Prior to launching Inaugural, Sam was a seed stage VC investor at Salica Investments. Alongside his team at Inaugural, Sam has launched and scaled 7 AI companies over the last 18 months.

Egor Fedorov is the Chief Impact Officer at inDrive, leading eight global-scale initiatives focused on social impact, innovation, and entrepreneurship. A Forbes Communications Council member, Egor is dedicated to driving meaningful change through technology and business.

Egor Fedorov
Chief Impact Officer at inDrive

Egor Fedorov is the Chief Impact Officer at inDrive, leading eight global-scale initiatives focused on social impact, innovation, and entrepreneurship. A Forbes Communications Council member, Egor is dedicated to driving meaningful change through technology and business.

  • An entrepreneur recognized and awarded for her fight against household air pollution, energy poverty and her work to empower marginalized women in Kenya.
  • Creating a social enterprise that produces clean, affordable and reliable cook stoves targeting under-served markets to help mothers keep their children safe.
Charlot Magayi
Founder and CEO of Mukuru Clean Stoves | Kenya
  • An entrepreneur recognized and awarded for her fight against household air pollution, energy poverty and her work to empower marginalized women in Kenya.
  • Creating a social enterprise that produces clean, affordable and reliable cook stoves targeting under-served markets to help mothers keep their children safe.

Yalena is the Investment Director at inDrive’s New Ventures, specializing in scaling high-growth startups in emerging markets. She leads investments that diversify inDrive’s portfolio while tackling key strategic challenges. With a background in finance, strategy, and design-led innovation, she focuses on technology and sustainability-driven ventures.

Yalena Yang
Director of SuperApp at inDrive

Yalena is the Investment Director at inDrive’s New Ventures, specializing in scaling high-growth startups in emerging markets. She leads investments that diversify inDrive’s portfolio while tackling key strategic challenges. With a background in finance, strategy, and design-led innovation, she focuses on technology and sustainability-driven ventures.

  • A Tech expert with 8+ years of experience with Venture Capital.
  • Coordinating investments in enterprise software, health, education, and other emerging technologies at a pioneer venture capital firm in Latin America.
  • Partnering with outstanding founders who are revolutionizing large markets.large markets.
Sullyen Almeida
Principal at monashees
  • A Tech expert with 8+ years of experience with Venture Capital.
  • Coordinating investments in enterprise software, health, education, and other emerging technologies at a pioneer venture capital firm in Latin America.
  • Partnering with outstanding founders who are revolutionizing large markets.large markets.

Ms. Marwa Alameldeen is the Officer-in-Charge for UN Women Egypt Country Office. She has over 15 years of professional experience in sustainable development and gender equality, with a focus on strategic partnerships, coordination, and programme management.

Marwa Alameldeen
UN Women in Egypt

Ms. Marwa Alameldeen is the Officer-in-Charge for UN Women Egypt Country Office. She has over 15 years of professional experience in sustainable development and gender equality, with a focus on strategic partnerships, coordination, and programme management.

  • A highly accomplished legal professional with a proven track record in the corporate world.
  • Aiming to break barriers and champion diversity, inspiring women to succeed in their chosen fields, driving force for positive change in her organization and the broader professional community.
Tatyana Terentyeva
General Counsel at inDrive
  • A highly accomplished legal professional with a proven track record in the corporate world.
  • Aiming to break barriers and champion diversity, inspiring women to succeed in their chosen fields, driving force for positive change in her organization and the broader professional community.

Tamer Taha is the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Advisor to Egypt's Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation. He has +15 years of professional experience in the field of innovation and entrepreneurship. He was Founder and CEO of Istebdaa' LLC.

Tamer Taha
Advisor to the minister of planning, economic development and international cooperation on Innovation and entrepreneurship

Tamer Taha is the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Advisor to Egypt's Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation. He has +15 years of professional experience in the field of innovation and entrepreneurship. He was Founder and CEO of Istebdaa' LLC.