The Aurora Tech Award, in partnership with The Nest Innovation Technology Park, announces the launch of the Foundry for HER Bootcamp, a three-day, high-impact virtual accelerator designed exclusively for early-stage women-led tech startups in Nigeria.
Running from October 15–17, 2025, the bootcamp will equip female founders with the practical tools, expert mentorship, and investor readiness needed to scale and successfully apply for the global Aurora Tech Award Open Call 2026.
Applications for the fully online bootcamp are open from September 8 to October 3, 2025. The three-day program (October 15–17, 2025) will train 120 early-stage women founders from Nigeria in core areas such as pitching, fundraising, and scaling beyond local markets, with sessions led by top ecosystem leaders and investors.
If you are a female founder or team lead of a Nigeria-based startup under five years old, founded or co-founded by a woman, apply now via link.
Nigeria is home to one of Africa’s most vibrant startup ecosystems, yet female founders still face significant barriers to capital and visibility. By partnering with The Nest Innovation Technology Park, a focal point for entrepreneurial innovation in Lagos, the Aurora Tech Award is ensuring that women entrepreneurs access knowledge, networks, and opportunities that enable long-term success.
“At Aurora Tech Award, we focus on one thing: giving the world’s boldest women founders the fast track to scale. Nigeria has already proven itself on the global stage through our past winners, and with the Foundry for HER Bootcamp we’re doubling down, giving early-stage founders the tools, network, and visibility to scale their companies and compete at the highest level”, said Isabella Ghassemi-Smith, head of the Aurora Tech Award.
Nigerian founders have won the Aurora Tech Award for two consecutive years: Folake Owodunni, founder of Emergency Response Africa (2024), and Solape Akinpelu, Co-Founder and CEO of HerVest (2025) Their success not only highlights the strength of Nigeria’s women-led startups on the global stage, but also provides inspiration for the next generation of founders.
“The Aurora Tech Award is more than recognition, it’s the opportunity to be part of a community that champions women in tech who are shaping the future. This award isn’t just mine, it belongs to every woman who dares to dream, build, and lead in spaces where she wasn’t expected to be. I’m proud to stand alongside bold founders creating high-growth businesses, not just for themselves but for others to follow,” said Solape Akinpelu, Nigerian entrepreneur and 2025 Aurora Tech Award winner.
