Two Nigerian entrepreneurs, Manzo Nyifamu Ogechi, founder of Farmatrix, and Solape Akinpelu, founder of Hervest, have made it to the top 10 finalists for the 2025 Aurora Tech Award.
This prestigious award, organized by inDrive, a mobility and urban services platform, that recognizes women-led innovations driving social impact and technological advancement.
Speaking on the selection in a statement on Wednesday, Isabella Ghassemi-Smith, head of start-up at Aurora Tech Awards, said the finalists represent various industries, including artificial intelligence, fintech, health tech, agrotech, eco-tech, ed-tech, and HR-tech.
Notably, half of the start-ups are in the seed stage, while others have secured early funding from personal networks or angel investors.
Ogechi’s Farmatrix integrates technology, market access, and financial support to empower smallholder farmers, reducing post-harvest losses and increasing profitability. Akinpelu’s Hervest, on the other hand, is a fintech platform that empowers women through inclusive financial services.
Other finalists include founders from India, Colombia, Kyrgyzstan, Brazil, Switzerland, Uzbekistan, Chile, and French Polynesia.
The winner of the Aurora Tech Award will receive a $30,000 prize and be announced at the award ceremony in Cairo, Egypt, from April 11 to 13.
A panel of industry experts and investors will evaluate the participants’ work before making the final decision.
