The founder of the Nigerian fintech platform HerVest, Solape Akinpelu, has claimed the top spot at the 2025 Aurora Tech Award — a prestigious global recognition celebrating the most impactful female tech entrepreneurs from emerging markets.
The award ceremony, held in Cairo, Egypt from April 11 to 13, gathered trailblazing innovators leveraging technology to tackle real-world challenges.
Akinpelu received $30,000 in cash funding, along with access to an extensive global network of investors, mentors, and strategic partners.
HerVest captured the spotlight with its mission to close the gender gap in financial inclusion by providing savings, credit, and impact investment opportunities to financially underserved African women — especially smallholder female farmers who often lack access to traditional banking services.
Established to empower African women through financial independence, HerVest has already reached thousands of users across Nigeria and is on track for significant growth.
With this global recognition from the Aurora Tech Award, Akinpelu’s bold mission is now backed by the visibility and resources needed to scale its impact.
Organized by inDrive, the Aurora Tech Award is more than just a startup competition — it serves as a powerful platform for high-impact, women-led ventures from the Global South.
The 2025 edition received 2,018 applications from 116 countries, a twofold increase from the previous year.
However, only ten finalists — representing the top 0.5% — were selected to pitch at the grand finale in Cairo, held as part of the SHE CAN Conference, one of the MENA region’s largest gatherings for female entrepreneurs.
Each finalist presented their startup to a diverse panel of investors, operators, and public sector leaders.
Solape Akinpelu’s win not only marks a major milestone for HerVest but also highlights the growing presence and influence of women in Africa’s tech innovation landscape.
