Ever felt like you are building something world-changing, but the world is not noticing?
That feeling is familiar to many women tech founders in Pakistan. They are creating solutions that matter, solving real problems, and using technology to make life better. Yet, despite their potential, they often find themselves unnoticed. There is limited access to funding, few introductions to the right investors, and constant pressure to prove themselves twice as much. Many also fear losing ownership just to secure the support they need.
Faiza Yousuf understands this better than most. She is the co-founder of CaterpillHERS, a platform that helps women entrepreneurs achieve financial independence. Her work is about building a space where women can grow, lead, and take control of their ideas.
When Faiza, a 2023 Aurora Tech Award finalist from Pakistan, received recognition through the award powered by inDrive, it was more than just another milestone. It was validation that her work mattered. “Participation in this competition was a turning point in my journey as a founder,” says Faiza.
“Even though I didn’t win, the experience gave me access to a community of women who understood the tech ecosystem, women who were doing incredible work and facing the same challenges I was. After this experience, I truly believe that this kind of access can make a real difference.”
Having seen the impact firsthand, Faiza now encourages other women founders to take the same leap. “If you’re a tech founder in Pakistan and you are a woman, you should 100% apply for this opportunity,” she adds. “The process is simple, and you’ll find all the support you need along the way. What many women in Pakistan are missing is a platform where they can showcase their ideas and connect with founders solving similar problems, and Aurora is helping change that.”
Her story reflects what many women in Pakistan’s tech space are experiencing today. More women are taking the lead, building companies, and shaping the future of innovation. Founders like Mehwish Salman Ali, who uses artificial intelligence at Data Vault Pakistan to help businesses make smarter decisions, and Dr Sara Saeed Khurram, whose platform Sehat Kahani connects patients with doctors across the country, demonstrate the impact women can create when they lead with purpose.
Across the country, more than 130 women-led startups are active in technology, health, education, and finance. Women now make up 14 percent of Pakistan’s STEM workforce. The numbers are growing, and so is the confidence. Every year, more women are stepping forward to create opportunities not just for themselves, but for others too.
Yet, progress still requires support. Many talented founders continue to face the same barriers Faiza once did. They have strong ideas but limited access to investors and platforms that can help them scale. This is where initiatives like the Aurora Tech Award play an important role.
According to Bella Ghassemi-Smith, Head of the Aurora Tech Award, the program was built on the same resilience that defines inDrive’s own journey. “inDrive started in Yakutsk, a small Siberian city where the chances of building a unicorn were almost zero,” Bella explains. “That experience shaped our culture because we’ve always been about challenging barriers to entry. In the same way that inDrive was an unlikely success story, Aurora exists to foster future unicorns that may not have had the easiest start.”
Aurora’s focus also makes it stand out.
“It’s the only tech award specifically designed for female entrepreneurs in emerging markets like Pakistan,” says Bella. “We like to say that our mission is to back the boldest female founders in tech. These women don’t need another empowerment group; they need market access.”
She describes Aurora’s approach as resting on three pillars: capital, connections, and community. “We offer non-equity funding so women don’t have to give up control of their businesses,” Bella notes. “Through inDrive’s global footprint, we connect founders to experts, corporates, and investors across regions. And we build a community of women who understand the realities of building in emerging markets because they’re living it too.”
Pakistan, she adds, has been one of the most dynamic markets in the program’s history. “We’ve seen a steady rise in applications from Pakistani women over the past four years,” Bella shares. “Pakistan has a growing tech ecosystem and a massive pool of untapped female founder talent. We believe there’s so much more to come from women here.”
To make participation even easier, Aurora has developed resources to guide applicants through every stage. “Together with our expert Dina Karakash, a VC and startup advisor, we created a step-by-step guide on how to build a clear, winning pitch deck,” Bella explains. “It’s a practical tool that helps founders tell their story with confidence, something that can make all the difference when pitching to investors.”
The Aurora Tech Award 2026 is once again opening doors for women founders who are using technology to create real impact. This year, Aurora will distribute $85,000 in equity-free funding among three winners. The first-place winner will receive $50,000, the second-place winner $20,000, and the third-place winner $15,000.
What sets Aurora apart is its commitment to every applicant.
Faiza’s journey is proof of that difference and a reminder that when determination meets the right support, transformation follows. Her story sends a message to every woman building her dream in Pakistan’s tech ecosystem: your work has value, and your ideas deserve attention.
The Aurora Tech Award 2026 is accepting applications until November 12, 2025. There is also a practical guide created for female founders on how to build a clear, winning pitch deck.
If you have built something that can make a difference, this is your moment.
Apply now at: www.auroratechaward.com