Top 10 Startup Competitions for Female Entrepreneurs Globally in 2025
In 2025, the entrepreneurial landscape for women is expected to expand significantly, amplifying voices of female innovators around the globe. Startup competitions not only provide funding opportunities but also foster valuable networks and mentorship platforms. Here are the Top 10 Startup Competitions for Female Entrepreneurs in 2025, complete with details about prizes, geographic focus, and eligibility requirements.
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1. SCORE Women's Pitch Contest
Location: USA
Prizes: $35,000 in cash prizes, media promotion, and gala features
Eligibility: Female-led businesses in the Greater Seattle area
Mentorship: Includes one-on-one mentorship
Skills Building: Focused training in business skills
2. Aurora Tech Award
Location: Global
Number of Applicants: 2,018 applications expected from 116 countries
Recognition: Top 120 female founders featured, with 20 shortlisted for final awards
VC Support: 35 partner VC firms anticipated, expanding from regions like Egypt and Brazil
Application Process: Open call for submissions
3. Women Founders Network Fast Pitch Competition
Location: USA
Prizes: $25,000 grants for winners
Eligibility: Women-led businesses that raised less than $750,000
Pitch Format: In-person pitch event
Key Dates: Applications open from April 1 to May 31, 2025
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4. Bayer Foundation Women Entrepreneurs Award
Location: Asia, Latin America, Africa, Middle East
Focus Areas: Sustainable solutions in health and food security
Winners: 15 female entrepreneurs selected
Support Provided: Resources and visibility for impactful work
Deadline: Applications due by February 18, 2025
5. Michigan Women Forward's WomanUp & Pitch Competition
Location: Michigan, USA
Formats: Multiple categories for startups and established businesses
Mentorship: Coaching provided to finalists
Regional Competitions: Southeast Michigan, West Michigan, Mid-Michigan, and more
Eligibility: 51% woman-owned for-profit businesses
6. WIPO Global Awards
Location: Global
Focus: Use of intellectual property for economic growth
Recognition: Special awards for women-led businesses
Prizes: Exclusive mentorship and fundraising support
Application Deadline: March 31, 2025
7. DMZ's Women Innovation Summit Pitch Competition
Location: Canada
Investment Opportunities: Up to $100,000 in cash investment
Eligibility: At least one woman founder, functional MVP
Benefits: Pitch advising, PR opportunities, and networking
Event Date: March 6, 2025
8. The Unlock Her Future™ Prize
Location: South Asia
Focus: Social impact aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Prizes: Grants up to $100,000 and executive education at Oxford
Eligibility: Startups less than 3 years old with potential social impact
Age Requirement: Must be 18 years or older
9. KPMG Female Founders in Africa Competition
Location: Africa
Categories: Early-stage, growth-stage, and mature ventures
Pitch Process: Regional events leading to a final event
Benefits: Recognition, mentorship, and investor networking
Eligibility: Businesses must be woman-owned/led
10. European Prize for Women Innovators
Location: Europe
Categories: EIC Women Innovators, Rising Innovators, and Women Leadership
Prizes: Ranges from EUR 20,000 to EUR 100,000 depending on the category
Focus: Women founders and co-founders
Deadline: Applications due by September 25, 2024
FAQ
Q: What competition is designed specifically for women entrepreneurs in the USA?
A: The SCORE Women's Pitch Contest empowers women entrepreneurs with mentorship, business skills, and funding opportunities. Learn more about SCORE Women's Pitch Contest.
Q: Which startup competition recognizes female founders from underserved communities?
A: The Aurora Tech Award celebrates innovative female founders globally, particularly from underserved communities. Discover the Aurora Tech Award.
Q: What is the Women Founders Network Fast Pitch Competition?
A: The Women Founders Network Fast Pitch Competition offers U.S. women entrepreneurs the chance to pitch for grants at an in-person event. Find out more about Women Founders Network.
Q: Which award focuses on women-led enterprises creating sustainable solutions?
A: The Bayer Foundation Women Entrepreneurs Award aims to support women-led businesses making impactful contributions in health and food security. Learn more about Bayer Foundation Award.
Q: Are there competitions specifically for women entrepreneurs in Michigan?
A: Yes, the Michigan Women Forward's WomanUp & Pitch Competition supports women entrepreneurs in Michigan through regional events. Explore WomanUp & Pitch Competition.
Q: What does the WIPO Global Awards recognize?
A: The WIPO Global Awards recognizes businesses using intellectual property for economic growth, including special recognition for women-led businesses. Check out WIPO Global Awards.
Q: What opportunities does the DMZ's Women Innovation Summit Pitch Competition offer?
A: At the DMZ's Women Innovation Summit Pitch Competition, Canadian women tech founders can pitch for cash investments, with opportunities for mentoring and exposure. Learn more about the competition.
Q: Which competition supports women social entrepreneurs in South Asia?
A: The Unlock Her Future™ Prize focuses on women social impact entrepreneurs in South Asia, providing business grants and executive education. Discover Unlock Her Future™ Prize.
Q: What is the KPMG Female Founders in Africa Competition?
A: The KPMG Female Founders in Africa Competition is aimed at high-growth ventures led by women across Africa, offering mentorship and networking opportunities. Learn more about KPMG Female Founders.
Q: What is the European Prize for Women Innovators?
A: The European Prize for Women Innovators celebrates women entrepreneurs across Europe making significant contributions through their innovative ventures. Check out the European Prize for Women Innovators.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities.
