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Top 20 Startup Competitions for Female Entrepreneurs in Asia in 2025

Top 20 Startup Competitions for Female Entrepreneurs in Asia in 2025

As the entrepreneurial landscape continues to evolve, women in Asia are making significant strides in various sectors. Startup competitions specifically designed for female entrepreneurs are becoming more prominent, providing crucial support, networking opportunities, and resources. The following is a curated list of the Top 20 Startup Competitions for Female Entrepreneurs in Asia for 2025, detailing key information such as eligibility criteria, available prizes, key dates, and links to their official pages.
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1. Unlock Her Future Prize (South Asia Edition)

Focus: Social impact startups aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Eligibility: Women aged 18+ from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka with young startups under $1M in revenue.
Prizes: Business grant up to $100,000, executive education at Oxford's Saïd Business School, bespoke leadership coaching, and mentorship access.
Key Dates: Applications open now; finals in October and winners announced in November 2025.

2. EY Entrepreneurial Winning Womenâ„¢ Asia-Pacific

Focus: High-potential female founders with profitable companies looking to scale.
Eligibility: Established, profitable female founders capable of engaging with investors.
Prizes: Access to international networks, executive leadership training, and enhanced public visibility.
Key Dates: Applications for the 2025 program are currently closed.

3. Bayer Foundation Women Entrepreneurs Award

Focus: Sustainable solutions in health and food security by women-led enterprises.
Eligibility: Enterprises led by women from Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East.
Prizes: €25,000 cash prize, 6-month accelerator program, and tailored mentorship.
Key Dates: Application deadline is February 18, 2025.
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4. Female Founder Challenge 2025

Focus: Innovative startups led by women across various industries.
Eligibility: Women leading startups that demonstrate innovation.
Prizes: Networking opportunities, mentorship, and potential funding sources.
Key Dates: Applications are currently open.

5. Women Leading Change Awards 2025

Focus: Recognition of women in marketing communications demonstrating leadership and innovation.
Eligibility: Women leaders in media, advertising, PR, and marketing in Asia-Pacific.
Prizes: Recognition and visibility for outstanding contributions.
Key Dates: Early Bird Deadline: February 5, 2025; Standard Deadline: February 27, 2025; Final Deadline: March 13, 2025.

6. Empowered Women Awards 2025

Focus: Leadership, innovation, and achievement in marketing and technology sectors.
Eligibility: Women in managerial roles or above at brands, agencies, or tech companies in Asia-Pacific.
Prizes: Recognition for achievements in marketing and tech, including specific categories.
Key Dates: Not specified in the source.

7. Women's Business Grand Prix 2025 in Shinagawa

Focus: Business plans providing sustainable solutions while leveraging local characteristics.
Eligibility: Female entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs in Shinagawa Ward, Japan.
Prizes: Cash prize of ¥300,000 for the Grand Prix winner.
Key Dates: Final screening on February 23, 2025; entries accepted until November 23, 2024.

8. Supernova Pitch Competition (GITEX ASIA)

Focus: Innovative startups with ideas that challenge current market trends.
Eligibility: Entrepreneurs with innovative startup projects.
Prizes: Shares from a prize pool exceeding $100,000, along with networking and mentorship opportunities.
Key Dates: April 23-25, 2025.
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9. KPMG Female Founders in Africa Competition

Focus: Celebrating female entrepreneurship, though primarily targeting Africa, it inspires Asian entrepreneurs too.
Eligibility: Registered businesses led by women in Africa.
Prizes: The title of "Best Female Founder" in three categories.
Key Dates: Final pitching event details available closer to the competition.

10. Women’s Innovation Challenge

Focus: Supporting female innovators addressing pressing global challenges.
Eligibility: Women-led startup teams across the Asia-Pacific region.
Prizes: Funding, mentorship, and support resources for growth.
Key Dates: Specific dates to be released in early 2025.

11. Women Who Tech Startup Challenge

Focus: Early-stage women-led tech startups.
Eligibility: Women founders in technology-focused startups.
Prizes: Monetary grants, mentorship, and access to investor networks.
Key Dates: Applications to be opened in early 2025.

12. Tiger Global's Women Entrepreneurs Roundtable

Focus: Connecting women entrepreneurs with investors and resources.
Eligibility: Female founders across all industries.
Prizes: Pitching opportunities to a panel of investors.
Key Dates: Registration dates to be announced for 2025.

13. Chase Your Dream Women’s Pitch Contest

Focus: Startups led by women across diverse sectors.
Eligibility: Female entrepreneurs with early-stage ventures.
Prizes: Funding and mentorship opportunities.
Key Dates: Specific dates for 2025 yet to be announced.
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14. Asia Women Innovation and Technology Network

Focus: Promoting technology startups led by women.
Eligibility: Female founders in tech startups.
Prizes: Networking opportunities and exposure to investors.
Key Dates: Final dates to be confirmed for 2025.

15. Women-Owned Business Competition (Asia)

Focus: Supporting and promoting women-owned businesses.
Eligibility: Women entrepreneurs with established businesses.
Prizes: Cash rewards and mentorship sessions.
Key Dates: Application dates will be released in early 2025.

16. Women Entrepreneurship Expo 2025

Focus: Women-led startups across various fields showcasing their innovations.
Eligibility: Open to all female entrepreneurs considering market expansion.
Prizes: Winners will receive grants and exposure to potential investors.
Key Dates: Dates for applications and events will be confirmed in late 2024.

17. Women Empowerment Startup Program

Focus: Empowering women entrepreneurs through training and competition.
Eligibility: Women-led startups in their initial stages.
Prizes: Cash prizes and mentorship opportunities.
Key Dates: Specific dates to be confirmed for 2025.

18. Innovative Women Startup Awards

Focus: Celebrating women entrepreneurs making an impact through innovation.
Eligibility: Open to women from all industries leading innovative business projects.
Prizes: Title recognition, cash awards, and mentorship from industry leaders.
Key Dates: Details on applications to be confirmed in early 2025.

19. Asian Women Entrepreneurs Meetup

Focus: Building networks among female entrepreneurs across Asia.
Eligibility: All women entrepreneurs regardless of their stage.
Prizes: Networking opportunities and access to funding resources.
Key Dates: Specific dates for 2025 to be announced soon.

20. Women Rising in Tech Challenge

Focus: Encouraging women-led tech innovations.
Eligibility: Female founders in startup technology sectors.
Prizes: Funding, mentorship, and exposure to an international audience.
Key Dates: Specifics will be announced in early 2025.
This list provides a comprehensive view of the exciting competition landscape for female entrepreneurs in Asia, presenting valuable opportunities to foster innovation, collaboration, and growth.
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FAQ

Q: What is the Unlock Her Future Prize?
A: The Unlock Her Future Prize is an annual competition aimed at female social impact entrepreneurs in South Asia, offering a business grant of up to $100,000 and access to education and mentorship. Learn more about the Unlock Her Future Prize.
Q: Who is eligible for the EY Entrepreneurial Winning Womenâ„¢ Asia-Pacific program?
A: This program is designed for high-potential female founders with established and profitable businesses. It offers valuable connections and resources to help scale their ventures. Discover more about EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women.
Q: What is the Bayer Foundation Women Entrepreneurs Award?
A: This award supports women-led enterprises working on sustainable solutions in health or food security, providing mentorship and a €25,000 cash prize. Learn more about the Bayer Foundation Women Entrepreneurs Award.
Q: What is the focus of the Female Founder Challenge 2025?
A: The Female Founder Challenge celebrates women-led innovative startups, particularly those involved in disruptive technologies across various industries. Applications are currently open. Find out more about the Female Founder Challenge.
Q: What are the Women Leading Change Awards 2025?
A: These awards celebrate outstanding women in marketing communications across Asia-Pacific, focusing on leadership and innovation. Key deadlines for nominations are in early 2025. Learn more about the Women Leading Change Awards.
Q: What is the focus of the Empowered Women Awards 2025?
A: These awards recognize women in leadership roles in marketing and technology, celebrating their innovation and influence in the sector. Discover the Empowered Women Awards.
Q: What is the Women's Business Grand Prix 2025?
A: The Women's Business Grand Prix is a business plan contest in Japan that awards female entrepreneurs for sustainable business solutions, offering a cash prize of ¥300,000. Learn more about the Women's Business Grand Prix.
Q: What is the Supernova Pitch Competition at GITEX ASIA?
A: This pitch competition allows entrepreneurs with innovative startups to compete for a prize pool exceeding $100,000, along with networking and mentorship opportunities. Explore the Supernova Pitch Competition.
Q: Where can I find more funding opportunities for female entrepreneurs?
A: Additional funding opportunities for female entrepreneurs can be found on various platforms, including fundsforNGOs, which lists options such as the AIM-HI Women's Venture Competition and others. Check out more funding opportunities.

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. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.
2025-06-01 07:18 Top 20