Run by Mercedes Bidart, the startup focused on help workers in the informal sector access capital by creating an alternative credit assessment system, secured the award following a selection process that drew more than 3,400 applications from across the globe. In addition, it also won the Fintech Track category.
With +120 guests in attendance-including investors, leaders from the tech and innovation ecosystem, media, and influencers—Santiago reaffirmed its standing as a global technology hub.
Santiago, Chile. May 8, 2026. In a day defined by talent and technological disruption, the grand finale of the 2026 Aurora Tech Award was held -an initiative founded and supported by inDrive, the global mobility and delivery platform, dedicated to empowering women-led tech entrepreneurship. Following a high-stakes pitch session at the Hilaria Event Center, Mercedes Bidart founder of Quipu -helps informal workers access capital by building an alternative credit scoring system-, was named the winner of this year’s edition, receiving a $50,000 USD prize to scale her global impact. Second place went to Pesira, owned by Penny Musengi (Kenya), and third place to Muta, owned by Estefanía Abello (Colombia).
Quipu also won the “Fintech Track” category-created in collaboration with inDrive Money-thanks to its technology, which analyzes SMS data to provide instant credit decisions to temporary workers and small businesses that lack access to banking services.
Upon receiving the award, Mercedes Bidart highlighted the significance of such initiatives, stating: “Winning the Aurora Tech Award is more than just financial backing for Quipu; it is a validation that the solutions we build in emerging markets have the potential to transform entire industries. Platforms like this are vital because they provide what we as female founders need most: visibility and a genuine professional network. Today, we aren’t just receiving an award-we are opening doors for more women to dare to lead the future of technology”.
For her part, Xeniya Verba, Director of Global Non-Profit Programs at inDrive, further elaborated on the initiative’s purpose: "The Aurora Tech Award was established in 2021 as a non-profit initiative of our company, driven by our core mission of challenging injustice. We created this award because we recognize that empowering women in tech is a vital tool for advancing gender equality and creating a positive impact in local communities. Today, seeing the success of this event in Chile, we reaffirm our goal of providing funding and strategic visibility".
Choosing Chile as the host was no coincidence. The local ecosystem was recognized for its maturity and convening power, bringing together investors, entrepreneurs, and government officials. Isabella Ghassemi-Smith, Head of the Aurora Tech Award and Aurora Ventures, commented on the experience in the country: “The energy of the people who joined us today in Santiago confirms that Chile is an undisputed hub for technology and innovation in the region. Seeing this level of turnout fills us with pride. People didn't just come to watch an awards ceremony; they came to be part of a change. We chose this country because its vibrant ecosystem is the ideal environment to connect our founders with real capital and networks that transform economies”.
This year’s awards ceremony, which saw a record-breaking 3,400 applications from 127 countries, established Santiago as the global epicenter for gender equity within the tech industry. The group of 10 finalists for 2026 included Chile’s own Catalina Kawas (DomestikCo), alongside representatives from Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, Panama and Nigeria. Each of these entrepreneurs was selected for developing scalable solutions that challenge injustice and drive meaningful development within their communities. Additionally, inDrive announced a $10,000 USD prize in app ads for four of the finalists.
The next step to investment: Aurora Ventures
The event also served as the backdrop for the official launch of Aurora Ventures, an early-stage investment program backed by inDrive. Established after five years of the award's operation, this initiative seeks to invest in female founders from emerging markets who, despite leading high-traction businesses, are frequently overlooked by traditional venture capital.
According to Aurora’s research (The Hidden Dynamics of Venture Funding for Women Founders), drawn from 900+ founder interviews across 127 countries, women in the tech sector face significant barriers, including skepticism regarding their competence and the demand for higher performance metrics compared to their male counterparts. Aurora Ventures will act as a vehicle to rectify these market distortions, focusing on ventures across Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East.
About the Aurora Tech Award
Launched by inDrive in 2021, the Aurora Tech Award supports the most promising tech startups led by women in emerging markets, not only with capital but also with access. Each year, Aurora identifies bold and visionary founders who are building scalable companies and offers what truly makes a difference: funding, direct access to investors, inDrive’s global network, and strategic visibility.
With less than 2% of global venture capital funding going to women-led startups, Aurora aims to change this landscape by directing both attention and resources toward founders who are not waiting for a seat at the table—they are building their own. The award is a non-profit initiative by inDrive, a global mobility and urban services platform. Through the Aurora Tech Award, inDrive advances its mission to challenge injustice and promote gender equality by empowering women in the tech sector.
For more information, visit https://www.auroratechaward.com/
About Aurora Ventures
Aurora Ventures is an early-stage investment program that supports women founders in emerging markets, specifically those building high-traction, capital-efficient businesses that have been systematically undervalued by traditional venture capital. Launched in 2026 with initial backing from inDrive, Aurora Ventures focuses its investments across MENA, Africa, and Latin America, at the pre-seed and seed stages, with a rigorous selection process that combines qualitative analysis of traction, team quality, unit economics, and market opportunity.
The 2026 program is designed to validate the investment thesis and build an initial portfolio, laying the foundation for a future formal GP/LP fund structure.
