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Building BRICS Startups Corridors Through Women’s Innovation

About the contest

The Women’s Startups Contest 2026 marks as the prestigious initiative led by the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance (BRICS WBA), aimed at empowering and accelerating women-led startups across BRICS nations. This year, India takes the lead, underscoring its strong commitment to promoting women-led development, innovation, and entrepreneurship on the global stage. Building on the success of the previous editions, the 2026 edition continues to spotlight innovative, high-impact women-led enterprises, fostering crossborder economic integration, collaboration, and knowledge exchange within the BRICS ecosystem. The initiative provides a dynamic platform for visibility, networking, and business expansion, enabling women entrepreneurs to scale their ventures and engage with investors, industry leaders, and policymakers across BRICS countries.

Objectives

Foster Sustainable Development

Promote Economic Inclusion

Support Innovation in Key Sectors

Build Entrepreneurial Resilience

Highlight Women-Led Solutions for Global Challenges

Enhance Collaboration Between BRICS Nations

Promote Technological Adoption and Digital Transformation

Strengthen Local Economies Through Global Connections

REQUIREMENTS

Residency & Market Presence:
  • Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of BRICS nations (Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the UAE), currently operating in one or more BRICS markets, and actively exporting or supplying within these markets.

Female Leadership Role
  • Must hold a key leadership position (Founder, Co-Founder, or equivalent).
  • Must play an active role in the startup’s operations & strategy.
  • Multidisciplinary teams with diverse expertise are encouraged.

Impact and Sustainability
  • Demonstrate the long-term social, economic, or environmental impact and sustainability of the solution.

Commercial Viability & Traction
  • Provide evidence of a viable business model, market demand, and any existing traction or growth.

Solution & Innovation
  • Clearly describe the solution, the problem it addresses, and its innovative and scalable features.

BRICS Alignment & Scalability:
  • Demonstrate alignment with BRICS priorities and the potential to scale, replicate, and create impact across BRICS countries.

Business Stages

Startups will compete in three different development stages:

EARLY STAGE

Startups in the MVP or
prototype phase.

These businesses are focused on
validating their concepts,
identifying market needs, and
establishing a foundation for
future growth.

GROWTH

Startups with an established
product or service
that has
achieved initial customer
engagement or market
acceptance, focused on
expanding their operations and
refining their models.

SCALE-UP

Mature startups that have
achieved significant growth and
are expanding into new
markets,
demonstrating strong
operational performance and
scalability.

Categories

  • HEALTHCARE AND WELLBEING
  • AGRICULTURE & FOOD SECURITY
  • EDUCATION AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT
  • ENERGY, INFRASTRUCTURE AND MOBILITY
  • COMMERCE, SERVICE AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
  • SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND CLIMATE SOLUTIONS

Evaluation Criteria

  • IMPACT & SUSTAINABILITY 25%
  • SOLUTION & INNOVATION 25%
  • COMMERCIAL VIABILITY & TRACTION 20%
  • BRICS ALIGNMENT & SCALABILITY 10%
  • TECHNOLOGY READINESS & CAPABILITY 10%
  • PARTNERSHIPS & NETWORKS 10%

Awards

  • Start-ups will be evaluated across six categories.
  • Winners will be selected under each development stage, culminating in 18 finalists.

Evaluation Stages

1

QUALIFICATION

Screening of applications to confirm eligibility and compliance with the residency and representation, leadership and stage-of development criteria

2

TECHNICAL ANALYSIS

Sector-specific experts conduct an in-depth evaluation of the projects, also considering regional particularities.

3

FINAL REVIEW

Shortlisted applications are evaluated with a focus on their strategic alignment with BRICS priorities and potential for regional impact.

Timeline

Downloads

Here you'll find essential document for the BRICS Women's Startups Contest 2026. Access the guideline, participant handbook, terms and conditions, and other key resources to support your journey in the program.

FAQ

Who can apply for the contest?

What documents do I need to provide when applying?

Can I apply under more than one category?

What happens after I submit my application?

Who are the judges and evaluators?

Can I modify my application after submission?

How will I be notified if I am selected as a finalist?

What happens if I cannot attend the final event in India?

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History of the Contest

Initiated in 2024, during Russia’s Chairship in BRICS, the BRICS Women’s Startups Contest became a key mechanism of identifying women’s startups in BRICS member countries and beyond, and stimulating women’s motivation to participate in entrepreneurial activities.

In total, 26 winners from 14 countries were selected, including Russia, Brazil, India, China, South Africa, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Lesotho.

The leaders included innovative projects for automating processes in the energy sector and at infrastructure facilities, artificial intelligence technologies in medicine, education, agriculture, production and operation of aviation equipment, robotics, as well as methods for combating cancer and infertility and etc.


Know more

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