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Four Indian startups feature in the coveted longlist for Aurora Tech Award

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-Indian startups making to the Aurora Tech Award longlist include Aica Health, Dzylo, MAMMA-MIYA and Tech4Good Community
-A non-profit initiative of inDrive, the annual award saw a record-breaking 2,018 applications from 116 countries, doubling last year’s submissions

NEW DELHI, Jan. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Four Indian startups – Aica Health, Dzylo, MAMMA-MIYA and Tech4Good Community have made it to the longlist of the coveted Aurora Tech Award. The Aurora Tech Award is an annual award and a non-profit initiative of inDrive, a global mobility and urban services platform, spotlighting the boldest and most ambitious female founders in emerging markets. The longlist featured a total of top 120 founders for 2025. The number of top finalists is set to be announced in February 2025, with winners celebrated at a global ceremony later in the year.

Founded by Manishaa Soin, Aica Health is a health-tech startup leveraging AI-powered assistance to manage chronic medical conditions and enable coordinated geriatric care at home. Dzylo, with Anita Tailor as one of Co-Founders, is an all-in-one AI- powered SaaS platform to empower interior designers and build businesses. Similarly, MAMMA-MIA also leverages AI-powered co-pilot to bridge moms’ productivity and well-being needs. Tech4Good Community featured in the list for developing Flake, an open-source data management platform for non-technical users, enhancing NGO tech capabilities.

This year, the award saw a record-breaking 2,018 applications from 116 countries, doubling last year’s submissions. The initiative also garnered increased support from venture capital firms, with the number of VC partners rising from 23 to 35. Notably, this year’s list includes new partners from Egypt, Brazil, and Pakistan, underscoring the growing global recognition of the award and its mission.

“The Aurora Top 120 is a first for us this year, created from a three-month open call that attracted over 2,000 applications from female founders. Through a rigorous selection process, we’ve identified 120 standout women entrepreneurs who are building bold and innovative businesses in emerging markets. These founders are poised to shape the future of their industries and countries, making them the ones to watch in 2025,” said Head of the Aurora Tech Awards, Isabella Ghassemi-Smith.

Healthtech emerged as the leading sector among Aurora’s Top 120, showcasing a global emphasis on innovation in healthcare, with 30 startups operating in this field.

Additionally, agritech and edtech remained highly relevant, while the e-commerce landscape appears to be evolving into more dynamic marketplace models. There are only a few startups in the renewable energy sector—one from Colombia and another from Iraq. Most of the HR tech startups come from Brazil, followed by Singapore in second place, with one from the UK.

The growing participation of women in entrepreneurship marks a significant global trend. According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), women’s startup activity rates rose from an average of 6.1% (2001-2005) to 10.4% (2021-2023) across 30 countries.

Emerging markets demonstrate even stronger momentum. Research by WE-FI reveals that 17% of working-age women in developing economies are already entrepreneurs, with 35% aspiring to join them. In contrast, high-income countries report just 9% engagement and 14% aspiration rates. This shift has attracted global VC interest in emerging markets. In 2023, emerging economies received 17% of global VC investment, underscoring their resilience. Firms such as Tiger Global and Sequoia Capital continue to invest in startups across India, Latin America, and beyond, driving substantial growth.

Startups founded or co-founded by women also outperform their male-led counterparts in revenue efficiency. Research by BCG shows that female-led startups generate 78 cents of revenue per dollar of funding, compared to just 31 cents for male-led ventures. Over a five-year period, they also achieve 10% higher cumulative revenue—$730,000 versus $662,000 (MassChallenge 2019).

On a local scale, women-owned businesses fuel economic development and inspire future generations. Reports from ProMujer highlight the critical role female entrepreneurs play in strengthening communities and breaking barriers, reinforcing their long-term societal impact.

The Aurora Tech Award celebrates the boldest and most ambitious female founders in emerging markets, offering more than just recognition. It provides access to expertise, resources, and transformative opportunities to scale their businesses and shape the future. Award applicants gain mentorship, guidance on fundraising and pitching, support in preparing pitch decks, and validation of their efforts. They also connect with investors, VC funds, and PR support, opening doors to valuable networks and resources to drive their success.

About the project

Aurora Tech Award is a non-profit initiative of inDrive, a global mobility and urban services platform. The Aurora Tech Award is an award for women tech startup founders whose projects have had a profound impact on global development. The objective is to support women in the field of advanced technologies, especially women entrepreneurs

inDrive is a global mobility and urban services platform. The inDrive app has been downloaded over 200 million times, and was the second most downloaded mobility app in 2023. In addition to ride-hailing, inDrive provides an expanding list of urban services, including intercity transportation, freight delivery, task assistance and  courier delivery. In 2023, inDrive launched New Ventures, a venture and M&A arm.

inDrive operates in over 700 cities in 46 countries. Driven by its mission of challenging social injustice, the company is committed to having a positive impact on the lives of one billion people by 2030. It pursues this goal both through its core business, which supports local communities via a fair pricing model; and through the work of inVision, its non-profit arm. inVision’s community empowerment programs help to advance education, sports, arts and sciences, gender equality and other vital initiatives.

For more information visit www.inDrive.com

 

 

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SUNGLASS HUT CELEBRATES “OWN YOUR MOMENT” & COVENT GARDEN POP-UP WITH AN UNFORGETTABLE LONDON EVENT FRONTED BY AMBASSADOR MELANIE C

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LONDON, June 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Sunglass Hut, the leading global destination for premium sunglasses, brought its OWN YOUR MOMENT summer campaign to life with an exclusive event to launch its consumer pop-up in London’s Covent Garden. The evening celebrated the brand’s summer collection alongside global ambassador Melanie C, delivering a high-energy experience for consumers to enjoy.

The night was kicked off by Sunglass Hut ambassador and Spice Girl Melanie C, who took to the decks for a special DJ set, setting the tone for an evening that was equal parts fashion and fun. Guests explored the collection, enjoyed the atmosphere and embraced the spirit of the campaign, centred on confidence, individuality and living in the moment.

Guests enjoyed a series of thoughtfully curated experiences throughout the evening. Bespoke goody bags offered guests a keepsake from the campaign and artisan gelato from Badiani brought a refined touch of Italian flair.

At the heart of the event was the opportunity to explore the summer collection first-hand, including key seasonal styles from Ray-Ban, Oakley and Ray-Ban Meta, alongside a broader mix of leading fashion brands and Sunglass Hut exclusives. Guests were also able to browse Melanie C’s dedicated product edit, a curation of easy everyday styles with a sporty edge and elevated designer pieces, available on Sunglass Hut ecommerce and in select stores.

The pop-up is part of a wider summer ambassador series in which Sunglass Hut is deepening local relevance through authentic talent partnerships and bold customer experiences. Melanie C joins Breanna Stewart in the United States and María Pedraza in Spain as part of the brand’s global summer ambassador series, each hosting an event inspired by the culture and energy of their market.

The Sunglass Hut pop-up is now open to the public at Covent Garden, running until 14th June, 12pm-7pm daily.

First introduced in 2025, OWN YOUR MOMENT marked a refreshed brand positioning for Sunglass Hut, creating a more inspiring and emotionally resonant identity for customers around the world. The platform celebrates the idea that sunglasses are more than an accessory. They have the power to transform how people see the world and how the world sees them.

Shop the summer collection and Melanie C’s edit now at: www.sunglasshut.com

About Sunglass Hut

Founded in 1971, Sunglass Hut has grown into the best curated destination for the most sought-after high-quality fashion and performance sunglass brands, with more than 2,500 retail locations. Stores can be found in fashionable shopping districts across the globe, from the Americas, Europe and the Middle East to Australia, South Africa, China, Southeast Asia and beyond, providing consumers with a fun, highly engaging shopping experience in-store and online. www.sunglasshut.com 

About EssilorLuxottica

EssilorLuxottica is a global leader in the design, manufacturing, and distribution of ophthalmic lenses, frames, and sunglasses. With more than 200,000 employees across 150 countries, 650 operational facilities and 18,000 stores, its mission is to help people around the world see more and be more by addressing their evolving vision needs and personal style aspirations.

EssilorLuxottica is home to some of the most advanced lens technologies, including Varilux, Stellest, and Transitions, as well as some of the most iconic eyewear brands, including Ray-Ban and Oakley, highly sought-after licensed luxury brands, and world-class retailers such as Sunglass Hut, Óticas Carol, and GrandVision.

The OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation has enabled access to sustainable vision care for more than 760 million people in underserved communities worldwide. For more information, visit www.essilorluxottica.com

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2993703/Sunglass_Hut.jpg

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HIMSS and SingHealth to Co-Host 2026 HIMSS APAC Health Conference & Exhibition in Singapore to Accelerate Healthcare Transformation

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SINGAPORE, June 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — HIMSS, a mission-driven independent society, global thought leader and advisor, will co-host the 2026 HIMSS APAC Health Conference & Exhibition 23–25 August 2026 in Singapore in strategic partnership with SingHealth, Singapore’s largest public group of healthcare institutions.

HIMSS26 APAC will convene senior health system leaders, government ministers, clinicians and technology innovators from across Asia-Pacific and beyond to address the defining challenge of the time: translating AI ambition into scalable, evidence-based impact.

Under the theme “Trust, Intelligence and Agility: Re-engineering APAC Health Systems in the AI Era,” the three-day program will combine an exclusive pre-conference CXO AI Summit, two days of main conference plenary and parallel tracks, an exhibition, curated hospital visits and executive networking to create an unparalleled environment for peer exchange, strategic insight and high-value connections.

“Health systems across Asia-Pacific have focused ambition and investment in the deployment of AI tools and capabilities. The global challenge is translating momentum into scalable, system-wide impact,” said Hal Wolf, HIMSS President and CEO. “HIMSS26 APAC will bring together leaders, frameworks and real-world evidence to guide health systems through measurable transformation. We are proud to develop this program in close partnership with our APAC Steering committee, comprised of senior healthcare executives and digital health leaders from APAC markets, to deliver the best insights at the conference.”

A Strategic Partnership with SingHealth

HIMSS26 APAC is co-hosted with SingHealth, Singapore’s largest public healthcare cluster. The partnership reflects Singapore’s position as the APAC hub for digital health innovation. Additionally, this partnership connects HIMSS26 APAC delegates directly to the team leading Singapore’s national health data strategy, AI governance frameworks and digital maturity programs.

Benedict Tan, Group Chief Digital Strategy Officer and Chief Data Officer at SingHealth and Board Member of HIMSS, will deliver keynotes at both the CXO AI Summit and the main conference opening ceremony. This reflects SingHealth’s commitment to inspire other healthcare systems to use AI with trust, transparency and measurable impact.

Three Days of High-Stakes Dialogue

The programme is built around the questions that matter most to health system leaders right now: Is AI ROI the wrong metric? What does a smart hospital look like in the age of AI? And what separates the systems that are scaling innovation from those still experimenting?

The conference opens on 23 August with an invitation-only CXO AI Summit, an executive forum challenging the conventional wisdom on AI return on investment, governance and the foundations of enterprise-scale adoption. The Summit will be anchored by keynotes from Hal Wolf and Benedict Tan, with panel discussions moderated by Dr Anne Snowdon, Chief Scientific Officer of HIMSS, and Tom Leary, HIMSS Senior Vice President and Head of Government Relations. International speakers from health systems from across the Asia-Pacific region will be announced soon.

The main conference on 24–25 August opens with a showcase of excellence in digital maturity before moving into two days of plenary keynotes, executive addresses, government perspectives from across APAC and deep-dive parallel tracks spanning AI digital foundation, clinical AI, operational AI and smart hospitals and intelligent health systems. Senior perspectives from health ministries and leading digital health organisations across South Korea, Australia, Singapore and the broader Asia-Pacific region will be featured throughout.

The programme closes with a cross-industry panel asking what healthcare can learn from other sectors already reshaped by AI, bringing together voices from health technology, clinical leadership and beyond.

Members of the press, potential media partners and podcasters interested in participating in HIMSS26 APAC are invited to email the HIMSS Communications team at press@himss.org for more information.

About HIMSS

HIMSS (the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society) is a mission-driven independent society, a global thought leader, and an advisor dedicated to creating an informed and empowered community of providers, innovators, and individuals. HIMSS stands apart by bridging strategic and visionary ideas with practical execution, empowering health systems and governments globally to achieve measurable impact for the future of health and care.

About SingHealth

SingHealth is Singapore’s largest group of healthcare institutions, comprising an integrated network of hospitals, specialty centres, and polyclinics committed to providing quality, accessible healthcare. As a regional leader in integrated digital health, SingHealth serves as both co-host and a real-world model of how policy, infrastructure, and innovation align to support system-wide transformation.

 

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SOURCE HIMSS-HEALTHCARE INFORMATION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS SOCIETY

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NAVC Named to Inc.’s 2026 Best Workplaces List

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Annual list recognizes the businesses that set the standard for workplace success and awards excellence in company culture

ORLANDO, Fla., June 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — NAVC has been named one of Inc.’s 2026 Best Workplaces. This annual award honors American companies with exceptional workplaces and vibrant cultures that support their teams and businesses, whether in-person, remote or hybrid.

“A happy team is a high-performing one, and at NAVC, we believe in creating environments where everyone can thrive,” said Gene O’Neill, NAVC CEO. “Our culture is centered on the team, which naturally unlocks potential. We host open forums where employees share ideas and feedback, and we prioritize investing in professional development for all staff. The result? An incredible group of passionate and talented individuals. NAVC is a special place to work for one reason – the people.”

Who is NAVC?

NAVC is a nonprofit organization with a mission to support and advance veterinary professionals across the globe. As the leading provider of veterinary continuing education, NAVC delivers essential training and resources that keep the veterinary community informed of the latest advances in animal medicine. NAVC’s diverse portfolio of products and services includes:

In-person and virtual educational events like VMX, HiVE, SkillShop and LevelUPVetfolio – a robust virtual learning platformEducational podcastsFour award-winning, peer-reviewed publicationsAdvocacy work in the animal health space

Best Workplaces Award Methodology

The award is the result of a comprehensive measurement and evaluation of hundreds of applicants. The process involved a detailed employee survey conducted by Quantum Workplace, covering critical elements such as management effectiveness, perks, professional development and overall company culture. Each company’s benefits were also audited to determine the overall score. NAVC is honored to be included among the 507 companies recognized this year.

“This year’s Best Workplaces list goes beyond great company culture–it highlights companies making meaningful and sustained investment in their employees,” says Bonny Ghosh, editorial director at Inc. “Even in a labor market that favors employers, these companies understand that an intentional and authentic commitment to their teams drives stronger employee retention, engagement, and ultimately, a stronger business overall.”

To view the full list of winners, visit Inc.com.

About NAVC

The North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and advancing veterinary professionals worldwide. The world’s leading provider of veterinary continuing education, the NAVC delivers essential training, tools and resources for veterinary professionals to stay abreast of advances in animal medicine and provide the best medical care for animals everywhere. Through its commitment to innovation and excellence, the NAVC has developed a diverse portfolio of products and services, including: educational events, headlined by VMX, the world’s largest, most comprehensive continuing education conference and launchpad for new products and innovations within the veterinary industry; a robust digital platform for virtual learning and engagement; the veterinary industry’s largest and award-winning portfolio of trade publications; and an advocacy arm which unites the veterinary community and pet lovers. The NAVC was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Orlando, FL. Since 2017, the NAVC has been recognized annually as one of the Top Workplaces by the Orlando Sentinel. To learn more about the NAVC’s products and brands, visit https://navc.com/. To see our schedule of upcoming events, visit https://navc.com/calendar/.

About Inc.

Inc. is the leading media brand and playbook for entrepreneurs and business. Through its journalism, Inc. aims to inform, educate, and elevate the profile of its community: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters who are creating the future of business. Inc. is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with fellow leading business publication Fast Company. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

About Quantum Workplace

Quantum Workplace, based in Omaha, Nebraska, is an HR technology company that serves organizations through employee-engagement surveys, action-planning tools, exit surveys, peer-to-peer recognition, performance evaluations, goal tracking, and leadership assessment. For more information, visit QuantumWorkplace.com.

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SOURCE North American Veterinary Community (NAVC)

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