BRICS Women’s Business Alliance (BRICS WBA) Women’s Startups Contest 2026

About

A contest designed to empower women-led startups across BRICS nations, providing them with opportunities for visibility, networking, and engagement with key industry stakeholders. Participants will compete in various development stages, showcasing their innovative solutions and potential for social, economic, or environmental impact.

Benefits

• 🌟Visibility Opportunities
  Access to visibility, networking, and business expansion opportunities
• 🤝Investor Engagement
  Engagement with investors, industry leaders, and policymakers across BRICS countries
• 🌍Economic Integration
  Potential for cross-border economic integration, collaboration, and knowledge exchange.

Eligibility Criteria

• 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)
• Must hold a key leadership position (Founder, Co-Founder, or equivalent)
• Must play an active role in the startup’s operations & strategy
• Startups must demonstrate long-term social, economic, or environmental impact and sustainability
• Provide evidence of a viable business model, market demand, and any existing traction or growth
• Clearly describe the solution, the problem it addresses, and its innovative and scalable features.

Participation Commitments

• Must actively participate in the contest activities
• Startups will compete in three different development stages: Early Stage, Growth, and Scale-Up
• Must demonstrate alignment with BRICS priorities and the potential to scale and create impact across BRICS countries.

Target Region

BRICS nations

Target Sector

All sectors