Deadline: 15Th May, 2026
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
- Strengthen Integration Among BRICS Markets
- Support Innovation in Key Sectors
- Build Entrepreneurial Resilience
- Highlight Women-Led Solutions for Global Challenges
- Enhance Collaboration Between BRICS Nations
- Raise Awareness of Sustainable Business Practices
- Promote Technological Adoption and Digital Transformation
- Strengthen Local Economies Through Global Connections
- Healthcare And Wellbeing
- Agriculture & Food Security
- Education And Skill Development
- Energy, Infrastructure And Mobility
- Commerce, Service And Digital Transformation
- Sustainable Development And Climate Solutions
- 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.
2. 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.
3. Impact and Sustainability
- Demonstrate the long-term social, economic, or environmental impact and sustainability of the solution.
4. Commercial Viability & Traction
- Provide evidence of a viable business model, market demand, and any existing traction or growth.
5. Solution & Innovation
- Clearly describe the solution, the problem it addresses, and its innovative and scalable features.
6. 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.
Mature startups that have achieved significant growth and are expanding into new
markets, demonstrating strong operational performance and scalability.
For more information and application.