The BRICS Women’s Startups Contest 2026 is now open for applications. The submission deadline is 15 May. Led by the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance (BRICS WBA), the contest aims to support women-led startups across BRICS countries.
The 2026 edition is led by India. In addition, the contest offers a platform for visibility, networking, and business expansion. Finalists will also travel to India for the final stage and awards ceremony in September.
Key Details:
Application Deadline: 15 May (Submissions deadline)
Eligible Countries: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates
Contest Type: Women-led startup contest
Prize / Benefits: Visibility, networking opportunities, business expansion opportunities, engagement with investors, industry leaders, and policymakers across BRICS countries; trip to India for finalists; awards ceremony participation
About the Contest
The BRICS Women’s Startups Contest 2026 is designed to empower and accelerate innovative women-led enterprises across BRICS nations. It focuses on startups with strong impact potential and business growth prospects.
Moreover, the contest connects participants with investors, industry leaders, and policymakers. According to the provided details, winners are selected across six categories and three development stages, leading to 18 finalists overall.
Host Organization: BRICS Women’s Business Alliance (BRICS WBA)
Application Mode: Online application
Final Stage Location: India
Contest Timeline: Contest timeline runs from 19 March launch/submissions open to September finalists return.
Number of Finalists: 18 finalists
Value of Award: Not specified – please see official page
Eligibility
To apply, applicants must meet the eligibility requirements listed below:
- 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.
- Applicants must be currently operating in one or more BRICS markets.
- Applicants must be actively exporting or supplying within BRICS markets.
- Applicants must hold a key leadership position such as Founder, Co-Founder, or equivalent.
- Applicants must play an active role in the startup’s operations and strategy.
- Applicants must demonstrate the long-term social, economic, or environmental impact and sustainability of the solution.
- Applicants must provide evidence of a viable business model, market demand, and any existing traction or growth.
- Applicants must clearly describe the solution, the problem it addresses, and its innovative and scalable features.
- Applicants must demonstrate alignment with BRICS priorities and potential to scale, replicate, and create impact across BRICS countries.
Applicants should also prepare the required submission materials before starting the online application.
- Business pitch (maximum 5 pages, PDF format)
- Link to a short video presentation (maximum 3 minutes)
- Financial and operational summary (if available)
- Proof of eligibility (citizenship/residency or business registration document)
How to Apply
Interested applicants should complete the online application through the official contest page. Before you submit, make sure your pitch, video link, and supporting documents are ready.
Since award funding is not specified, applicants should review the official page carefully for category details, judging stages, and any updates to the contest schedule.
👉 Visit the official contest page for details
FAQ
Who can apply for the contest?
The contest is open to women entrepreneurs who are citizens or permanent residents of BRICS nations (Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, UAE) . Applicants must hold a key leadership position at their startup and demonstrate Impact, Sustainability & Commercial Viability & Traction etc.
What documents do I need to provide when applying?
Applicants are required to submit:
- Business pitch (maximum 5 pages, PDF format).
- Link to a short video presentation (maximum 3 minutes).
- Financial and operational summary (if available).
- Proof of eligibility (citizenship/residency or business registration document).
Can I apply under more than one category?
No, applicants must select the category that best aligns with their project’s core area of business. Please carefully review the category descriptions to choose the most suitable option.
What happens after I submit my application?
After submission, applications will go through a three-stage evaluation process:
- Qualification Stage: Screening of applications to confirm eligibility and compliance with the residency and representation, leadership and stage-of development criteria
- Technical Analysis: Sector-specific experts conduct an in-depth evaluation of the projects, also considering regional particularities.
- Final Review: Shortlisted applications are evaluated with a focus on their strategic alignment with BRICS priorities and potential for regional impact.
If your application meets the eligibility requirements, it will progress to the Technical Analysis phase and so on.
