TechRound is excited to announce the winners of our 50WomenInTech 2026!
TechRound is proud to announce the winners of our 50 Women In Startups and Tech 2026 campaign, celebrating and shining the spotlight on the female entrepreneurs changing the tech and startup landscape across the world.
This year, we are absolutely delighted to have received a record number of entries, with women applying from all over the world. It’s been an absolute pleasure to peruse the entries and gain insight into the incredible work being done across industries and regions.
Founded in 2016, TechRound is the UK’s best-known and fastest-growing startup and tech news site. This is where decision makers, investors and startups of all sizes and nature come to find out the latest developments and trends within the industry.
See The List
Top 50 – See Here >>
Top 40 – See Here >>
Top 30 – See Here >>
Top 20 – See Here >>
Top 10 – See Here >>
Who Ranked Number 1? – See Here >>
Feedback From The Judges
“This is a very competitive cohort of market leaders. Honored to be introduced to tech professionals reimagining the infrastructure underneath their areas of expertise. Their ability to assess systemic gaps and cut through the noise to identify the real challenges beneath surface-level symptoms is where meaningful change happens. Infrastructure challengers stood out across food security, environmentalism, biotech, mental health, women’s health, hospitality, and more.
“In the era of AI, it’s easy to assume more data is the answer. But, the leaders in this group understand that more data only matters if we can interpret and translate complexity into meaning and benefit for humanity. That kind of thinking shapes industries.”
– Maggie Lusk, Founder at Saela Sync
“These founders are creating unique solutions to persistent issues, including the funding gap for women-led startups, while addressing some of the most critically underrepresented areas with bold, pioneering solutions.
“There were wonderful concepts not just within the women’s health technology sector but also in sustainability, finance, cybersecurity, business software and policy advocacy; these entrepreneurs are transforming traditionally male-dominated areas and we are here to support it!
“I commend all of the applicants, as they all are redefining the leadership in technology, and I can’t wait to see their growth into the future.”
– Kayla Manthey, Writer and Designer at TechRound
“It has been an absolute privilege to serve as a judge for this year’s awards. Reviewing the submissions provided a fascinating window into the sheer calibre of innovation currently driving the UK and global tech ecosystem.
We saw companies tackling some of the most pressing challenges in their respective industries, from sustainable fintech solutions to AI-driven healthcare breakthroughs, demonstrating that these individuals are as focused on impact as they are on growth.
“The competition was fierce, making the final selection process a genuine challenge. Every finalist should be very proud of their contribution to the landscape. Congratulations to the winners for showing us what the future looks like – it’s in very capable hands.”
– Emma Robertson, CEO of Transform
“These submissions show a clear shift away from simple, step‑by‑step app building toward core, advanced technology infrastructure. The standout projects focus on solving very complex problems in areas like biological computing, cryptography and predictable clinical workflows.
“Instead of chasing surface‑level user engagement, the strongest entries build precise, math‑driven solutions to deep system weaknesses, such as mapping genetic differences or protecting decentralized digital identities. Overall, this signals that the field is maturing and now values scalable, long‑term impact on human health and critical infrastructure more than short‑lived commercial wins.”
– Megan Bennett, CEO and President, Light Years Ahead (LYD)
Judging TechRounds 50 was a reminder of why I love this industry.
I’ve seen thousands of decks since 2017, across market cycles, and what stood out wasn’t hype, it was substance. Each and every one of these powerhouse female founders was solving real, tangible problems; building with purpose and precision.
Today, I look for resilience and execution. The shortlist was not an easy call, but the standout projects combined tech with scalability and real business maturity
– Nikita Sachdev, CEO at Luna PR
Thank You To Our Judges
Tania Rahman, Founder at Korra Ventures VC
Tania is a founder-turned-VC with over 15 years of experience across high-growth startups and venture capital. She began her career building and scaling an award-winning hospitality brand before transitioning into VC, where she has led investments across the UK, Europe, and MENA. Tania became an investor after experiencing firsthand the lack of representation during her own fundraising journey. She is excited to back purpose-driven founders building category-defining businesses.
Maggie Lusk, Founder at Saela Sync
Maggie Lusk is a founder and operator building systems that align daily life with female biology. Her work sits at the intersection of health, performance, and adaptive intelligence, grounded in lived experience rather than population averages. She believes women-led companies are the future and should never ask for permission to take up space.
Find out more about Maggie and what she was looking for from entrants in her interview here.
Kayla Manthey, Writer and Designer at TechRound
Kayla is TechRound’s design lead with a strong creative streak and a passion for storytelling. Kayla regularly writes features championing female founders, helping to profile their stories and the companies they are building.
Emma Robertson, CEO of Transform
Emma is at the forefront of driving data and technology-led change for businesses navigating the complexities of modern transformation.
With over 25 years of experience, Emma has guided both blue-chip and emerging organisations through the complexities of shifting consumer expectations. Emma is a leading voice in the industry, recognised as Best CEO Leadership in DE&I, included in Management Today’s Top 25 Women in Leadership Power List, and ranked 15th in TechRound’s Top 50 Women in Tech.
Megan Bennett, CEO and President, Light Years Ahead (LYD)
Megan has been on the LYA team for over 23 years. She started working at LYA just a year after college and fell so in love with public relations that she stayed on and helped build the company into what it is today. Her expertise focuses on managing clients, engaging with top national media daily, and securing meaningful media placements. She has spearheaded and implemented countless successful PR campaigns for numerous brands and is proud of the positive, lasting relationships she cultivates with the media on an ongoing basis.
Nikita Sachdev, CEO at Luna PR
Nikita is an American entrepreneur and a prominent figure in the blockchain and Web3 space. She began her journey in crypto in 2017 with Huobi Exchange (now HTX), where she gained valuable industry experience. Following a successful exit from her first venture, Luna Management, she founded Luna PR, a global agency that has scaled into an eight-figure, bootstrapped company. Beyond PR, Nikita runs a private investment firm that has deployed over $10 million into the Web3 ecosystem, backing innovative projects and technologies shaping the industry’s future. With over 150,000 followers across her social platforms, she leverages her voice to champion innovation, accessibility, and impact.
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