Applications Now Open For The 2026 Edition Of The US$15,000 Women In AV & Tech Startup Prize
The competition has been described as “a global call designed to identify and back early-stage founders building practical, execution-ready solutions for the AV ecosystem and closely related fields.”
Applications are now open for the 2026 edition of the $15,000 Women in AV & Tech Startup Prize, a global competition aimed at supporting early-stage female founders developing solutions across audiovisual (AV) and related technology sectors.
The competition, which is being spearheaded by Alex Kemanes, Regional Managing Director for the MESEA at Midwich Group (a UK-headquartered AV distribution group), who’s also a Partner at its investment arm, Midwich Ignite, and Dino Drimakis, Director of Strategic Development for the MESEA at Midwich Group, is also supported by the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association (AVIXA) Women’s Council, a global community committed to supporting and empowering women in the technology and AV industry.
Commenting on the need for the competition, Kemanes said in a statement, “If we want to see more women leading and building in our industry, we have to create practical pathways for them. The Women in AV & Tech Startup Prize is one way we are doing that. At the same time, we are backing founders who can execute, people who understand their market, define real problems, and have a credible path to building sustainable businesses.” “This isn’t a pitch-polish contest,” Drimakis added. “We’re looking for clear thinking, real-world problem selection, and credible pathways to market. Fundamentals beat hype.”
The Women in AV & Tech Startup Prize 2026 is open to female founders worldwide, with selection not based on revenue or a finished product, but on the problem being addressed, market viability, and the founder’s intent to build a sustainable solution. Applicants are required to submit a pitch deck of up to 20 slides along with a short video of the founder outlining the problem, target users, proposed solution, business model, and current stage of development, whether at the idea, prototype, pilot, user, or revenue stage.
Entries will undergo an initial eligibility and quality review before shortlisted candidates are evaluated by an independent jury panel. Judging will focus on problem relevance, solution credibility, market understanding, founder insight, and execution potential. Applications for the Women in AV & Tech Startup Prize 2026 are open until April 6, 2026, with the winners set to be revealed on April 22, 2026.
