The UNICEF Venture Fund is seeking applications from early-stage, for-profit startups. The fund is offering up to US$100K in equity-free funding.
Closing: 08 May 2025
This opportunity is for ventures leveraging frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), data science, and blockchain for social impact.
Eligibility and Focus
Applications are invited from startups in low- and middle-income economies developing Open Source technology.
The solutions should aim to improve health outcomes, economic participation, or access to essential services for women and girls.
Women-led startups and young founders (under the age of 35) are strongly encouraged to apply.
The fund is particularly interested in companies that are:
- Registered in a UNICEF programme country
- Working with a functional prototype
- Committed to Open Source licensing and principles
The application deadline is 8 May 2025.
The Challenge and the Opportunity
Significant disparities exist globally regarding the health, wellbeing, and economic inclusion of women and girls.
Despite rapid technological advancements, many solutions remain inaccessible or do not adequately address the specific needs of diverse groups.
The UNICEF Venture Fund recognizes the need for innovative and accessible solutions to bridge these gaps.
The fund seeks to identify and support technologies that can be accelerated to significantly improve the lives of women, girls, and their communities.
This includes solutions that can function in low-resource environments and prioritize inclusivity and personalization.
What is Being Sought
The fund is seeking early-stage, for-profit startups utilizing frontier technologies in three key areas:
Improving health outcomes for women and girls: This includes digital health solutions, AI/data-powered platforms for maternal, reproductive, and adolescent health, and on-demand referral services.
Addressing unique challenges faced by women and girls: This involves closing the gender data gap, improving accessibility for underserved communities (including persons with disabilities), and designing solutions that address gender-specific challenges in different contexts.
Empowering women and girls socially and economically: This encompasses expanding financial inclusion, enabling safe access to education and training, and supporting agency and workforce participation.
The fund is actively looking for companies that are pushing boundaries with frontier technologies in innovative and scalable ways with global relevance.
Background of the Fund
The UNICEF Venture Fund is designed to finance early-stage, Open Source technology that can benefit children.
It focuses on identifying and supporting initiatives around emerging technologies to shape markets and guide technology development for positive social impact.
The fund prioritizes solutions that uphold data protection measures and safeguarding principles, and that strengthen systems and services for sustainable positive outcomes.
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