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Global Short Course Fully Funded

UNICEF Femtech Ventures 2026 | Open-Source Health Innovation Funding

UNICEF Femtech Ventures provides up to US$100,000 in equity-free funding plus 12 months of technical mentorship for startups building open-source frontier technology solutions for women's health, wellbeing, and sexual and reproductive health rights in emerging markets.

October 28, 2026 ⏰ Deadline: Nov 11, 2026

Quick Overview

Host CountryGlobal (UNICEF programme countries)
Degree LevelShort Course
Funding TypeFully Funded
Fields of StudyArtificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Data Science, Femtech, Health Technology
DeadlineNovember 11, 2026

Scholarship Overview

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Overview

UNICEF Femtech Ventures is a five-year initiative (2025–2030) from the UNICEF Venture Fund that invests in locally developed, open-source frontier technology solutions. The program specifically targets companies improving health outcomes for girls and women in emerging markets, with a strong preference for women-led startups and founders under 35.

This second annual call for applications seeks companies using technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain, and data science. Selected companies join the Femtech Ventures portfolio and receive substantial non-dilutive funding alongside access to UNICEF’s global network of government relationships.

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What the Award Covers

Successful applicants receive a comprehensive support package:

  • Up to US$100,000 in equity-free funding
  • 12 months of technical mentorship from UNICEF innovation specialists
  • Access to UNICEF’s global network, including government partnerships to accelerate scale
  • Portfolio membership connecting investees with follow-on funding opportunities

The Venture Fund’s track record is notable: since 2014, it has invested in 102 early-stage companies, more than half women-led, which have subsequently attracted 11 times their initial capital in follow-on investment.

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Eligibility Requirements

UNICEF Femtech Ventures maintains specific criteria designed to ensure solutions are locally grounded and scalable:

  • Registration: Company must be registered in a UNICEF programme country (includes Zimbabwe and all SADC nations)
  • Development stage: Must have a functional prototype, not merely concept-stage
  • Technology: Must use frontier technologies (AI, machine learning, blockchain, data science, generative AI, agentic AI)
  • Open-source commitment: Must commit to open-source licensing and principles
  • Focus area: Solutions must address health, wellbeing, or sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and women

Women-led startups and founders under 35 are strongly encouraged to apply. The program explicitly welcomes applications from emerging markets where barriers to quality care are greatest.

Three Priority Pillars

Pillar 1: Healthcare Access for Women and Girls

Solutions improving health outcomes across the continuum of care, including:

  • Point-of-care support tools with automated data/imagery interpretation
  • Affordable screening tools for anaemia, haemoglobinopathies, ferritin status, thyroid function
  • Platforms connecting screening, referral and follow-up with health system intelligence
  • Maternal health platforms supporting the first 1,000 days, including remote low-bandwidth care
  • Demand forecasting and supply planning tools for essential health commodities

Pillar 2: Informed, Safe and Accessible Reproductive Health

Solutions overcoming stigma, distance, cost and mobility barriers:

  • AI-powered platforms delivering personalized reproductive health information in underserved languages
  • Community health worker platforms with interoperable digital tools
  • HPV detection and prevention technologies for low-resource settings
  • Tech-enabled health financing platforms
  • Consent- and privacy-preserving data solutions

Pillar 3: Mental Wellbeing, Safety and Protection

Innovations addressing psychological, emotional and digital safety:

  • Digital mental health tools with culturally appropriate psychosocial support
  • Decision-support tools for community health workers identifying maternal mental health risks
  • AI-enabled platforms for early detection and response to gender-based violence
  • Online safety tools identifying digital abuse and exploitation
  • Community-level training tools for frontline workers

Safety-by-Design Requirements

UNICEF mandates safety-by-design as a condition of investment. Companies must demonstrate consideration of:

  • Data privacy architecture from inception
  • Consent mechanisms appropriate for vulnerable users
  • User risk assessment and mitigation strategies

This reflects UNICEF’s zero-tolerance policy for discrimination and commitment to safeguarding principles.

Application Process

The application process follows UNICEF Venture Fund standard procedures:

  1. Review detailed eligibility criteria and selection guidelines
  2. Prepare documentation demonstrating functional prototype, open-source commitment, and team qualifications
  3. Submit application through UNICEF’s online portal before deadline
  4. Undergo technical and programmatic review
  5. Selected companies receive investment and begin 12-month mentorship period

Applicants should consult the “How to apply: our funding process” resource and review learnings from the first cohort of 11 companies from eight African and Asian countries.

Strategic Context for African Applicants

For Zimbabwean and SADC-based founders, this represents a significant opportunity. The program’s hyperlocal approach specifically targets solutions “designed within communities, validated in context and built for scale.” With the global femtech market projected to reach US$146 billion by 2033, locally developed solutions from African innovators can shape sector growth while addressing persistent regional health gaps.

The first cohort included companies from eight countries across Africa and Asia, demonstrating genuine commitment to emerging market innovation. UNICEF’s relationships with governments in programme countries provide pathways to national scale that purely private investment cannot replicate.

Partners and Funding

Femtech Ventures operates through partnerships with:

  • Government of Sweden
  • GSR Foundation
  • Temasek Foundation

These partnerships enable equity-free investment that preserves founder ownership while accelerating social impact.

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Official scholarship page: https://www.unicef.org/innovation/FemTechCall

Apply on the official site →

You apply directly with the provider. We never charge for applications or ask for payment details. How we verify scholarships

Funding Coverage

Up to US$100,000 equity-free funding plus 12 months technical mentorship and access to UNICEF global network

Eligibility Criteria

Companies registered in UNICEF programme countries with functional prototypes using frontier technologies (AI, ML, blockchain, data science); must commit to open-source principles; women-led startups and founders under 35 strongly encouraged

Required Documents

Not specified in source; applicants should consult UNICEF Venture Fund guidelines for standard requirements including proof of registration, prototype documentation, open-source licensing plan, and team credentials

Application Process

1) Review eligibility and selection guidelines, 2) Prepare application demonstrating functional prototype and open-source commitment, 3) Submit via online portal before deadline, 4) Undergo technical review, 5) Selected companies receive funding and mentorship
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Frequently Asked Questions

No. UNICEF Femtech Ventures provides equity-free funding. You retain full ownership of your company while receiving up to US$100,000 and 12 months of mentorship.
No. You must have a functional prototype. The program does not fund concept-stage companies; you need demonstrable technology that has been built and tested.
You must agree to open-source licensing and principles for your solution. This typically means making core code publicly available under approved licenses, enabling others to build upon and adapt your technology while you retain commercial rights to your implementation.
Mental health and safety solutions are explicitly welcome under Pillar 3, which includes digital mental health tools, gender-based violence detection platforms, online safety tools, and community-level training systems for frontline workers.
The first cohort selected 11 companies from eight countries. Strong applications demonstrate: locally validated solutions with functional prototypes, clear use of frontier technology, concrete open-source plans, potential for government partnership scale, and teams with technical and domain expertise. Women-led companies and founders under 35 receive explicit encouragement.
Companies remain in the Femtech Ventures portfolio with ongoing access to UNICEF's network. The Venture Fund's track record shows investees attract significant follow-on funding—historically 11 times initial investment—though this depends on individual company performance and market conditions.

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