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UNICEF Femtech Ventures 2026: Up to US$100,000 for Womenโ€™s Health Technology Startups ๐Ÿ’ก๐ŸŒ

UNICEF Femtech
UNICEF Femtech

UNICEF Femtech Ventures 2026: Up to US$100,000 for Womenโ€™s Health Technology Startups ๐Ÿ’ก๐ŸŒ

UNICEF Femtech Ventures 2026: Up to US$100,000 for Womenโ€™s Health Technology Startups ๐Ÿ’ก๐ŸŒ. Applications are open for the UNICEF Femtech Ventures 2026 funding call, offering eligible technology startups up to US$100,000 in equity-free funding, 12 months of technical mentorship, and access to UNICEFโ€™s global network. The call targets companies using frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain and data science to improve the health, wellbeing, safety and sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls. Applications close on 4 November 2026 at 11:59 PM CET.

โš ๏ธ Important Accuracy Note

This opportunity is offered through:

UNICEF FEMTECH VENTURES

which is part of the:

UNICEF VENTURE FUND.

Femtech Ventures is a five-year initiative running from 2025 to 2030 and focuses on investing in locally developed frontier technologies for women and girls in emerging markets.

The current call is the:

SECOND ANNUAL FEMTECH VENTURES COHORT.

Selected companies can receive:

๐Ÿ’ฐ UP TO US$100,000

in:

โœ… EQUITY-FREE FUNDING

plus:

๐Ÿง  12 MONTHS OF TECHNICAL MENTORSHIP

and:

๐ŸŒ ACCESS TO UNICEFโ€™S GLOBAL NETWORK.

However:

โš ๏ธ US$100,000 IS THE MAXIMUM AVAILABLE โ€” NOT A GUARANTEED AMOUNT FOR EVERY SELECTED STARTUP.

UNICEF Femtech Ventures 2026: Up to US$100,000 for Womenโ€™s Health Technology Startups ๐Ÿ’ก๐ŸŒ

The deadline is:

๐Ÿšจ 4 NOVEMBER 2026 AT 11:59 PM CET.


๐ŸŒ UNICEF Femtech Ventures 2026: Quick Overview

DetailInformation
OrganisationUNICEF
ProgrammeUNICEF Femtech Ventures
FundUNICEF Venture Fund
CallSecond Annual Femtech Cohort
FundingUp to US$100,000
Funding TypeEquity-Free
Mentorship12 Months
Geographic FocusUNICEF Programme Countries / Emerging Markets
Eligible EntityPrivate For-Profit Company
IndividualsNot Eligible
NGOs / CSOsNot Directly Eligible
PrototypeFunctional / Working Prototype Required
Open SourceRequired or Willingness to Open Source
Main Technology AreasAI, Machine Learning, Data Science, Blockchain & Other Frontier Technologies
Main FocusWomenโ€™s & Girlsโ€™ Health, SRHR, Mental Wellbeing, Safety & Protection
Women-Led StartupsStrongly Encouraged
Youth-Led StartupsStrongly Encouraged
Youth DefinitionFounder/Leader Under 35
Application LanguageEnglish
Pitch VideoRequired
RepositoryRequired
Application DeadlineNovember 4, 2026 at 11:59 PM CET
StatusApplications Open

UNICEF says the call is especially interested in companies that are registered in a UNICEF programme country, have a functional prototype, and are committed to open-source principles.

๐Ÿ›๏ธ About UNICEF Femtech Ventures

UNICEF Femtech Ventures 2026: Up to US$100,000 for Womenโ€™s Health Technology Startups ๐Ÿ’ก๐ŸŒ

UNICEF Femtech Ventures was established to address persistent gaps in technology investment and access affecting women and girls in emerging markets.

The initiative focuses on solutions that can expand access to:

๐Ÿฅ HEALTHCARE

๐Ÿคฐ MATERNAL HEALTH

โ™€๏ธ SEXUAL & REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

๐Ÿง  MENTAL HEALTH

๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ SAFETY

and:

๐ŸŒ DIGITAL INCLUSION.

UNICEF says its first global femtech call received more than 1,100 submissions from 85 countries, with more than half of applications coming from Africa.

The current second cohort builds on an initial portfolio of companies from:

๐ŸŒ AFRICA

and:

๐ŸŒ ASIA.

๐Ÿ’ฐ How Much Funding Is Available?

UNICEF Femtech Ventures 2026: Up to US$100,000 for Womenโ€™s Health Technology Startups ๐Ÿ’ก๐ŸŒ

Selected companies can receive:

๐Ÿ’ต UP TO US$100,000

from the UNICEF Venture Fund.

The funding is:

โœ… EQUITY-FREE.

This means UNICEF does:

โŒ NOT TAKE SHARES

and:

โŒ NOT REQUIRE A FINANCIAL RETURN

from the company.

Instead, the funded solution is expected to comply with UNICEFโ€™s:

OPEN-SOURCE REQUIREMENTS.

The company remains the holder of its other intellectual property, while the funded solution or relevant funded components must be made openly licensed according to the Venture Fund conditions.

๐Ÿง  What Other Support Is Provided?

UNICEF Femtech Ventures 2026: Up to US$100,000 for Womenโ€™s Health Technology Startups ๐Ÿ’ก๐ŸŒ

Funding is only one part of the programme.

Selected startups receive:

๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿ’ป 12 MONTHS OF TECHNICAL MENTORSHIP

and access to:

๐ŸŒ UNICEFโ€™S GLOBAL NETWORK

including relationships with:

๐Ÿ›๏ธ GOVERNMENTS

๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿ”ฌ TECHNICAL EXPERTS

๐Ÿค PARTNERS

and:

๐Ÿš€ INNOVATION ECOSYSTEMS.

The aim is to help companies move promising solutions toward:

PILOTING

VALIDATION

DEPLOYMENT

and:

SCALE.

๐ŸŽฏ Who Is UNICEF Looking For?

UNICEF is looking for companies developing:

LOCALLY GROUNDED FRONTIER-TECH SOLUTIONS

that have the potential to scale.

Particular interest is given to technologies including:

๐Ÿค– ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

๐Ÿง  MACHINE LEARNING

๐Ÿ“Š DATA SCIENCE

โ›“๏ธ BLOCKCHAIN

and:

๐Ÿš€ OTHER FRONTIER TECHNOLOGIES.

The programme supports solutions suited to:

RESOURCE-CONSTRAINED SETTINGS

UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES

and:

EMERGENCY ENVIRONMENTS.

๐Ÿฅ Pillar 1: Healthcare Access for Women and Girls

The first funding pillar focuses on improving healthcare access and health outcomes for women and girls.

UNICEF is particularly interested in technologies for:

๐Ÿคฐ ANTENATAL CARE

๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿผ POSTNATAL CARE

๐Ÿ‘ถ NEWBORN & CHILD HEALTH

and:

๐Ÿฅ PRIMARY & COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE.

UNICEF Femtech Ventures 2026: Up to US$100,000 for Womenโ€™s Health Technology Startups ๐Ÿ’ก๐ŸŒ

๐Ÿ”ฌ Point-of-Care Tools

Potential solutions include technologies that can automatically interpret:

HEALTH DATA

CLINICAL INFORMATION

or:

MEDICAL IMAGERY

to help frontline health workers make faster and more reliable decisions.

๐Ÿฉธ Affordable Screening Technologies

UNICEF highlights technologies that can improve screening for conditions including:

ANAEMIA

HAEMOGLOBINOPATHIES

FERRITIN STATUS

and:

THYROID CONDITIONS.

These tools should ideally be usable in:

PRIMARY CARE

and:

COMMUNITY SETTINGS.

๐Ÿคฐ Maternal Health Platforms

UNICEF also seeks technologies supporting continuity of care from:

CONCEPTION

through:

THE FIRST 1,000 DAYS OF A CHILDโ€™S LIFE.

Remote-care solutions that work in:

LOW-BANDWIDTH SETTINGS

are especially relevant.

๐Ÿ“ฆ Supply Forecasting

Solutions can also address:

MATERNAL HEALTH SUPPLY FORECASTING

UNICEF Femtech Ventures 2026: Up to US$100,000 for Womenโ€™s Health Technology Startups ๐Ÿ’ก๐ŸŒ

WORKFORCE CAPACITY

STAFFING

and:

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER SUPPORT.

โ™€๏ธ Pillar 2: Informed, Safe and Accessible Reproductive Health

The second pillar focuses on improving access to:

SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS โ€” SRHR.

UNICEF is seeking technology that helps women and girls overcome barriers caused by:

DISTANCE

COST

STIGMA

and:

RESTRICTED MOBILITY.

๐Ÿค– AI-Powered Reproductive Health Platforms

Relevant solutions include AI tools that provide:

PERSONALIZED HEALTH INFORMATION

COUNSELLING

and:

GUIDANCE

in:

UNDERSERVED LANGUAGES

or:

LOW-LITERACY SETTINGS.

๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€โš•๏ธ Community Health Worker Platforms

Another priority is technology that helps community health workers deliver:

CASE MANAGEMENT

REFERRALS

and:

FOLLOW-UP SERVICES.

๐Ÿงฌ HPV Screening

UNICEF specifically mentions technologies that improve:

HPV DETECTION

HPV SCREENING

and:

PREVENTION SERVICES

in low-resource health systems.

๐Ÿ’ณ Financing Sexual and Reproductive

UNICEF Femtech Ventures 2026: Up to US$100,000 for Womenโ€™s Health Technology Startups ๐Ÿ’ก๐ŸŒ

Healthcare

Solutions may also focus on:

FINANCIAL ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES

including technology that connects women and girls to affordable sexual and reproductive healthcare.

๐Ÿ” Privacy-Preserving Health Data

UNICEF is also interested in technologies that allow women and girls greater control over:

HOW PERSONAL HEALTH INFORMATION IS COLLECTED

and:

HOW IT IS USED.

๐Ÿง  Pillar 3: Mental Wellbeing, Safety and Protection

The third funding area focuses on:

๐Ÿง  MENTAL HEALTH

๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ SAFETY

๐Ÿšซ GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

๐Ÿ“ฑ ONLINE ABUSE

and:

๐Ÿ’” TRAUMA RESPONSE.

๐Ÿง  Digital Mental Health

UNICEF Femtech Ventures 2026: Up to US$100,000 for Womenโ€™s Health Technology Startups ๐Ÿ’ก๐ŸŒ

UNICEF seeks culturally appropriate digital tools providing:

PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT

for:

WOMEN

ADOLESCENT GIRLS

and:

CHILDREN.

Solutions integrating maternal mental-health screening with systems such as:

DHIS2

are among the examples highlighted.

๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€โš•๏ธ Decision Support for Frontline Workers

Technology can also help frontline workers:

IDENTIFY MENTAL HEALTH RISKS

PROVIDE APPROPRIATE SUPPORT

and:

DETERMINE WHEN SPECIALIST REFERRAL IS REQUIRED.

๐Ÿšซ Gender-Based Violence Technology

UNICEF is interested in AI-enabled systems for:

EARLY DETECTION OF GBV RISKS

SAFE REPORTING

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

and:

REFERRAL TO SUPPORT SERVICES.

๐Ÿ“ฑ Online Safety

Potential solutions include technologies designed to:

IDENTIFY

FLAG

and:

RESPOND TO

digital:

HARASSMENT

ABUSE

and:

EXPLOITATION

targeting women and girls.

โœ… Who Can Apply?

UNICEF Femtech Ventures 2026: Up to US$100,000 for Womenโ€™s Health Technology Startups ๐Ÿ’ก๐ŸŒ

The UNICEF Venture Fund eligibility rules require the applying organisation to be:

๐Ÿข A PRIVATE FOR-PROFIT COMPANY.

The company must also be:

๐ŸŒ REGISTERED IN A UNICEF PROGRAMME COUNTRY.

โŒ Can Individuals Apply?

NO.

Individuals cannot submit an eligible application on their own.

The applicant must be a:

LEGALLY REGISTERED PRIVATE COMPANY.

โŒ Can NGOs Apply?

NOT DIRECTLY THROUGH THIS INVESTMENT VEHICLE.

UNICEF Femtech Ventures 2026: Up to US$100,000 for Womenโ€™s Health Technology Startups ๐Ÿ’ก๐ŸŒ

UNICEF states that:

NGOs

and:

CSOs

are not eligible as the primary applying entity.

However, an NGO may potentially participate as a:

PARTNER

or:

ADVISER

to an eligible private company.

๐ŸŽ“ Is a Degree Required?

โŒ NO.

UNICEF does not require founders or team members to hold a particular:

DEGREE

or:

UNIVERSITY QUALIFICATION.

Instead, UNICEF evaluates whether the team has:

THE EXPERIENCE

TECHNICAL CAPACITY

and:

PERSONNEL

needed to implement the proposed solution.

๐Ÿงช Is a Working Prototype Required?

โœ… YES.

Applicants must have:

AN ACTIVE FUNCTIONAL PROTOTYPE.

UNICEF describes an active prototype as one that:

WORKS

and:

HAS GENERATED INITIAL DATA OR TESTING RESULTS.

UNICEF Femtech Ventures 2026: Up to US$100,000 for Womenโ€™s Health Technology Startups ๐Ÿ’ก๐ŸŒ

An early idea with no functioning prototype is therefore unlikely to satisfy the minimum eligibility criteria.

๐Ÿ”“ Open-Source Requirement

The funded solution must be:

โœ… OPEN SOURCE

or:

โœ… THE COMPANY MUST BE WILLING TO MAKE IT OPEN SOURCE.

UNICEF says funded technology should generally move to an approved open-source licence during the investment period.

Possible licences include:

SOFTWARE

  • GNU licences
  • BSD
  • MIT

HARDWARE

  • CERN
  • MIT
  • TAPR

CONTENT OR DESIGN

  • CC-BY.

Companies do not necessarily have to open-source every product they have.

The key requirement applies to the solution or technology receiving UNICEF funding.

๐Ÿ’ป Repository Requirement

Applicants must provide a valid:

GITHUB

BITBUCKET

GITLAB

or equivalent:

TECHNICAL REPOSITORY LINK.

UNICEF states that:

๐Ÿšจ A REPOSITORY IS MANDATORY

and applications without a valid, accessible repository:

WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

Private repositories can be shared with UNICEF for evaluation according to the instructions in the application form.

๐Ÿ“Š Initial Prototype Results

Applicants must explain:

THE CURRENT TECHNICAL STATUS

WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN TESTED

and:

QUANTITATIVE OR QUALITATIVE RESULTS

from the prototype.

๐ŸŽฅ Pitch Video Requirement

Applicants must submit:

๐ŸŽฌ A PITCH VIDEO OF UP TO 2 MINUTES.

The video must:

โœ… Show the actual team

โœ… Show the solution operating

and:

โœ… Use English or English subtitles.

The solution should be demonstrated through:

A LIVE DEMO

or:

SCREEN RECORDING.

UNICEF specifically states that:

โŒ AI AVATARS

โŒ SYNTHETIC VOICES

and:

โŒ AI-GENERATED PITCH FOOTAGE

UNICEF Femtech Ventures 2026: Up to US$100,000 for Womenโ€™s Health Technology Startups ๐Ÿ’ก๐ŸŒ

will not be assessed.

AI tools may still be used for:

SUBTITLES

or:

BASIC EDITING.

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง Application Language

Applications must be submitted in:

ENGLISH.

๐Ÿ‘ฉ Are Women-Led Startups Required?

โŒ NO.

The opportunity is not restricted exclusively to women-founded companies.

However:

๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ’ผ WOMEN-LED AND WOMEN-FOUNDED STARTUPS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.

UNICEF Femtech Ventures 2026: Up to US$100,000 for Womenโ€™s Health Technology Startups ๐Ÿ’ก๐ŸŒ

๐Ÿง‘ Are Young Founders Eligible?

โœ… YES.

UNICEF specifically encourages:

YOUTH-LED STARTUPS

where founders or leaders are:

UNDER 35 YEARS OLD.

๐ŸŒ Can African Startups Apply?

โœ… YES.

Many African countries are included in UNICEFโ€™s programme-country framework.

In fact, UNICEF says more than half of submissions to its first Femtech Ventures global call came from:

๐ŸŒ AFRICA.

Eligible African countries include countries such as:

South Africa

Nigeria

Kenya

Ghana

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Uganda

Tanzania

Botswana

Malawi

Mozambique

Ethiopia

and many others, subject to the current programme-country eligibility rules.

๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ผ Can Zimbabwean Startups Apply?

โœ… YES.

Zimbabwe appears on the UNICEF Venture Fundโ€™s published list of:

UNICEF PROGRAMME COUNTRIES.

A Zimbabwean startup can therefore potentially apply if it is:

โœ… Registered as a private for-profit company

โœ… Developing an eligible femtech solution

โœ… Working with a functional prototype

โœ… Willing to meet the open-source requirements

and:

โœ… Able to satisfy the remaining Venture Fund criteria.

UNICEF Femtech Ventures 2026: Up to US$100,000 for Womenโ€™s Health Technology Startups ๐Ÿ’ก๐ŸŒ

This makes the call particularly relevant to Zimbabwean startups developing technology in areas such as:

MATERNAL HEALTH

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

COMMUNITY HEALTH

DIGITAL MENTAL HEALTH

GBV PREVENTION

or:

WOMENโ€™S HEALTH ACCESS.

๐Ÿ” Safety-by-Design Requirement

UNICEF says:

SAFETY-BY-DESIGN

is a condition of its Femtech investment model.

Companies should therefore think carefully about:

DATA PRIVACY

USER CONSENT

HEALTH DATA

SAFEGUARDING

USER RISK

and:

RESPONSIBLE AI.

This is especially important for products dealing with:

SEXUAL HEALTH

GBV

MENTAL HEALTH

and:

CHILDREN OR ADOLESCENTS.

๐Ÿ“Š Public Data Requirement

The Venture Fundโ€™s general eligibility requirements include the ability to generate:

MEASURABLE REAL-TIME DATA

that can be publicly exposed for monitoring impact and progress.

If that system is not yet established, applicants should clearly describe:

HOW DATA WILL BE COLLECTED

HOW IT WILL BE ANALYSED

and:

HOW IT WILL BE SHARED

during implementation.

๐Ÿ“ˆ Is the Funding for Early-Stage Startups Only?

The specific Femtech call states that it supports:

EARLY- AND GROWTH-STAGE COMPANIES

using frontier technology.

However, the Venture Fundโ€™s standard open application framework distinguishes between its early-stage and later growth-stage funding processes. Growth-stage Venture Fund funding ordinarily involves existing portfolio companies.

Applicants should therefore follow the eligibility questions in the specific Femtech application form, which explicitly welcomes early-stage and ready-to-deploy for-profit technology startups.

๐Ÿ“ What Information Is Required in the Application?

UNICEF Femtech Ventures 2026: Up to US$100,000 for Womenโ€™s Health Technology Startups ๐Ÿ’ก๐ŸŒ

The official application asks companies to provide information including:

๐Ÿข Company registration

๐Ÿ‘ฅ Core team members

๐Ÿ‘ฉ Women founders or co-founders

๐Ÿง‘ Youth leadership

๐ŸŒ Country of registration

๐Ÿ’ก Problem being addressed

๐Ÿ› ๏ธ Proposed technology solution

๐Ÿค– Technology being used

๐Ÿงช Prototype status

๐Ÿ“Š Prototype testing results

๐Ÿ’ป Repository

๐ŸŽฏ 12-month milestones

๐Ÿค Partners and advisers

๐Ÿ’ฐ Funding amount requested

๐Ÿ’ต Previous-year company revenue

and:

๐ŸŽฅ Pitch video.

๐Ÿ’ฐ How Much Should a Startup Request?

Applicants are asked to specify:

HOW MUCH FUNDING THEY ARE SEEKING.

The maximum is:

๐Ÿ’ต US$100,000.

A strong request should be tied directly to:

DEVELOPMENT MILESTONES

PRODUCT TESTING

PILOTING

ENGINEERING

SAFETY & PRIVACY

OPEN-SOURCE DEVELOPMENT

and:

SCALE PREPARATION.

๐Ÿ“ How to Apply for UNICEF Femtech Ventures

UNICEF Femtech Ventures 2026: Up to US$100,000 for Womenโ€™s Health Technology Startups ๐Ÿ’ก๐ŸŒ

2026

Step 1 โ€” Confirm Company Eligibility

Your company should be:

โœ… Private

โœ… For-profit

and:

โœ… Registered in a UNICEF programme country.

Step 2 โ€” Confirm You Have a Prototype

You should already have:

A FUNCTIONAL PRODUCT OR PROTOTYPE

that has undergone some initial testing.

Step 3 โ€” Select the Appropriate Funding Pillar

Choose the area your solution addresses:

๐Ÿฅ Pillar 1 โ€” Healthcare Access for Women and Girls

โ™€๏ธ Pillar 2 โ€” Informed, Safe and Accessible Reproductive Health

or:

๐Ÿง  Pillar 3 โ€” Mental Wellbeing, Safety and Protection.

Step 4 โ€” Prepare Your Repository

Make sure your:

GITHUB

GITLAB

or:

BITBUCKET

repository can be accessed by UNICEF.

Step 5 โ€” Explain Your Technology Clearly

Describe whether you use:

AI / DATA SCIENCE

AI + BLOCKCHAIN

BLOCKCHAIN

or:

ANOTHER FRONTIER TECHNOLOGY.

UNICEF Femtech Ventures 2026: Up to US$100,000 for Womenโ€™s Health Technology Startups ๐Ÿ’ก๐ŸŒ

Step 6 โ€” Document Prototype Results

Include evidence from:

PILOTS

USERS

TESTING

and:

PERFORMANCE DATA.

Step 7 โ€” Build a 12-Month Roadmap

Explain your planned:

TECHNICAL MILESTONES

DEPLOYMENT GOALS

VALIDATION

and:

SCALE OBJECTIVES.

Step 8 โ€” Record Your Pitch Video

Produce a video of no more than:

๐ŸŽฅ 2 MINUTES

showing:

THE REAL TEAM

and:

THE REAL WORKING SOLUTION.

Step 9 โ€” Complete the Application in English

All application materials must be submitted in:

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง ENGLISH.

Step 10 โ€” Submit Before the Deadline

Applications close on:

๐Ÿšจ 4 NOVEMBER 2026 AT 11:59 PM CET.

๐Ÿ“‹ Application Checklist

Before submitting, confirm:

โœ… Private For-Profit Company

Mandatory.

โœ… Registered in UNICEF Programme Country

Mandatory.

โœ… Working Prototype

Mandatory.

โœ… Open Source / Willing to Open Source

Mandatory.

โœ… Frontier Technology

Required.

โœ… Womenโ€™s / Girlsโ€™ Health or Wellbeing Focus

Required.

โœ… Repository

Mandatory.

โœ… Prototype Results

Required.

โœ… 12-Month Milestones

Required.

โœ… Funding Request

Required.

โœ… English Application

Required.

โœ… Pitch Video

Required.

โœ… Maximum Pitch Length

2 Minutes.

โœ… Actual Team in Video

Required.

โœ… Working Solution Demonstration

Required.

โœ… Women-Led Startup

Encouraged, not mandatory.

โœ… Founder Under 35

Encouraged, not mandatory.

โœ… Deadline

November 4, 2026 at 11:59 PM CET.

๐ŸŽฏ How to Strengthen Your Application

๐Ÿงช Show Evidence That the Prototype Works

UNICEF is not looking only for ideas.

Provide measurable evidence such as:

USERS TESTED

CLINICAL OR FIELD PILOTS

ACCURACY RATES

ENGAGEMENT

TIME SAVED

COST SAVINGS

or:

IMPROVED ACCESS.

๐ŸŒ Demonstrate Local Relevance

Explain the specific challenge in your:

COMMUNITY

COUNTRY

or:

HEALTH SYSTEM.

Femtech Ventures particularly values solutions built close to the problems they address.

๐Ÿš€ Show Potential to Scale

Explain how the solution could grow beyond one:

HOSPITAL

DISTRICT

or:

PILOT LOCATION.

๐Ÿ” Take Privacy Seriously

If your product handles:

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH DATA

GBV REPORTS

MENTAL HEALTH DATA

or:

CHILD DATA,

explain:

CONSENT

SECURITY

PRIVACY

and:

SAFEGUARDING

clearly.

๐Ÿ”“ Explain Your Open-Source Strategy

Do not simply tick:

โ€œWilling to open source.โ€

Explain:

WHAT COMPONENT WILL BE OPEN

WHEN IT WILL BE RELEASED

WHICH LICENCE YOU EXPECT TO USE

and:

HOW OTHERS CAN REUSE IT.

๐ŸŽฅ Make the Pitch Video Practical

Show:

THE ACTUAL FOUNDERS

THE ACTUAL PRODUCT

and:

THE PRODUCT WORKING.

Avoid an entirely animated marketing presentation because UNICEF explicitly wants to see the team and solution in action.

โš ๏ธ Common Application Mistakes

Avoid:

  • Applying as an individual
  • Applying as an NGO without an eligible company
  • Applying without a working prototype
  • Applying from a company not registered in an eligible programme country
  • Refusing the open-source requirement
  • Failing to provide a repository
  • Submitting only a concept without testing evidence
  • Failing to demonstrate benefits for women and girls
  • Ignoring privacy or safeguarding
  • Treating US$100,000 as guaranteed funding
  • Uploading an AI-generated pitch video instead of showing the real team
  • Submitting materials in a language other than English
  • Missing the November 4 deadline

โ“ Frequently Asked Questions

What is UNICEF Femtech Ventures 2026?

It is a UNICEF Venture Fund initiative investing in frontier technologies that improve the health, wellbeing and sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls in emerging markets.

How much funding is available?

๐Ÿ’ฐ UP TO US$100,000.

Is the funding equity-free?

โœ… YES.

UNICEF does not take financial equity in selected startups.

How long is the mentorship?

๐Ÿง  12 MONTHS.

UNICEF Femtech Ventures 2026: Up to US$100,000 for Womenโ€™s Health Technology Startups ๐Ÿ’ก๐ŸŒ

What technologies are eligible?

Examples include:

AI

MACHINE LEARNING

DATA SCIENCE

and:

BLOCKCHAIN.

Is a working prototype required?

โœ… YES.

Do applicants need to be open source?

The funded solution must already be open source or the startup must be willing to open-source it.

Can NGOs apply?

โŒ NOT DIRECTLY.

The applicant must be a private for-profit company.

Can individuals apply?

โŒ NO.

Is a university degree required?

โŒ NO.

The team is evaluated based on its ability to deliver the solution.

Are women founders required?

No, but women-led and women-founded companies are strongly encouraged.

Are young founders encouraged?

โœ… YES.

UNICEF specifically encourages founders and leaders under:

35 YEARS OLD.

Can African startups apply?

โœ… YES, provided the company is registered in an eligible UNICEF programme country.

Can Zimbabwean startups apply?

โœ… YES.

Zimbabwe is listed as a UNICEF programme country.

Is a pitch video required?

โœ… YES.

Maximum length:

2 MINUTES.

Can the pitch video use AI-generated avatars?

โŒ NO.

UNICEF says AI-generated avatars, synthetic voices or generated footage will not be assessed.

Is a code repository required?

โœ… YES.

The application says submissions without a valid accessible repository will not be considered.

What is the deadline?

๐Ÿšจ 4 NOVEMBER 2026 AT 11:59 PM CET.

๐Ÿš€ Final Thoughts

The UNICEF Femtech Ventures 2026 funding call offers technology startups in emerging markets an opportunity to secure:

๐Ÿ’ฐ UP TO US$100,000 IN EQUITY-FREE FUNDING

plus:

๐Ÿง  12 MONTHS OF MENTORSHIP

and:

๐ŸŒ ACCESS TO UNICEFโ€™S GLOBAL NETWORK.

The programme is particularly suitable for startups building technology around:

๐Ÿฅ WOMENโ€™S HEALTHCARE ACCESS

๐Ÿคฐ MATERNAL HEALTH

โ™€๏ธ SEXUAL & REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

๐Ÿง  MENTAL WELLBEING

๐Ÿšซ GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

UNICEF Femtech Ventures 2026: Up to US$100,000 for Womenโ€™s Health Technology Startups ๐Ÿ’ก๐ŸŒ

and:

๐Ÿ“ฑ DIGITAL SAFETY.

Applicants must be registered private companies in eligible UNICEF programme countries, have a:

๐Ÿงช FUNCTIONAL PROTOTYPE

and commit to:

๐Ÿ”“ OPEN-SOURCE PRINCIPLES.

Women-led companies and founders under 35 are especially encouraged to apply, although neither condition is mandatory.

For African entrepreneurs, including those in Zimbabwe, this is a particularly relevant opportunity: Zimbabwe is included on the Venture Fundโ€™s programme-country list, and UNICEF has already seen strong participation from African femtech founders.

Applications close on:

๐Ÿšจ 4 NOVEMBER 2026 AT 11:59 PM CET.

๐Ÿ“ฒ Join the Vacancy Bridge WhatsApp Channel

Get startup funding, UNICEF opportunities, grants, innovation calls, womenโ€™s health funding, fellowships and global opportunities through Vacancy Bridge.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Join here: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vakee9aHFxOyCIBPJA0o

APPLY NOW ON THIS OFFICIAL PAGE

๐Ÿ”‘ Key Details

Organisation: UNICEF
Programme: UNICEF Femtech Ventures
Funding Mechanism: UNICEF Venture Fund
Call: Second Annual Femtech Ventures Cohort
Funding: Up to US$100,000
Funding Type: Equity-Free
Mentorship: 12 Months
Eligible Entity: Private For-Profit Company
Geography: UNICEF Programme Countries
Prototype: Required
Open Source: Required or Commitment Required
Technologies: AI, Machine Learning, Data Science, Blockchain & Other Frontier Technologies
Pillar 1: Healthcare Access for Women and Girls
Pillar 2: Informed, Safe and Accessible Reproductive Health
Pillar 3: Mental Wellbeing, Safety and Protection
Women-Led Startups: Strongly Encouraged
Youth-Led Startups: Strongly Encouraged
Youth Definition: Under 35
Individuals: Not Eligible
NGOs / CSOs: Not Eligible as Primary Applicant
Degree: Not Required
Application Language: English
Repository: Mandatory
Pitch Video: Mandatory
Pitch Length: Up to 2 Minutes
Zimbabwe: Eligible Programme Country
Deadline: November 4, 2026 at 11:59 PM CET
Status: Applications Open

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