UNICEF Funding of $100,000 for Artificial Intelligence Startups

UNICEF Femtech Ventures is accepting applications for startup funding of up to US$100,000 for companies building open-source frontier technology solutions for the health, wellbeing, and sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and women. The call is aimed at companies in emerging markets, and the application deadline is 4 November 2026.

About the UNICEF Femtech Ventures Funding Call

Femtech Ventures is a five-year initiative (2025-2030) of the UNICEF Venture Fund. This is the second annual call, selecting a new cohort to join a portfolio that started with 11 companies from eight countries in Africa and Asia. Selected companies receive up to US$100,000 in funding, 12 months of technical mentorship and access to UNICEF's global network, including its relationships with governments, to help their solutions move toward scale.

The programme supports early- and growth-stage companies using frontier technologies such as generative and agentic AI, machine learning, blockchain and data science. It has a particular interest in solutions that are ready to deploy in low-resource or emergency settings. Safety-by-design is a condition of investment, so companies are supported to consider data privacy, consent architecture and user risk from the start.

The Three Pillars

• Pillar 1: Healthcare access for women and girls. Point-of-care support tools with automated interpretation of data or imagery, affordable screening tools for conditions such as anaemia, haemoglobinopathies, ferritin status and thyroid function, platforms linking screening, referral and follow-up, continuity-of-care platforms from conception through the first 1,000 days, and demand forecasting and supply planning tools.
• Pillar 2: Informed, safe and accessible reproductive health. AI-powered platforms offering reproductive health information and counselling in underserved languages, community health worker platforms, HPV detection and screening applications, tech-enabled access to finance for reproductive healthcare, and consent- and privacy-preserving data solutions.
• Pillar 3: Mental wellbeing, safety and protection. Digital mental health tools, including those that integrate maternal mental health screening into systems such as DHIS2, decision-support tools for community health workers, AI-enabled platforms for early detection of gender-based violence, online safety tools against digital abuse and harassment, and tools that train frontline workers to respond to mental health needs.

Who Should Apply

The call suits founders of startups in emerging markets who already have a functional prototype and are committed to open-source licensing. Women-led startups and young founders under 35 are strongly encouraged to apply. If you are exploring other funding options, browse more grants and funding opportunities, see current AI opportunities, or check opportunities closing soon.

Key Highlights

• Funding: up to US$100,000 per company, described as equity-free funding.
• Mentorship: 12 months of technical support.
• Initiative period: 2025-2030, second annual cohort.
• Location requirement: company registered in a UNICEF programme country.
• Deadline: 4 November 2026.