UNICEF Venture Fund Launches $100K Equity-Free Funding For Blockchain and Tech Startups

UNICEF Venture fund has launched $100K equity-free funding to help startups with progressive and innovative tech solutions that can promote easy access to healthcare services and ensure the socio-economic participation of women and girls.

The UNICEF Venture Fund is a program pioneered by UNICEF to invest in startups developing cutting-edge tech solutions that benefit children and youth.

The application is open to all startups in low- and middle-income environments, however, women-led and young-led (under the age of 35) startups would be prioritized.

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS [DEADLINE: MAY 8 2025]| UNICEF Venture Fund Offering $100K in Equity-Free Funding for Blockchain & Frontier Tech Startups

Are you tokenizing health access, building AI-driven diagnostics, or leveraging #blockchain? https://t.co/PkSe59eVal @UNICEFinnovate pic.twitter.com/XFaR8QqYyy

— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) April 7, 2025

In addition, the organizers stated that they are especially seeking applications from registered companies in a UNICEF programme country that have functional prototypes and are also committed to Open Source licensing and principles.

The fund aims to champion the participation of tech innovators who are short of funds without incurring any debt while also deploying technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), and data science to improve health outcomes and economic well-being, including access to essential services for women/girls.

Moreover, the deadline for the application is May 8, 2025.

UNICEF Venture Fund Aims to Promote Women’s Affairs and Technological Advancement for All

Furthermore, the program sees that technology is advancing at a rapid pace that may exacerbate inequalities. Technological solutions are available but not accessible to everyone—either by design that doesn’t consider diverse needs or licensing requirements that undermine innovation.

In fact, a significant percentage of women remain unbaked and also don’t have access to education. Including an insignificant budget allocated to childbirth research.

“31% of women worldwide are not in education, employment, or training. 740 million women in developing economies remain unbanked, making up 55% of the total unbanked adult population.  Only 2% of global medical research funding is allocated to pregnancy, childbirth, and female reproductive health. Over 21 million adolescent girls in low- and middle-income countries become pregnant each year.”

UNICEF

Similarly, many tech companies with funds to execute innovations, including the giant ones, are located in the United States of America and Europe.

Additionally, 75% of Femtechs, a term for female technology that is designed to cater for women’s health and well-being, are currently based in the U.S. and Europe.

So, the UNICEF Venture Fund aims to address the deficit in the industry strategically to provide accessibility for all vulnerable and marginalized individuals, specifically women and children.

Africa Seeks More Technological Advancements and Blockchain Participation

Recently, Quidax partnered with Tether to boost crypto and blockchain education in Nigeria and Ghana. The movement seeks to let Africans have significant participation in digital assets.

Likewise, Adeniyi Abiodun, Mysten Labs co-founder, and his wife launched a $1.3M endowment fund to train Nigerian software engineers in AI and blockchain to address high interest rates and foster tech talent in Africa.

Different partnerships have been facilitated by African tech companies with giant tech companies for the betterment of the African continent.