About this opportunity
The UNICEF Office of Innovation is running the second annual call for Femtech Ventures, its initiative that funds companies working on the health and protection of girls and women. Applications close on 4 November 2026, printed on the call page as "
Application timeline
4 November 2026". What is on offer is capital plus capability.
Selected companies receive up to US$100,000 in funding, twelve months of technical mentorship, and access to UNICEF global network to put their solutions on pathways to scale. Winners join the Femtech Ventures portfolio, which already holds the 11 companies from eight countries across Africa and Asia funded in the first round.
Femtech Ventures is described as a five year initiative running from 2025 to 2030, funded with support from the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the GSR Foundation and the Temasek Foundation. That length matters when you are deciding whether to restructure your roadmap around the funding.
The call is addressed to early and growth stage companies in emerging markets that are building open source solutions with frontier technologies such as AI and blockchain. The problem areas are specific: sexual and reproductive health and rights, healthcare access, and the mental well being, safety and protection of girls and women.
The filter that stops the most applicants is the product stage. Companies must be building solutions close to the challenges they address, must already have a functional prototype, and must be committed to open source licensing and principles.
The post adds that women led startups are strongly encouraged to apply. Because the call is written for emerging markets, with the first round portfolio drawn from eight countries across Africa and Asia, Nigerian and other African companies sit inside the eligible audience.
What you receive
- Up to US$100,000 in funding
- Twelve months of technical mentorship
- Access to UNICEF global network to put solutions on pathways to scale
- A place in the Femtech Ventures portfolio alongside the 11 companies funded in the first round
- Backed by a five year initiative running 2025 to 2030, funded with support from the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the GSR Foundation and the Temasek Foundation
Who can apply
- Early and growth stage companies in emerging markets
- Building open source solutions using frontier technologies such as AI and blockchain
- Working on sexual and reproductive health and rights, healthcare access, or the mental well being, safety and protection of girls and women
- Building solutions close to the challenges they address
- A functional prototype already in place
- Committed to open source licensing and principles
- Women led startups are strongly encouraged to apply
Who should not apply
- Idea stage teams without a functional prototype do not meet the stated requirement
- Companies not committed to open source licensing fall outside the call
- Solutions outside the stated problem areas of sexual and reproductive health and rights, healthcare access, and the well being, safety and protection of girls and women are not the target
How to apply
- Open the UNICEF Office of Innovation Femtech Ventures call page
- Confirm your company works in one of the stated problem areas and already has a functional prototype
- Prepare the open source position for your solution, since the call requires commitment to open source licensing and principles
- Submit through the application route on the call page before 4 November 2026
Sources and verification
Related opportunities
- WomanKind Creative Grant 2027 For Women’s Health Startups, US$15,000 In Design Support
The WomanKind Creative Grant gives one women’s health startup professional branding and design services worth US$15,000, delivered free as a six week design partnership beginning in mid January 2027. WomanKind Alliance is a nonprofit supporting companies building solutions in women’s health, and this edition is sponsored by creative agency Alfa Charlie. Applications from companies worldwide, including founders based in Africa, are open now and close on 1 November 2026.
Questions applicants ask
Does the solution have to be open source?
Yes. The call page lists a commitment to open source licensing and principles among the requirements, alongside building with frontier technologies such as AI and blockchain.
Can we apply with an idea only?
No. The stated requirement is a functional prototype, so idea stage companies do not meet the criteria on the call page.
Is this only for women led companies?
No. The call states that women led startups are strongly encouraged to apply, while the eligibility criteria are written around company stage, technology and problem area.
How much funding is available?
Selected companies receive up to US$100,000 in funding plus twelve months of technical mentorship and access to the UNICEF global network.
Important disclaimer
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