If you are building technology that makes life better for girls and women, UNICEF wants to hear from you. The UNICEF Femtech Ventures call for 2026 is open, and the top prize is up to US$100,000 in funding.
This is real venture-style money from one of the most recognised names in global development. It is aimed at startups using tools like AI, machine learning, blockchain and data science to tackle women’s health problems.
About the Programme
Femtech Ventures sits inside the UNICEF Venture Fund. It is a five-year initiative running from 2025 to 2030, built to invest in locally developed frontier technology for girls’ and women’s health, wellbeing, and sexual and reproductive health and rights.
This is the second annual cohort call. The first cohort drew companies from eight countries across Africa and Asia, so the fund clearly looks beyond the usual startup hubs.
Benefits
Selected companies join the Femtech Ventures portfolio and can receive up to US$100,000. At today’s rates, that is a very large injection for a Nigerian early-stage company still running on savings and small pilots.
Money is only part of it. You also get 12 months of technical mentorship and access to UNICEF’s global network, including its relationships with governments. For a health product that needs ministry buy-in to scale, that door can matter more than the cheque.
Eligibility Criteria
- Your company is registered in a UNICEF programme country (Nigeria is one, but confirm on the official guidelines).
- You have a functional prototype.
- You use frontier technology such as AI, machine learning, blockchain or data science.
- You commit to open-source licensing and principles.
- You are an early- or growth-stage company in an emerging market.
- Women-led startups and founders under 35 are strongly encouraged to apply.
Documents Needed to Apply
UNICEF does not publish a document checklist on the call page. Applications go through an online form, so expect to describe your product, your team, your traction and your open-source plan.
- CAC registration documents proving your company is registered in Nigeria
- A short description of your working prototype, with screenshots or a demo link
- Your team profile and the problem you solve
- A clear plan for how the money will be used
Funders at this level will want to see a proper plan behind the ask. If yours is still a rough outline, our business plan service can turn it into a document that holds up.
Key Details at a Glance
Programme: UNICEF Femtech Ventures 2026
Organizer: UNICEF Venture Fund
Eligible location: Companies registered in UNICEF programme countries, including Nigeria
Funding available: Up to US$100,000, plus 12 months of technical mentorship
Application deadline: 4 November 2026, 11:59 PM CET
How to Apply
- Read the full call on the UNICEF Femtech call page and check that your country is on the programme country list.
- Get your prototype, team details and open-source commitment ready.
- Submit your entry on the official application form.
The deadline is 11:59 PM Central European Time, which is one hour behind Nigeria on the same date, so you effectively have until 10:59 PM in Lagos. Do not wait for the last evening, because Nigerian internet has a way of choosing that night to misbehave.
Final Thoughts
Women’s health tech in Nigeria is wide open, from maternal care to fertility tracking to access to information. If you already have a working prototype, this call is worth the effort.
Looking for more funding? See our list of latest opportunities for the month. And if your startup is not yet formally registered, our business registration service can get you CAC-ready.