UNICEF Venture Fund 2026 for frontier climate tech for children’s health (US$100,000 in equity-free funding)

Application Deadline

Application Deadline: 17 May 2026

Introduction

Applications are now open for the UNICEF Venture Fund. The fund calls on startups developing frontier tech solutions for children at the intersection of climate and health to join its Climate Ventures cohort. The fund invests in open-source frontier technology solutions from emerging markets. For this call for applications, proposals are sought from climate-focused startups developing open-source frontier technology solutions that have the potential to create radical change for children.

The Challenge

• Climate shocks are intensifying existing vulnerabilities. Despite being among the most affected, children remain underrepresented in the design of climate technologies intended to address these challenges.

The Need

• By prioritizing innovations that are locally adaptable, data-driven and child-centred, Climate Ventures will help shift climate technology toward equitable impact for this and coming generations. At its core is a commitment to strengthen the resilience of systems that safeguard children’s wellbeing.

Focus Areas

• Area 1: Strategic planning
• Area 2: Early warning, early action
• Area 3: Healthcare readiness
• Area 4: Point-of-care support

Eligibility Criteria

UNICEF is looking to provide investment-style funding to early-stage technology startups. Only entities that fulfill these mandatory requirements will be considered eligible:

• Registered as a private company at the time of the Innovation Fund award (projected: 3 months from submission of EOI)
• A private company registered in a UNICEF programme country
• Working on open source technology solutions (or willing to be open source) under the following licenses or their equivalent:
  • For software, a GNU General Public license, MIT or BSD
  • For hardware, a CERN, MIT or TAPR open license
  • For design or content, a CC-BY license
• An existing prototype of the open source solution with promising results from initial pilots
• Solution has the potential to positively impact the lives of the most vulnerable children
• Generating publicly exposed real-time data that is measurable
• UNICEF’s Innovation Principles

Benefits

• The UNICEF Venture Fund is offering up to US$100,000 in equity-free funding for early-stage and ready-to-deploy technologies including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and blockchain.