UNICEF's Startup Innovation Program Accepts 25 New Entrepreneurial Endeavors for its 2025 Group
In a significant stride towards fostering innovation and social impact, the UNICEF StartUp Lab accelerator program recently welcomed 25 tech-enabled startups into its 5th cohort in Accra, Ghana. This program, established in 2019 as part of the "KOICA-UNICEF Accelerating Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Ghana" project, is a six-month journey where startups engage with UNICEF technical specialists and industry experts to refine products and services, strengthen their business models, and deepen their understanding of market dynamics.
These startups are addressing critical challenges in areas such as education, health, nutrition, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), climate action, financial inclusion, and youth employment. Innovative solutions range from STEAM and robotics education for children, AI-enabled malnutrition detection, plastic waste recycling for building materials, to literacy improvement through interactive tools.
The engagement of the 25 startups concluded a rigorous nine-week sourcing campaign, prioritizing gender diversity and regional inclusion. The diverse group includes Arnson Innovate, Booksie, Green Ecoworks, NutriScan, Washking, ERA AXIS, MingoBlox, Greenearth Agro, Crafted Climate, Farmitecture, Mckingtorch Africa, Edu3Dcation Ghana, AutoEase Wheelchairs, Agricom Assurance, Sol Research Centre, iKolilu, Verte Tower, QKnow EdTech, Enabled Talent, LocaleNLP, DrDoGood, Organized Khaos Studios, Speso Technologies, TTYM Global, and Tellmonifa.
The program structure includes six structured venture-building modules covering diligence, product development, business modelling, finance and unit economics, marketing and communications, and investor readiness. Startups will also benefit from MEST's Investment Readiness Program, which provides hands-on support to prepare investor data rooms, refine pitch decks, and shortlist aligned investors from a curated database of over 100 global funders.
Workshops and direct engagements with investors will further expose founders to various investment types and strategies. Some hubs will be located outside Accra to promote geographic inclusivity. The program plays a key role in accelerating the discovery and adoption of Digital Public Goods (DPGs) as open-source innovations for sustainable development.
Mr. Shinyoung Pyeon, Senior Deputy Country Director of KOICA, expressed his belief in the transformative power of young people to shape the future. He strongly supports a platform that not only nurtures businesses but also change-makers for social impact. Fiachra McAsey, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Ghana, stated pride in welcoming the 5th cohort of the UNICEF StartUp Lab accelerator, highlighting the innovation and drive of Ghana's young entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Each startup will receive an equity-free prototype grant amounting to US$5,000, with an additional US$10,000 awarded to three standout ventures. The program aims to connect the participating startups to the best technical experts in their fields, to industry leaders, and to potential investors to help strengthen their business, refine their products and services, and deepen their understanding of the program context so that they can extend their reach and maximize their impact for children and young people.
- The startups within the UNICEF StartUp Lab program, addressing diverse challenges in areas such as health, education, and finance, are developing innovative solutions that range from AI-enabled malnutrition detection to plastic waste recycling for building materials, aiming to extend their reach and maximize their impact for children and young people.
- The 25 tech-enabled startups in the UNICEF StartUp Lab's 5th cohort, including Arnson Innovate, Booksie, Green Ecoworks, NutriScan, and Washking, are participating in a six-month journey to refine their products and services, strengthen their business models, and deepen their understanding of market dynamics, with a focus on social impact in areas like health-and-wellness, education, and entrepreneurship.
- As part of the UNICEF StartUp Lab accelerator program, the startups will engage with UNICEF technical specialists and industry experts, as well as benefit from workshops, direct engagements with investors, and MEST's Investment Readiness Program, helping them refine investor data rooms, pitch decks, and explore various investment strategies in the fields of technology, business, and finance.
