The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Ghana is now accepting applications for the next group of the UNICEF StartUp Lab accelerator program. This is being done in partnership with the Korea International Cooperation Agency and MEST Africa.
UNICEF’s StartUp Lab helps businesses in Ghana that use technology to make a difference and work to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for children and young people.
Benefits for participating startups
There is cash available for each participating startup of up to GHS25,000 for prototyping.
People who participate in the StartUp Lab can improve their business, technology, and communication skills. They will also be able to get feedback on how well their social impact and technology-driven solutions fit the problem they are trying to solve.
It gives entrepreneurs a six-month curriculum that includes “Work Weeks,” which are intensive boot camps in Accra, as well as incubation at partner hubs, mentorship, and virtual learning sessions.
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The UNICEF StartUp Lab once again delivers a one-of-a-kind product by combining company incubation with extensive technical experience and systems understanding in the social sector. This is made possible by the reach of UNICEF’s and KOICA’s relationships.
Young people who participate in the program will be able to talk to program specialists from UNICEF and KOICA and learn about how UN organizations can help.
Participants not only get access to networks that can help them with their work, but they also get the chance to see if the impact-focused business they run meets the needs of the development community right now.
Under the auspices of the KOICA-UNICEF Accelerating Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Ghana Project, the UNICEF StartUp Lab has received funding and assistance. MEST Africa is in charge of carrying it out.
In addition to financial and priceless technical support from UNICEF, KOICA, and MEST experts, participants stand a chance to gain free AWS credits; support from developers; to be featured on UNICEF blogs and websites; an opportunity to present products at UN events; dedicated support to apply for a Digital Public Good status; and dedicated support to apply for the $100,000 equity-free UNICEF Venture Fund funding. All of these benefits are on top of the money and invaluable technical help that UNICEF gives to participants.
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Qualifications for UNICEF Startup Lab applications
Before a new business can be considered for the program, it must meet all of the following requirements:
- The business must have been in existence for at least a year.
- Requires the company to be Ghanaian-registered (no NGOs, foundations, or individuals).
- The use of technology as the primary driver of the business is required.
- It must have an open-source solution and a business model that has a social impact that meets at least one of the Sustainable Development Goals.
According to the program’s brochure, firms that are willing to make their solutions open-source and startups with female founders or co-founders are especially encouraged to apply.
It was also said that the program’s goal is to include new businesses from all of Ghana’s regions.
However, the actual onboarding of qualifying companies takes place in December, and the program will come to an end between January and June of 2023. The application period will stay open until October 21, 2022.
interested applicants for any startups can apply Here