The UNICEF StartUp Lab, which was hosted by MEST Africa in 2021, provides a unique service by integrating business incubation and wide-reaching technical expertise and systems knowledge in the social sector, amplified by the reach of UNICEF’s partnerships. UNICEF has also provided startups from the 2021 Cohort to support mechanisms such as the UNICEF Venture Fund and the Digital Public Goods Alliance, as well as their network of partners.

The curriculum design and training for the UNICEF StartUp Lab has been managed by MEST Africa, with support from technology hubs around Ghana.

Graduating startups of the 2021 cohort are:

AFRICA GOODNEST: e-commerce platform to discover and buy quality products crafted by local African talent and entrepreneurs.

APPCYCLERS: waste management company providing e-waste education, collection, recycling, and upcycling solutions.

ASA NWURA: waste management company promoting digitization of a circular economy of municipal solid waste, using an incentive-based approach.

BACE TECHNOLOGIES: digital identity software company enabling businesses to optimize their identity management platforms and KYC process using technologies such as facial recognition and AI.

BISA: healthcare platform providing access to medical advice and healthcare information to the general public through mobile devices.

COLIBA: waste management company leveraging mobile and SMS technology to make recycling services accessible to all.

DEXT: technology-driven educational company developing, manufacturing and deploying solutions for the effective learning of STEM, including the award-winning ‘Science Set’.

DIGITAL HEALTH ACCESS: health education and consultation platform connecting users to a network of health professionals, service providers and impact-driven healthcare interventions.

ECAMPUS: SaaS education technology solution using AI to connect teachers and students, and to identify learners’ strengths and weaknesses.

GEOHEBETH LINES: social enterprise using social entrepreneurship, advocacy and local resources to create environmentally sustainable livelihood for the rural youth.

LEAP:  healthcare e-learning platform providing certified educational programs from globally recognized universities and institutions to hundreds of students looking for highly demanded job-ready skills.

MASSIRA: female centered support community providing sexual, reproductive and mental health services, committed to connecting, educating and empowering women.

MOCHCARE: health tech startup working on digitizing the maternal & child health record book.

NAA SIKA: electronic micro bank and savings platform that helps users save any amount for their future, built using intuitive tech.

PREMIER WASTE SERVICES: waste management company providing low-cost plastic waste collection, recycling and recovery infrastructure.

SCRIBBLE WORKS: educational publishing house developing tech-enabled solutions for schools, including tools based on Google Forms.

SNOOCODE: geolocalization company with its own digital addressing system allowing the receiver to navigate to an exact location using any standard map on their mobile phone.

TALENTS IN AFRICA: edu-tech company with a platform using test tools to help youth assess their skill levels, provide resources to up-skill for roles they seek and then match them to job opportunities.

TRIMESTER SAVE: financial inclusion company developing tech-enabled hybrid health & finance solution focused on women in the reproductive ages, to empower all mothers.

TROTRO DIARIES: community platform of commuters and travelers sharing their daily commuting or traveling experiences, also used to disseminate public service information and messaging.

WINGS TO FLY: rural poverty alleviation company utilizing local raw materials and agricultural waste to produce standard soaps and household chemicals, employing marginalised rural women.

WIREDTUTOR: edu-tech company developing a platform that connects students, tutors and institutions for the purpose of learning through the web and a mobile application. 

The demo day will be hosted live on Zoom. Register to attend HERE.