BACKGROUND

Africa has the potential to become a startup superpower in the technology sector. However, the startup ecosystem in Ghana has not been very conducive for the survival and expansion of social impact startups initiated by young generations.

ABOUT THE INITIATIVE

The UNICEF Startup Lab aims to actively engage young startups in the development of innovative, open-source, market-driven products and solutions that help address complex problems impacting the well-being of children and young people, especially the most vulnerable.

PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

Accelerator Program

A six-month program empowering entrepreneurs dedicated to social impact and tech-driven solutions. Led by UNICEF in Ghana, supported by KOICA, and implemented by MEST Africa.

Benefits

Participants benefit from aligning their impact-focused business with existing development needs and gain access to networks that can support their work.

Integration

The program integrates business incubation and wide-reaching technical expertise and systems knowledge in the social sector, amplified by the reach and network of UNICEF’s partnerships.

Collaboration

Startups can connect and collaborate with UNICEF programs including Health & Nutrition, Education, WASH, and Social Policy & Protection.

HOW WILL YOU BENEFIT?

Growth

Intensive, hands-on business acceleration.

Knowledge

Access to UNICEF Programme Experts.

Partnerships

Linkages with private & Government.

Investment

Networking and investment opportunities.

Resources

Access to tech & knowledge perks.

Digital Public Good

Opportunity to become UN certified.

Funding

Access to a strong USL community.

Alumni Network

Access to a strong USL community.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

If your startup/business meets the following criteria, you should apply:

1

Have a solution aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

2

Launched a product or currently have a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

3

Ready to scale your product in Ghana and beyond

4

Your startup has been operational for 1+ year

5

Technology is a core enabler of the business

6

Open-source solutions, or startups willing to open-source their solutions, are particularly encouraged

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

The UNICEF Startup Lab is designed to provide tutelage and experiences that help participating startups accelerate their growth, acquire entrepreneurial competencies, and tap into relevant communities and networks.

Venture Building Modules: Six modules over the course of the program, organized into Work Weeks and Key Weeks.

Work Week Expert Sessions: Thematic focus led by subject matter experts.

Coaching Sessions: One-hour coaching sessions per founder per month around vision building, motivation, leadership and self-regulation skills.

READY TO JOIN THE UNICEF STARTUP LAB?

The UNICEF Startup Lab empowers young entrepreneurs to create a lasting positive impact on children and young people. If you’re a passionate social innovator with a scalable solution, we encourage you to register with us

REGISTER NOW

TIMELINES

FAQs

What is the time commitment for the program?

Participants are expected to attend all bootcamp Work Weeks. Bootcamps take place in Accra in the first week of each month from Monday – Friday. Participants on returning to their bases of operation after the Work Week spend between 5 – 10 hours participating in virtual sessions and field work (where applicable) for the three subsequent weeks in any given month, known as Key Weeks

Will the program be virtual or in person?

Work Weeks (first week of every month) are in-person and Key Weeks (remaining 3 weeks of each month) are virtual.

Who covers the costs of Work Weeks in Accra?

UNICEF StartUp Lab covers the costs of transportation and accommodation for the Accra Work Weeks.

Does every founder need to participate in the program?

Every founder is expected to participate in the virtual onboarding in March 2024 and the first Work Week in April 2024. Other team members may represent the participating startup in subsequent modules as it relates to their role within the startup. e.g. CTO at Product module, CFO at Unit Economics module

How many companies will be selected for the program?

25 startups will be admitted into this cohort of the program.

What is meant by "prototyping funding''?

Prototyping funding is used to support startups with the development of their product. The process involves testing new ideas and developing them in an iterative approach. Sometimes prototyping funding is used to simply accelerate the development of your product

Will companies receive the prototyping funding during or after the program?

Companies will receive prototyping funding during the program so as to maximize the combination of financial and technical assistance provided in the program