UNICEF StartUp Lab is an accelerator programme for impactful businesses working to advance the SDGs for children and young people. The programme is led by UNICEF in Ghana, supported by KOICA and implemented by MEST Africa.
The StartUp Lab aims to enhance the business, technological, and communication skills of participating entrepreneurs, and advise on the product-problem fit of their social impact, tech-driven solutions. It delivers a six-month curriculum to startups through intensive boot camps in Accra, known as Work Weeks, as well as incubation hosted at partner hubs, mentorship, and virtual learning sessions.
Looking for fully-funded opportunities, install the Youth Opportunities Android or iOS App here.
UNICEF StartUp Lab provides a unique product by integrating business incubation and wide-reaching technical expertise and systems knowledge in the social sector, amplified by the reach of UNICEF’s and KOICA’s partnerships. While participating in the programme you will interact with UNICEF and KOICA programme experts, and learn about supporting tools available from United Nations agencies.
By participating in the UNICEF StartUp Lab you ensure that your impact-focused business is aligned with existing development needs and gain access to networks that can support your work.
The UNICEF StartUp Lab is supported under the “KOICA-UNICEF Accelerating Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Ghana Project”.
Over the course of 6-months, participating startups will be taken through the following key modules:
- Month 1 Diligence – Running diligence on teams and businesses
- Month 2 Product – Scoping business and finding key solutions
- Month 3 Business – Problem scoping
- Month 4 Unit Economics – Revenue and Finance
- Month 5 Communications – Preparations for investor-style pitches
- Month 6 Investor Readiness – Understanding how to prepare your business for funding
The KOICA-UNICEF “Accelerating Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Ghana Project” contributes to the efforts of
the Government of Ghana to support young entrepreneurs and make further progress towards the SDG Agenda.
Through this project, KOICA will provide funding to the UNICEF StartUp Lab programme in the years 2022-2026.
The project is expected to increase the knowledge and capacity of social impact startups to develop tech-driven
solutions that can succeed in the marketplace. UNICEF and KOICA will resource and empower startups that
address social and economic deprivations and improve efficiencies in the social sectors, especially in the areas
affecting youth.
The initiative will support entrepreneurship and innovation in Ghana, especially for ICT-enabled solutions with
significant societal impact potential, in line with the digitalization efforts of the Government of Ghana. The
initiative will also link to the GK-IMPACT, the new Ghana-Korea Centre of Excellence for ICT-based Startups and
Asian Research is to be constructed and inaugurated at the premises of the University of Ghana by 2026.
Benefits
- Funding: Each selected startup receives up to GHS 25,000
of prototyping funding - Investment: Networking and investment opportunities for graduates, including
from UNICEF Venture Fund - Partnerships: Opportunity to work with KOICA and UNICEF
- Growth: Intense, hands-on business acceleration
- Knowledge: Access to UNICEF, KOICA, and MEST experts
- Resources: Technology perks
- Impact: Opportunity to refine your product-social impact fit, and become a
UN-recognized Digital Public Good
Additional benefits you’ll get:
- Up to GHS25,000 of Prototyping Funding
- Free AWS credits
- Developers’ support
- Being featured on UNICEF blogs and websites
- Opportunity to present the product at UN events
- Dedicated support to apply for a Digital Public Good status
- Dedicated support to apply for the $100K equity-free UNICEF Venture Fund funding
In addition, you will attend sessions and webinars on
- How to become an UN-recognized Digital Public Good
- UN System support tools for tech-driven entrepreneurs
- Interacting with government policymakers and why it’s important
Eligibilities
- Your startup has been operational for 1+ year
- Your startup is a registered business in Ghana (no NGOs, foundations, or individuals)
- Your startup has technology as the core enabler of the business
- Your startup has a business model with a social impact that addresses at least one of the Sustainable Development Goals
- Open-source solutions or startups that are willing to open-source their solutions are particularly encouraged to apply
- Startups with female founders/co-founders are encouraged to apply
- The program is designed to include startups from all regions of
Ghana
Application Process
- Go to the application through the official site
- Fill out all the necessary information carefully.
Looking for fully-funded opportunities, install the Youth Opportunities Android or iOS App here.
Application Deadline: October 21, 2022
Application ClosedOfficial link
