Financement FemTech : Suède et UNICEF lancent un appel – 15 octobre 2026

Contexte

FemTech innovators could access up to US$100,000 in funding, 12 months of technical mentorship and connections to UNICEF’s global network through a new Sweden and UNICEF initiative supporting technology-enabled solutions for girls and women.

Sweden and UNICEF FemTech Ventures have opened applications for their second annual cohort, inviting innovative companies developing technology-enabled solutions that can improve the health, wellbeing, and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of girls and women. The initiative is designed to support companies using frontier technologies to develop open-source solutions with potential for wider adoption and scale.

For selected companies, the opportunity combines financial support with technical mentorship and access to an international network, making it particularly relevant to startups working at the intersection of technology, women’s health and social impact.

Up to US$100,000 in Funding Available from Sweden and UNICEF FemTech Ventures

Selected companies can receive up to US$100,000 in funding to support the development and advancement of their solutions.

In addition to financial support, successful participants will receive 12 months of technical mentorship designed to help them strengthen their technologies and move their solutions closer to scale.

Participants will also gain access to UNICEF’s global network, potentially providing valuable opportunities for collaboration, visibility and engagement with organisations working on health and development challenges.

The programme is therefore aimed at more than simply providing startup funding. It seeks to help promising FemTech solutions develop further and reach communities where they can have meaningful impact.

What is UNICEF FemTech Ventures?

FemTech Ventures focuses on technology-driven innovation addressing challenges affecting girls and women.

The current cohort is particularly interested in companies developing open-source solutions using frontier technologies. Applicants working with technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain are particularly encouraged to apply.

Solutions may address different aspects of women’s health, wellbeing and sexual and reproductive health and rights, provided they demonstrate potential to create measurable impact.

AI and Blockchain Startups Encouraged

The programme places particular emphasis on frontier technologies that can help transform how solutions to women’s health challenges are developed and delivered.

Companies using artificial intelligence and blockchain are specifically encouraged to apply.

For founders developing innovative digital health platforms, data-driven tools or other technology-enabled solutions, the programme could provide an opportunity to move an existing prototype toward wider implementation.

However, the technology itself is not the only consideration. The programme is focused on solutions capable of addressing real challenges affecting girls and women and operating according to open-source principles.

Women-Led Startups and Young Founders Encouraged

The call particularly encourages applications from women-led startups and young founders under the age of 35.

This focus creates an opportunity for emerging entrepreneurs developing solutions from their own communities and experiences to access international support.

Women-led companies working in digital health, reproductive health, healthcare technology, AI, data systems and related areas may find the opportunity especially relevant.

Why This Opportunity Matters

Millions of girls and women continue to face barriers to quality healthcare, sexual and reproductive health information and services, and other forms of support.

Technology can help address some of these gaps, particularly when solutions are designed around the realities of underserved communities.

By combining funding, technical mentorship, global connections and scale-oriented support, the Sweden and UNICEF initiative seeks to help promising FemTech innovations move closer to real-world impact.

For startups that already have a functional prototype, the programme could provide an important opportunity to strengthen their technology and explore pathways for broader adoption.

Missions et responsabilités

• Développer des solutions technologiques favorisant l’amélioration de la santé, du bien-être et de la santé et des droits sexuels et reproductifs (SDSR) des filles et des femmes.
• Créer des solutions open-source utilisant des technologies de pointe (notamment l’intelligence artificielle et la blockchain).
• Faire progresser les solutions du stade de prototype vers une mise en œuvre et une adoption plus larges (passage à l’échelle).
• Travailler conformément aux principes et aux licences open-source.

Profil recherché

• Être une entreprise (et non des candidats individuels) enregistrée dans un pays de programme de l’UNICEF.
• Posséder un prototype fonctionnel de la technologie ou de la solution proposée.
• Être engagé envers les licences et les principes open-source.
• Développer une solution technologique répondant aux défis de santé, de bien-être ou de SDSR touchant les filles et les femmes.
• Démontrer un potentiel de passage à l’échelle de la solution.
• Startups dirigées par des femmes et jeunes fondateurs de moins de 35 ans particulièrement encouragés.
• Utilisation de technologies de pointe (IA, blockchain) vivement encouragée.

Conditions et avantages

• Jusqu’à 100 000 USD de financement pour soutenir l’innovation et le développement.
• 12 mois de mentorat technique pour renforcer les technologies et aider au passage à l’échelle.
• Accès au réseau mondial de l’UNICEF pour des opportunités de collaboration et de visibilité.
• Soutien pour faire progresser l’innovation au-delà du stade du prototype vers un impact réel.

Dossier de candidature

• Une entreprise enregistrée dans un pays de programme de l’UNICEF.
• Un prototype fonctionnel existant.
• Un engagement envers les licences et les principes open-source.
• Une démonstration de la contribution de la technologie à la santé, au bien-être ou aux SDSR des filles et des femmes.
• Réponses aux questions du formulaire de candidature officiel.

Comment postuler

Les entreprises FemTech intéressées doivent suivre le processus de candidature officiel annoncé par Sweden et UNICEF FemTech Ventures. L’opportunité s’adresse aux structures disposant d’un prototype fonctionnel existant. Les candidats doivent vérifier la date limite actuelle et toutes les conditions du programme directement auprès de la source officielle avant de soumettre leur dossier.

Date limite : Non spécifiée dans les informations fournies (consulter la page de candidature officielle Sweden/UNICEF FemTech Ventures pour les mises à jour).

Référence : Sweden and UNICEF FemTech Ventures – Second Annual Cohort