Finland and UNICEF Launch Global Investment Opportunity for Fem Tech Solutions in Emerging Economies

The Embassy of Finland in New Delhi and UNICEF have launched a global call for applications from tech startups in low- and middle-income countries developing fem tech solutions. The UNICEF Venture Fund will invest in innovative startups focused on improving the health, wellness, and socio-economic participation of women and girls. The initiative encourages early-stage tech startups utilizing advanced technologies like AI and blockchain. Selected startups will receive grant funding and one year of mentoring.

Finland, a founding partner of the UNICEF Venture Fund, hosted the launch event. The fund aims to address barriers faced by women and girls globally, including in healthcare, education, employment, and financial services. The initiative is part of a broader effort to invest in tech solutions tailored to emerging economies. Partners like the Ethereum Foundation and Sida will support the fund’s goals. The call for applications closes on May 8, 2025. The UNICEF Venture Fund has a decade-long history of investing in tech solutions for children and communities. The goal is to scale its impact and reach more people by 2030.

Finland and UNICEF Launch Global Investment Opportunity for Fem Tech Solutions in Emerging Economies

On March 7, 2025, the Embassy of Finland in New Delhi, in partnership with UNICEF, launched a global call for applications from tech startups in low- and middle-income countries that are developing fem tech solutions. Fem tech refers to technology focused on enhancing the health, wellness, and socio-economic participation of women and girls. The UNICEF Venture Fund will provide grant funding and one year of mentorship to selected startups. The initiative encourages early-stage tech startups creating open-source solutions using advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and blockchain. Interested startups can apply through unicef.link/FemTechCall before May 8, 2025.

Finland, as a founding partner of the UNICEF Venture Fund, hosted an event in New Delhi to kick off the Fund’s fem tech initiative, which aims to invest in innovative solutions from 2025 to 2030. Ambassador Kimmo Lähdevirta of Finland emphasized the importance of investing in fem tech to unlock the socio-economic potential of women and girls, especially in emerging economies like India.

The initiative comes at a time when women and girls globally face systemic barriers in areas such as healthcare, education, employment, and financial services. The Fund aims to address these issues by identifying and scaling technological solutions that meet the needs of women and girls in developing economies. UNICEF Representative Cynthia McCaffrey highlighted the transformative potential of technologies like AI and blockchain to drive social impact and close gaps for marginalized women and girls.

The UNICEF Venture Fund has been supporting innovative tech solutions for children’s welfare in developing economies for a decade and is now focusing on increasing its impact. Strategic partners, including the Government of Finland, the Ethereum Foundation, and Sida, will support the initiative’s ambitious goal of scaling its impact by 2030. These partnerships are crucial for providing the necessary resources and expertise to support startups working on transformative fem tech solutions. The Government of Finland, with its commitment to global development and gender equality, plays a key role in driving the initiative forward. The Ethereum Foundation, known for its leadership in blockchain technology, will help empower fem tech startups to create decentralized, secure, and transparent solutions.

Sida, Sweden’s development cooperation agency, brings its experience in sustainable development and capacity-building to ensure the long-term success of these ventures. Together, these partners aim to create an ecosystem that fosters innovation, collaboration, and measurable social change for women and girls in emerging economies.