The UNICEF Startup Lab welcomes the 25 tech-enabled social impact startups selected for its highly anticipated Cohort 4 of the 2024 accelerator program.
The six-month accelerator is designed to provide crucial support to social impact startups, empowering them to enhance their business models for maximum impact, access partnership and financing opportunities, establish market linkages, build networks, and receive personalized mentorship.
The UNICEF Startup Lab’s 2024 accelerator program kick-off marks a significant step forward in harnessing the power of technology and entrepreneurship to drive social change and improve the lives of children and young people across Ghana.
The UNICEF StartUp Lab programme is led by UNICEF in Ghana, supported by KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency), and implemented by MEST Africa.
Throughout the program, the startups will collaborate with UNICEF program specialists to refine their products, ground-truth their solutions, and gain invaluable insights into market dynamics.
Additionally, they will be exposed to international and national investment opportunities, with a gateway to the UNICEF Innovation Fund and the Digital Public Goods Alliance.
Speaking on the occasion, Fiachra McAsey, UNICEF Deputy Representative, Ghana, emphasized, “The UNICEF Startup Lab accelerates innovative, market-driven, transformative solutions developed by young Ghanaian businesses that aim to address some of the most complex challenges affecting the well-being of children and young people around the world, particularly the most vulnerable. We are excited to welcome this new Cohort of founders to the UNICEF StartUp Lab to support them in making a positive difference for every child.”
Mr. Donghyun Lee, KOICA Country Director stated, “KOICA is honored to support the UNICEF Startup Lab in nurturing the next generation of social impact innovators. We believe that investing in these startups is an investment in the well-being of Ghana’s children and the sustainable development of the nation.
Ashwin Ravichandran of MEST Africa added, “The startups we’ve selected for our 2024 cohort highlight the dynamic and prospering tech ecosystem in Ghana. At MEST, we are focused on supplying them with the critical tools and support they need to excel and broaden their impact. We are excited to see the groundbreaking solutions they will deliver to the Ghanaian and global market.”
Out of over 500 initial applications, the 25 selected startups represent a wide array of sectors, including education, health, agritech, frontier technologies, assistive technologies for individuals with special needs, mobility, fintech, and climate action.
The cohort is geographically diverse, covering regions such as Greater Accra, Ashanti, Eastern, Northern, Volta, Ahafo, and Brong Ahafo.
Selected startups are RiviaCo, Craft Education, Geia Technologies, STEMAIDE Africa, MINAGIE Energy, Kodu Technology, AgriVest Africa and Alle-AI.
Others include MeSADA PCL, Chalkboard Education, Farmercy Technologies, Ozone Technologies Ghana Ltd, Husk Technologies, ThinkBikes Limited, Code Club Academy, AkooBooks Audio Ltd, Eazzier Transpay Ltd, FreshLine Post Harvest Solutions, E-Africa Solutions Limited.
The rest are Nikasemo Technologies, Muna Kalati, TECHAiDE, Mundaly Enterprise and BenBen.
About UNICEF StartUp Lab
UNICEF StartUp Lab, launched in 2019, is a six-month accelerator programme for impactful startups and businesses working to advance the Sustainable Development Goals for children and young people, and across several sectors including education, health & nutrition, Water Sanitation & Hygiene, and child protection. Over fifty startups have already graduated across three cohorts. The initiative is supported through the UNICEF-KOICA partnership, entitled “Accelerating Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Ghana”.
