UNICEF Venture Fund 2026 For Frontier Climate Tech For Children’s Health (US$100,000 Free Funding)
UNICEF Venture Fund 2026 For Frontier Climate Tech For Children’s Health (US$100,000 Free Funding)
Funding frontier climate tech for children’s health
UNICEF Venture Fund calls on startups developing frontier tech solutions for children at the intersection of climate and health to join its Climate Ventures cohort
The UNICEF Venture Fund invests in open-source frontier technology solutions from emerging markets. For this call for applications, we are seeking proposals from climate-focused startups developing open-source frontier technology solutions that have the potential to create radical change for children. We are actively seeking companies that push the boundaries with frontier technologies in innovative and scalable ways with global relevance.
We are offering up to US$100,000 in equity-free funding for early-stage and ready-to-deploy technologies including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and blockchain. Companies must be registered in one of UNICEF’s programme countries and have working prototypes and a commitment to open-source licensing and practices. Women-led startups and young founders are especially encouraged to apply.
Application deadline: 17 May 2026
The Challenge
As climate change accelerates, children and their communities are increasingly exposed to extreme heat, floods, droughts and air pollution that threaten access to health services, safe water, nutrition and education.
About 1 billion children live in countries facing high climate and environmental risk. Meanwhile, 466 million children – roughly one in five worldwide – live in areas experiencing at least twice as many days of extreme heat (measured as more than 35 degrees Celsius or 95 degrees Fahrenheit) compared with the 1960s, highlighting the rapid escalation of heat-related hazards.
Climate shocks are intensifying existing vulnerabilities. Despite being among the most affected, children remain underrepresented in the design of climate technologies intended to address these challenges.