UNICEF Venture Fund

The Venture Fund is UNICEF’s innovation financing platform, investing in early stage, open-source, frontier tech solutions developed in emerging economies to improve outcomes for children and young people. 

Through equity-free funding and technical mentoring, the Venture Fund backs under-represented founders and strengthens local innovation ecosystems with the aim of delivering measurable social impact. 

The Venture Fund’s digital asset vehicle, the CryptoFund, is the only investment arm in the United Nations system operating across both fiat and digital assets. It enables UNICEF to receive, hold and deploy cryptocurrency and stablecoin contributions directly into its portfolio of solutions. 

Together, the Venture Fund and CryptoFund form a single, integrated investment platform demonstrating how venture philanthropy, paired with commercial capital, can de-risk and unlock innovation in markets often overlooked by mainstream finance. 

All investments are guided by one thesis, one governance structure and one objective: to finance frontier solutions – made by and for emerging markets – that accelerate progress for children. 

Through 2030, the Venture Fund’s focus is on frontier, open-source technology that accelerates results for children in three strategic areas: 

• Blockchain Ventures invests in blockchain and digital asset technology 

• Climate Ventures supports innovation for climate resilience 

• Femtech Ventures backs gender equity and the sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and women 

For each investment stream the Venture Fund holds annual global calls for applications, conducts a rigorous selection process and offers up to $100,000 equity-free investment (in fiat or crypto) and technical mentorship to the selected startups.