Investing in Femtech
Investing in bold solutions that advance the health, wellbeing, and economic participation of women and girls
UNICEF Femtech Ventures is a five-year (2025-2030) initiative focused on investing in solutions that expand access to sexual reproductive health and rights for women and girls in emerging markets.
Technology is transforming access to healthcare, financial services and economic opportunity. Yet girls and women, particularly in low- and middle- income countries, continue to be left behind.
Only a tiny fraction of global research spending goes toward pregnancy, childbirth and female reproductive health. Around 740 million women remain outside the formal banking system. And nearly one in three women worldwide is not engaged in education, employment, or training.
Why femtech, why now?
The financing gap is stark. Femtech receives only 2 per cent of global investment, despite women and girls representing half the world’s population.
The opportunity is clear. When women and girls have access to tailored health care, financial tools, and safe digital spaces, whole communities benefit.
The demand is growing. The Fund’s first global call for femtech innovations drew more than 1,100 submissions from 85 countries. More than half came from Africa, showing the strength and momentum of this market.
For more than a decade, the UNICEF Venture Fund has invested in open-source frontier technology with the potential to change lives. Since 2014, the Fund has supported 85 early-stage start-ups with up to USD 100,000 each in equity-free capital, in both fiat and cryptocurrency. Together, these start-ups have reached 174 million people and generated more than 12.4 times the original investment value. Almost half of them are led or founded by women.
Following extensive market analysis in collaboration with global experts, the UNICEF Venture Fund kicked off the initiative with the Gender Responsive Innovation Challenge ahead of the its first call for applications from fem tech start-ups in emerging economies.
About UNICEF Femtech Ventures
The Femtech Initiative is focusing on three priority areas, with tailored calls continuing through 2030:
Health tech
Improving sexual, reproductive, and maternal health, and enhancing menstrual health and hygiene.
Financial agency
Expanding women’s financial inclusion and access to markets.
Inclusive design
Strengthening job readiness, skills, and economic participation of women and girls, as well as supporting safety, inclusion, and wellbeing in digital and physical spaces.
Together with partners, including the Government of Finland, the Sida and Temasek Foundation, UNICEF Femtech Ventures provides equity-free capital, mentorship, and pathways to pilot, accelerate, and scale bold solutions that recognize and respond to the unmet needs of women and girls across the world.
Join Us
The impact will go beyond individual start-ups. By strengthening the ecosystem, we can shift how innovation is built, funded, and scaled for women and girls everywhere.
With the support of more partners, we can make catalytic impact globally.
