Youth-Led Innovations in Emerging Markets
Investing in Social Entrepreneurs Leveraging Tech Innovations for Social Impact
Across the globe, young innovators and entrepreneurs are harnessing frontier technologies to redefine what’s possible. In emerging economies, these entrepreneurs are uniquely equipped to address the pressing challenges where access to essential services are most limited. However, despite their expertise and potential, they often encounter significant barriers, including a lack of critical resources such as funding and support networks.
Imagine the impact of young social entrepreneurs in these geographical markets if they had greater access to tech and capital. They are the visionaries developing life-saving health apps, revolutionizing education through digital platforms, and building resilient agricultural systems with AI-driven solutions. With right-size investments, they could transform local communities, boost economic growth, and set new standards globally for sustainable development.
Investing in these young innovators isn't a noble cause—it's a strategic imperative. Their solutions developed can have far-reaching implications. By growing and scaling their innovative ideas, these young tech innovators create a ripple effect that extends beyond borders, driving innovation on a global scale.
Through the Summit of OUR Future campaign, UNICEF and partners are calling for collective action to mobilize investments and support for today’s social entrepreneurs and to build and strengthen tech innovation ecosystems in emerging economies.
Leading by example, the UNICEF Venture Fund is making significant strides by investing in social startups leveraging frontier tech in emerging markets worldwide. Thousands of entrepreneurs across 86 countries have accessed over $11.5 million in catalytic funding and support, leading to transformative technological advancements in communities worldwide.
But UNICEF is not alone in this mission. Impact-driven organizations like the Mastercard Foundation in Africa and AVPN in Asia are also supporting young tech entrepreneurs and innovators. Together, these efforts underscore a shared global purpose, driving meaningful change across all regions.
Meet some of the young entrepreneurs who offer a glimpse into the possibilities of such progress:
The ALX Partnership with the Mastercard Foundation exemplifies equity and inclusivity through the belief in the limitless potential of opportunity. This is achieved through the creation and making accessible to all African youth world-class tech training to empower the next generation of technology innovators and entrepreneurs. ALX provides essential technology training, access to finance and business support through its ALX ventures Academy and Accelerator programs, equipping young Africans to innovate and launch successful startups.
"ALX Ventures exists to serve as a launchpad for thousands of young tech talent across Africa to develop tech startups. We're constantly inspired to see that so many of these new entrepreneurs choose to tackle issues of equitable access in not only their local communities but across global markets. We're proud to support their work and partner with the Mastercard Foundation and UNICEF in shining a spotlight on some of their achievements."
Chris Suzdak, Head of Entrepreneurship at ALX.
“We believe that young innovators across Africa are not just creating solutions for today’s challenges but are building the future. By investing in their ideas, providing access to resources, and supporting their talent, we unlock the potential for transformative change to drive inclusive growth and sustainable development across the continent.”
Daniel Hailu, Executive Director, Pan African Programs, Mastercard Foundation.
Branice Kazira, 19: Champion of Inclusive Communication in Kenya
Branice is the founder of Signvrse, a pioneering social enterprise dedicated to bridging communication barriers between the hearing and deaf communities. Signvrse uses cutting-edge technology, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and 3D avatars, to provide real-time sign language interpretation, translating spoken and written language. This innovation enables deaf individuals to engage confidently in education, healthcare, public participation, and employment. Founded in Kenya, Signvrse has a deep understanding of local needs, collaborating closely with over 2,000 deaf individuals in Kenya and Uganda for ongoing development and improvement.
When reflecting on the potential of technological evolution, Branice says, “An equitable and inclusive digital future would revolutionize Signvrse by providing widespread access to our AI-driven sign language schools, allowing more deaf individuals to communicate freely. Ultimately, this transformation would help us build a world where everyone, regardless of their hearing ability, can thrive and connect.”
Ifeoluwa Dare-Johnson, 36: Redefining Health Access with On-Demand Lab Testing in Nigeria
Healthtracka, led by founder and CEO Ifeoluwa Dare-Johnson, is transforming healthcare in Africa by focusing on women's health and diagnostics in underserved areas. The platform allows users to order lab tests, have samples collected at home, and consult doctors virtually, ensuring timely access to care. Leveraging AI through "Lola AI" on WhatsApp, Healthtracka helps young girls track menstrual cycles and receive essential health education, leveraging WhatsApp's widespread use in Sub-Saharan Africa. To date, Healthtracka has delivered over 50,000 at-home lab tests, screened thousands of women for cervical cancer, and partnered with pharmacies to optimize healthcare delivery across Nigeria.
For Ifeoluwa, prioritizing equity is non-negotiable when it comes to health: “Digital equity is crucial for democratizing healthcare access. With the right investment and support, we can extend life-saving diagnostics and education to every woman, regardless of her location or socioeconomic status. This is the future of healthcare—accessible, equitable, and transformative.”
Spencer Horne, 33: Equitable Access to Autonomous Airships in South Africa
Spencer is the founder of Cloudline, a company at the forefront of using solar-powered autonomous airships to make aerial services more affordable and accessible. By harnessing drone technology, Cloudline addresses the challenges of inaccessible roads caused by annual floods and climate disasters, revolutionizing real-time data capture and supply chain deliveries in underserved markets.
Also, an alumnus of UNICEF’s Venture Fund, Cloudline has successfully launched commercial operations in South Africa and is now expanding into neighbouring African countries, with ambitions to reach the most remote corners of the world. Their work includes trials for emergency telecommunications in disaster-stricken areas, cold chain deliveries to isolated regions, and large-scale land surveys that provide drone-resolution imaging at satellite scale—crucial to addressing climate change.
According to Spencer, the Venture Fund played a key role in supporting Cloudline as a startup from an emerging market: “UNICEF has been instrumental in catalyzing Cloudline’s early progress by de-risking us for further venture backing. In so doing, it has opened a path to a future of scalable infrastructure that bridges the physical and digital divide defining our world today.”
AVPN, Asia’s leading social investment network, connects over 600 members across 33 markets to increase the flow and effectiveness of financial, human, and intellectual capital in Asia by enabling members to channel resources towards impact. Through collective action and a shared commitment to digital equity, AVPN aims to achieve systemic change and exponential progress with greater efficiency and reach.
"At AVPN, we've long recognized the transformative potential of youth innovators in Asia. Through our programmes, we're actively nurturing these young changemakers, providing them with the resources and support they need to turn their innovative ideas into impactful solutions. We're thrilled to collaborate with UNICEF on this initiative, showcasing the brilliant minds who are leveraging technology to address pressing social challenges to our network. This partnership underscores our shared commitment to empowering youth and fostering an ecosystem where innovation flourishes. Together, we're not just investing in ideas; we're cultivating a generation of leaders who will shape an equitable and sustainable future for Asia and beyond."
Moutushi Sengupta, Chief of Capital Mobilisation, AVPN
Shubham, 28, and Rahul Vishvakerma, 31: Transforming Waste Management with Robotics in India
Rahul and Shubham founded Arc Robotics to harness their passion for robotics and create transformative solutions to India’s waste management challenges. In a country where inadequate infrastructure leads to widespread contamination from untreated sewage and landfill leachate, traditional cleaning methods rely on manual labour and outdated machinery. Arc Robotics has developed cutting-edge technology that automates the cleaning of sewers, drains, and tanks—tasks that have traditionally exposed workers to hazardous conditions—thereby preventing the loss of lives and dignity associated with manual maintenance, a dangerous and dehumanizing occupation fraught with risks from toxic gases, infections, and injuries. By integrating AI, machine learning, and virtual reality, Arc Robotics not only boosts the efficiency of municipal services but also strengthens communities and drives humanitarian progress.
“Our solution, which is currently deployed only in India, has the potential to be adapted for international use. We are confident that it can address the same challenges overseas effectively. We are actively seeking investment opportunities for expanding this initiative."
Mustika Vijaya, 29: Revolutionizing Water Access with Real-Time Monitoring in Indonesia
When Mustika founded Solar Chapter, the goal was to tackle water scarcity in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia — a region where poverty and food insecurity are exacerbated by water stress. Since 2017, the organization has installed 21 solar water pumps within a three-minute walk of over 20,000 villagers' homes. However, sustaining these installations presented significant challenges. To overcome these hurdles, Solar Chapter developed WaterIQ, an advanced solution that leverages the Internet of Things and cloud computing to provide real-time data on water system performance. WaterIQ is integrated with solar pumps, delivering real-time updates on water levels and flow every three minutes via a user-friendly dashboard. It operates reliably even in areas with unstable electricity and limited connectivity, sending SMS alerts to ensure continuous monitoring. By training local communities to manage and maintain these systems, WaterIQ extends the lifespan of water facilities, ensuring long-term access to clean water.
For Mustika, ensuring sustainability through monitoring and local ownership is key: "Investment and support in developing digital innovations are crucial for enabling systemic change, going beyond merely building one pump after another every year. By efficiently monitoring water pumps, we advocate for sustainable and clean water access."
Continued and increased investment in innovation, tech entrepreneur talent, and ecosystems in emerging economies will unlock the untapped potential for transformative change, benefiting this generation and those to come.
Through the Summit of OUR Future campaign, UNICEF and partners are aligning to demonstrate and mobilize others to ensure an inclusive, equitable and open digital future for this and coming generations. We are calling for collective action and increased investment to build and strengthen ecosystems of young tech innovators and entrepreneurs across global emerging markets.
