Innovation Fund – Blockchain Startups 2022

The UNICEF Innovation Fund is looking to make up to $100K equity-free investments (in cryptocurrency) to provide early stage (seed) financing and mentoring to for-profit technology startups that have the potential to benefit humanity. If you’ve got a start-up registered in one of UNICEF’s program countries, you can apply now.

UNICEF Venture Fund and Giga Call for Blockchain-based Software Solutions to Build Capacity and Empower Communities. The UNICEF Venture Fund, in collaboration with Giga, is looking to make up to $100K equity-free investments (in cryptocurrency) to provide early stage (seed) financing and mentoring to for-profit technology startups that have the potential to benefit humanity.

Applicants will receive funding in cryptocurrency (bitcoin or ether) through our recently launched CryptoFund. Given the current global climate and a dramatic shift to a digital world as a result of COVID-19, open-source solutions that address critical needs for society are as important as ever.

What we’re looking for?

We are currently looking to invest in companies developing blockchain-based software solutions using cryptocurrencies, smart contracts, and various types of tokens, as well as learning and training initiatives to build capacity. Examples of areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

Area 1: Improving accountability and transparency of services and payments
Blockchain technologies can create transparent, efficient systems to exchange value, track supply chains and trade commodities. We are seeking solutions that:

• Enable people, organizations and other entities to use, earn, and hold cryptocurrencies.
• Track supply chains and value flows. In particular, we are interested in solutions related to areas like connectivity, electricity, climate or other foundational infrastructure.
• Enable Blockchain Oracle Services / Frameworks / APIs to measure provider performance (especially related to measurement of internet connectivity or energy).
• Automate payments and manage contracts based on providers’ performance.
• Provide On-ramp and Off-ramp services for smooth conversion of fiat to crypto and vice versa (preferably global in presence).
• Manage and trade assets/commodities in a decentralized manner that benefits communities.

Area 2: New financing models and rewards
By engaging with the crowd in new ways, we can build sustainable models to generate value, supporting the long-term development and delivery of services. For example, rewards could be used to incentivize communities to collect and share data that can then be used for decision making and resource allocation. We are seeking solutions that:

• Use cryptocurrencies to increase investments (I.e. staking, crowdfunding).
• Incorporate incentives to encourage value creation (I.e. crowdsourcing, badges).
• Create new economies and marketplaces (I.e. tokens).

Area 3: Empower young people to engage actively in these new systems
UNICEF supports the creation of Open Source software to ultimately enable communities with new tools. We are interested in solutions that empower local communities to engage with systems in new ways, such as those that:

• Enable communities to access financial services (digital payments, banking)
• Provide students and teachers with better learning experiences (teaching children about crypto, NFT creation by students, gamification and learning)
• Explore new ways of making decisions and participating in different ecosystems (DAOs, decentralized storage, distributing connectivity, energy or other resources to communities)

Eligibility

• Only private companies are eligible
• Only a registered company can submit an expression of interest
• NGOs and NPOs are not eligible to apply
• The company should have a working prototype
• The company that submits the expression of interest needs to be registered in a UNICEF program country.