20 Startups graduate from UNICEF StartUp Lab
About 20 young innovative entrepreneurs in the country have graduated from the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) StartUp Lab.
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It is after an intensive six-month accelerator programme focused on business and product development.
The UNICEF StartUp Lab is an accelerator programme dedicated to support businesses working towards advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for children and young people.
It is led by UNICEF in Ghana and supported by KOICA under the “KOICA-UNICEF Accelerating Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Ghana”.
This milestone marks the culmination of a journey aimed at enhancing the business, technological, and communication skills of participating entrepreneurs, strengthening their product and businesses, and ultimately increasing their social impact. New cohort
Addressing participants at the graduation ceremony in Accra, the Deputy Representative of UNICEF in Ghana, Fiachra McAsey, said UNICEF would continue to be inspired by this new cohort of talented startups, who were leveraging digital technology and their business acumen to build new products and services to tackle some of the most difficult challenges faced by young people in Ghana.
He said the 20 startups make up a cohort of resourceful, dedicated and talented individuals from across the country.
“It has been our pleasure to accompany them over the past six months through the UNICEF StartUp Lab Accelerator Programme, and we look forward to supporting them further, as they join our Alumni network, and continue to make a difference for children and young people in Ghana, and beyond,” he said.
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Transformative power
The Acting Country Director of KOICA Ghana, Seungmin Oh, said KOICA firmly believes in the transformative power of entrepreneurship and innovation.
He said KOICA recognise the importance of creating an enabling environment that fosters creativity, provides necessary resources, and encourages collaboration.
He said KOICA was proud to have been a part of the journey of the 20 startups, and for that reason remain committed to supporting the growth of entrepreneurship and innovation in Ghana.
“We will continue to invest in programs that empower young entrepreneurs and equip them with the skills, resources, and networks needed to thrive in today's competitive landscape,” he said.
Nurturing entrepreneurs
The Korea Ambassador to Ghana, Lim Jung-Taek, said Korea was honoured to have been a part of this transformative initiative, which has nurtured the seeds of entrepreneurship and paved the way for a brighter future for these talented individuals.
He said, “Korea has long been a testament to the power of technology-driven progress which has seen it invest more than four per cent of its GDP in research and development, fuelling groundbreaking discoveries and fostering an environment that thrives on innovation.”
He added that this commitment to technological advancement has yielded incredible results, giving rise to global companies that have left an indelible mark on various industries.
Significant guidance
The startups also gained valuable access to a network of experts from UNICEF, KOICA, and MEST, offering significant guidance and fostering networking and investment opportunities.
Moreover, qualified companies were given dedicated assistance towards achieving recognition as an UN-recognized Digital Public Good.
Throughout the programme, each selected startup was provided with up to GH¢25,000 in prototyping funding, in addition to immersive and hands-on business acceleration support.
Now in its third year, the UNICEF StartUp Lab has accelerated over 50 startups from across Ghana, including by investing over $100,000 in prototyping funding to support the development and impact of these businesses.
The UNICEF StartUp Lab has been instrumental in equipping Ghanaian startups with the necessary skills, resources, and support to address pressing challenges faced by children and young people in the country.
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