UNICEF Lab, an accelerator program from UNICEF España and powered by ISDI Accelerator, showed off the startups from its fifth generation cohort during a demo day last month. Three startups were recognized during the event and the program is already calling for new projects to join for the next edition, UNICEF Lab VI.
Spanish children and adolescents have been going through difficult times. In 2022, suicides of children under 15 years old rose by 57% in the country, while around 47% of minors between 12-17 years old have experienced symptoms of depression and anxiety after the Covid-19 pandemic.
The UNICEF Lab program is helping impact projects and startups to solve some of the most pressing issues for young people in Spain. At its closing demo day last month, the accelerator’s fifth generation cohort presented in Madrid in front of industry experts, investors, as well as representatives from UNICEF España and ISDI, the country’s largest digital business school.
Three outstanding projects were selected and awarded follow-on support from the program, including an extension of mentorship, team coaching, more perks, as well as the possibility of receiving development support from ISDI Coders.
The three projects selected at the UNICEF Lab V demo day were:
- Quotanda, a platform that provides support to students who need financial aid and helps students find the best jobs once they complete their education;
- Zoundream, an initiative that is generating a positive impact on the mental health of children and adolescents through artificial intelligence;
- WIVI Vision, a startup dedicated to helping boys and girls with visual dysfunctions in their learning to improve their quality of life and development.
It was also announced that this cohort also received support and acceleration from StartKidsUp, an educational innovation project to develop the leadership and self-esteem of boys and girls through design thinking activities; and Mi Huella Digital, a platform for the prevention, management, and control of digital accidents in educational centers.
Jesús Tapia, director of ISDI Accelerator commented, “We connect investors and experts with entrepreneurs to scale and professionalize social impact startups with personalized mentoring tailored to each emerging company so that they multiply their response to today’s social challenges and their access to venture capital.”
More projects can benefit from UNICEF Lab VI
Following the success of its fifth-generation, the program announced its open call to more projects interested in joining UNICEF Lab VI, the program’s sixth cohort.
The program is looking for impact projects in areas of digital rights, mental health, and/or in collaboration with social entities, to be accelerated. Up to 10 startups will be selected to join UNICEF Lab VI to promote them with the help of experts.
Registration will be open until October 11. To qualify, they only need to demonstrate a Series A level of maturity and impact and pass the application filter on the official UNICEF Lab website.