The UNICEF Venture Fund has named three African blockchain startups as winners of its grant funding which looks to support early-stage ventures in solving local and global challenges. The UNICEF Venture Fund is investing in seven blockchain startups in six countries after receiving 450 submissions from 77 countries, with solutions addressing the fact that 1.7 billion people around the world remain unbanked.

Selected startups will receive up to US$100,000 in grant seed funding, with five of the seven choosing to receive a portion of the investment in Ether. Five of the startups are also female-led. Two of the companies are from Kenya, one from Rwanda, and the rest from Argentina, India, Mexico, and Nepal.

The Kenyan investees are Grassroots Economics, which runs programmes that empower marginalised communities to take charge of their own livelihoods and economic future, and Kotani Pay, a technology stack that enables blockchain protocols, dapps, and blockchain fintech companies to integrate seamlessly to local payment channels.

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Rwanda’s Leaf, meanwhile, offers virtual banking services to vulnerable populations crossing borders, connecting people to their own savings conveniently and affordably.

“COVID-19 has impacted children and their communities, and many around the world will continue to see their lives disrupted significantly. We can see how important inclusive and affordable digital solutions are, including those that open access to financial systems and services,” said UNICEF Ventures lead Sunita Grote.

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“As we look into building back better, we need to tap into and support innovators and problem solvers to ensure systems are transparent, efficient, and decentralised — and that they include the traditionally underserved.”

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry