The AI Ventures Accelerator, a collaborative initiative by Technovation and Generation Unlimited, offers a program designed to fast-track teams of young women from the idea stage to an investor-ready AI venture. This free accelerator aims to cultivate new technology businesses by providing participants with the necessary skills, mentorship, and resources to launch an AI-based company, including an opportunity to secure equity-free seed funding.
Program Overview
• Program Type: Accelerator
• Cost: Free, including all curriculum, mentorship, tools, and resources.
• Duration: 12 weeks
• Time Commitment: 10-15 hours per week
• Program Dates: March to June 2026
• Funding: $10,000 in equity-free seed funding for top teams.
• Demo Day: October 2026
Eligibility Criteria
• Age: Young women aged 19-24.
• Team Composition: Teams of 2-4 are preferred, though solo founders are also welcome to apply.
• Interests: A demonstrated interest in technology, AI, entrepreneurship, and solving a specific problem.
• Location: Applicants must currently reside in a UNICEF Program Country or the United States.
• Experience: No prior coding or AI experience is required.
Location note: Applicants living outside the United States and outside UNICEF Programme Countries are not eligible for this cohort. This typically excludes many countries such as Canada, much of Western/Northern Europe (e.g., the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway), as well as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore (examples, not an exhaustive list).
Program Structure and Benefits
• Build an AI Venture: Participants will learn foundational AI, entrepreneurship, and human-centered design. The curriculum covers using GenAI tools for product development, training machine learning models, curating datasets, and building web or mobile applications.
• Expert Guidance & Pitch Development: Teams receive strategic mentorship from AI professionals and successful entrepreneurs to develop financial, leadership, and communication skills needed for an investor-ready business pitch.
• Seed Funding & Live Pitch Opportunity: The top 10 teams will receive seed funding and present their ideas at a live Demo Day event.
• Global Network: Participants connect with a network of 1,000 young women entrepreneurs from around the world.
• Expert Mentorship: The program provides strategic guidance from AI professionals, successful entrepreneurs, and industry leaders.
Funding and Post-Program Support
• Top 10 Teams: Each of the top 10 teams will be awarded $10,000 in equity-free seed funding to launch their venture.
• Top 25 Teams: The top 25 teams, including the top 10, will receive post-program incubation support to help secure further venture capital.
• Alumni Network: All participants gain lifetime access to the Technovation and Generation Unlimited alumni programs, resources, and networks.
Application and Program Timeline
• Application Deadline: February 22, 2026
• Applicant Notification: Selected applicants will be notified by the end of February 2026.
• Program Start: The accelerator kicks off in March 2026.
• Funding Decisions: The top ten teams will be selected in August 2026.
• Demo Day: The live pitch event will take place in October 2026.
This program represents an opportunity for aspiring female entrepreneurs to develop their AI-powered solutions with comprehensive support. Interested parties should review the eligibility requirements and timeline to prepare for the application process. For specific inquiries, the program can be contacted directly at aiva@technovation.org.