Technovation, in partnership with Generation Unlimited, has launched applications for the AI Ventures Accelerator 2026, a free 12-week program designed to help young women turn innovative ideas into AI-powered, investor-ready businesses.
The accelerator fast-tracks participants from concept to venture launch, with the Top 10 teams each receiving $10,000 in equity-free seed funding.
Who Can Apply
The program is open to:
- Young women aged 19–24
- Teams of 2–4 (solo founders welcome)
- Applicants residing in a UNICEF Program Country or the United States
- Individuals able to commit 10–15 hours per week for 12 weeks
- No prior AI or coding experience required
The accelerator runs March – June 2026.
Application Deadline:
February 22, 2026 (11:59 PM ET)
What Participants Will Gain
Build an AI Venture
Participants will learn foundational AI, entrepreneurship, and human-centered design. Teams will:
- Use GenAI tools for product development
- Train machine learning models
- Curate datasets
- Develop web or mobile AI solutions
- Prototype real-world, scalable tech products
Expert Mentorship & Pitch Development
- One-on-one mentorship from AI professionals and startup founders
- Financial modeling and investor pitch training
- Leadership and communication development
Seed Funding & Demo Day
- Top 10 teams receive $10,000 each in equity-free funding
- Top 25 teams receive post-program incubation support
- Live pitch opportunity at Demo Day (October 2026)
Funding decisions will be announced in August 2026.
Why the Accelerator Matters
Women currently hold only a small fraction of AI-related roles globally.
The AI Ventures Accelerator aims to equip 1,000+ young women with the skills and support needed to become founders, innovators, and leaders in AI-driven industries.
The initiative is part of a broader effort to close the digital skills gap and ensure inclusive participation in the future of artificial intelligence.
About the Organizers
Technovation
A global nonprofit that has engaged over 350,000 participants across 160+ countries, empowering girls and women through coding, AI, and entrepreneurship programs.
Generation Unlimited
A global public-private-youth partnership hosted by UNICEF, focused on connecting young people to employment, entrepreneurship, and social impact opportunities.