UNICEF Awards Grants To Three African Blockchain Startups.

The UNICEF Venture Fund has awarded grants to three African blockchain businesses intending to assist early-stage companies in addressing local and global issues.

Five of the seven finalists will receive up to USD 100 K in grant seed money, with five of them opting for a portion of the money to be invested in Ether.  Five of the startups are also female-led. Two companies are from Kenya, one from Rwanda, and the rest from Argentina, India, Mexico, and Nepal.

The Kenyan startups include; Grassroots Economics, which runs programs to empower marginalized communities to control their own livelihoods and economic future, and Kotani Pay, a technology stack that allows blockchain protocols, dapps, and blockchain fintech companies to seamlessly integrate with local payment channels. In addition, Rwanda’s Leaf provides virtual banking services to underprivileged populations crossing borders, allowing them to access their own savings quickly and affordably.