Temasek Foundation and UNICEF have launched a new partnership aimed at supporting femtech startups in Southeast Asia that use frontier technologies to improve the health and wellbeing of women and girls. The collaboration will focus on early- and growth-stage companies working on open-source femtech solutions to address key healthcare challenges in the region.
The initiative is part of UNICEF’s Venture Fund femtech programme, which runs from 2025 to 2030 and provides equity-free funding, mentorship, and support to startups from emerging markets. The 2025 call for proposals received over 1,000 applications, with 22% coming from South and Southeast Asia.
“Women’s and children’s health have long been underserved, even though it is key to the well-being of families and communities. Together with UNICEF, we hope to catalyze a new generation of local femtech talents to innovate with bold ideas to address health needs in Asia. Unlocking femtech’s potential will not only close gaps in access and equity but also strengthen health systems and drive sustainable growth for our region,” said Kee Kirk Chuen, Head, Health & Well-being, Temasek Foundation.
The collaboration comes amid a rapidly evolving femtech landscape. Currently, 75% of femtech companies are based in the United States or Europe, despite the fastest growth occurring in emerging markets. Southeast Asia alone recorded a 70% increase in femtech startups in 2022, highlighting growing regional momentum.
UNICEF’s research points to the scale of the challenges facing women worldwide. One in five young women marry before turning 18, while over 21 million adolescent girls in low- and middle-income countries become pregnant every year. Additionally, a woman dies from cervical cancer every two minutes, and 31% of women globally are not in education, training, or employment.
“In less than a decade, we anticipate the fem tech sector will lose its niche status, so now is the time to strengthen ecosystems of fem tech entrepreneurs in emerging economies developing game-changing solutions. This exciting partnership with Temasek Foundation will help make this vision a reality in Southeast Asia. Now, more than ever catalytic and multi sectoral collaboration are needed to make truly remarkable global social impact,” said Thomas Davin, Global Director, UNICEF Office of Innovation.
The partnership will prioritise three main goals: improving awareness and access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, enhancing the quality and availability of healthcare products for women and girls, and increasing investment into femtech innovation in emerging economies.
