The Innovators for Children acceleration program is now accepting registrations for its sixth edition, targeting startups, initiatives, and social entrepreneurs in Romania who leverage technology to create solutions for the education, health, and general well-being of young individuals aged 0-18. The program, organized by Impact Hub Bucharest in partnership with strategic partner BRD Groupe Société Générale, aims to develop and implement technological solutions to enhance the lives of children and young people.
Applicants are invited to submit projects at various stages of development, with a maximum development period of 1 year. Emphasis is placed on scalable technological solutions with the potential for widespread impact. The deadline for registrations is August 19th, and interested parties can sign up through the accelerator’s official website.
Selected participants will undergo a comprehensive two-month acceleration process, culminating in the opportunity to access grant funding and engage in a media promotion campaign. A jury will select 10 to 15 projects to participate in the program, scheduled to run from September 24th to November 29th.
Throughout the program, participating startups will undergo an intensive learning and growth process, focusing on the development and validation of a robust business model. Workshops will cover various topics including business validation methods, child safeguarding, impact measurement, financial management, pricing, and pitching.
The program will conclude with a public Pitch Day in December, during which participants will have the chance to present their solutions and progress. The winning project will receive EUR 5,000 and exposure through a media promotion campaign.
Innovators for Children’s inaugural edition took place in 2019, supporting 16 award-winning projects with a total funding of EUR 256,000. To date, 55 startups have benefitted from the accelerator, receiving over 230 hours of mentorship and training.
The winner of the Innovators for Children 2023 program was Rutinel, an interactive routine calendar that introduces an element of fun into children’s daily activities.
Irina Marica from Romania-Insider.com has provided the source of the accompanying photo for this article.