Funding brief: VR (Virtual Reality) and AR (Augmented Reality) technologies can be used to solve real human problems. By providing new, immersive ways of accessing data they can enhance our learning experience, expand our understanding of complex systems and improve how we interact with one another.
The UNICEF Innovation Fund is looking for start-ups that are developing and piloting new open source VR/AR solutions. They are looking to make investments in 1) software for authoring or consuming these new realities, 2) platforms and ways providing wider access to that software, 3) platforms and ways providing better tools for content creation (such as a template, workflow, or format), and 4) particular applications of content.
For their next VR/AR cohort of investees we are particularly interested in the following applications of content:
Learning: Teaching people to perform simple tasks, in many languages, with higher retention rates and better motivational levels (examples: how to install a water pump; how to recognize malnutrition in under 5-year-olds; how to teach seamstresses to perform simple procedures). VR/AR also presents new ways of increasing access to experiential learning, including for people with disabilities.
Understanding complex environments: Accessing large amounts of data and deciphering them in a better way. Getting a simple picture from a complex collection of data points (examples: converting history of GIS data points from refugee camps into a VR environment for better planning; improving situational awareness for emergency responders).
New ways of storytelling:Undiscovered ways of using VR/AR to tell a story, especially by bridging cross-cultural gaps and creating a dialogue.
Donor Name: UNICEF
Funding name: UNICEF Innovation Fund Call for VR/AR Technologies
Deadline: February, 28th, 2018 at 11:59 EST
Funding details link: http://unicefstories.org/vr/
Funding limit:
● Seed funding-The Fund provides $50-90,000 in equity-free seed funding. You might need a small amount of money to get your prototype to the stage where the company has proof that the solution works for other people. Maybe another developer or two are needed, design help to communicate what the project can do or some server space. Refactoring something into a new language because the initial one won’t scale. Testing it in a new area. Getting some data points.
Special Notes: Please contact with the donor directly for further clarification and understanding.
Project start date: Not found
Project duration: Not found
Eligible organization: As below
Eligibility:
● Start-ups registered in one of UNICEF’s programme countries (http://21028-presscdn.pagely.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/List-of-Programme-Countries-1.pdf) and have a working, open source prototype (hardware, content or software). Check out eligibility criteria for the Innovation Fund under www.unicefinnovationfund.org/#/submit and find an overview of the process here (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-fjsp44tKc9a3VmbGppOUdUcTQ/view).
● The Fund provides early-stage seed funding to start-ups with a strong team and a clear path to impact on children’s lives. For this cohort, we are looking for startups with a working VR/AR prototype (hardware, software or content).
Eligible Country: Please find the list of eligible countries (http://21028-presscdn.pagely.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/List-of-Programme-Countries-1.pdf).
Submission mail: Not found
Other important link:
● Apply: https://unicefinnovationfund.org/#/submit
How to apply: Interested applicant may apply through the website (https://unicefinnovationfund.org/#/submit).
Visit all Funding opportunities: https://fundforbangladesh.wordpress.com/site-map/
Visit all funding categories: https://fundforbangladesh.wordpress.com/how-to/access-funding-short-cut/
Facebook page-Fund for Bangladesh
Fund for Bangladesh 