imaGen Ventures
We are bringing together bright young minds to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing their generation.
Now more than ever, the world needs young people’s ideas, their talents and their energy. Inspiring young people to tackle some of today’s biggest challenges can lead to innovative and entrepreneurial social change – ultimately helping to bring about a more equal and sustainable world.
Since it was set up in 2018, imaGen Ventures has provided over 15 million young people with access to entrepreneurial skill building opportunities. The global initiative brings together partners to nurture a critical mass of young entrepreneurs dedicated to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and realizing a better future globally.
It has never been more important to cultivate in young people the entrepreneurial mindset and skills to create a new future of work, society and the environment. The private sector expects massive reskilling and upskilling of the labour market and for radical career shifts to become the norm. In fact, by 2027, 60 per cent of the global workforce will be independent or freelance workers.
imaGen Ventures equips young people with the entrepreneurial skills to tackle some of the world’s most pressing issues, by setting up enterprises that bring about social change.
The initiative also equips youth with skills to catalyse social impact and create a more sustainable future for humanity and the planet. It encourages and supports young people to become changemakers and have an impact in their communities, in their countries and even around the world.
The imaGen Ventures approach
Young people can effect change when backed by a support system fostered by global actors. imaGen Ventures inspires and supports millions of young people around the world to build growth-oriented and socially motivated enterprises. The initiative works with young people to nurture skills for the future and foster an entrepreneurial mindset and resilience through immersive experiences. And it supports youth-led ventures with grants, seed funding, and mentorship opportunities.
The initiative’s tested and holistic youth-centred approach – co-designed, co-created and co-led by young people – is based on the principle of leaving no young person behind.
To reach young people, the initiative uses existing non-formal education structures, entrepreneurship support systems and youth engagement infrastructure (especially digital and blended approaches) as entry points. In these ways, it mobilizes young people – particularly the most marginalized – and equips them with transferable skills for work in the twenty-first century and competencies to prepare them for adulthood and for navigating the entrepreneurship space.
The model combines leading approaches to youth development with human-centred design and entrepreneurial skill-building to empower young people to become innovators and entrepreneurs. The goal is twofold: to create sustained self-employment for young people and achieve positive community development.
Past Editions
GENERATION UNLIMITED YOUTH CHALLENGE 2019/20
Launched in September 2019, the Generation Unlimited Youth Challenge 2019/20 took place in 36 countries worldwide and was co-hosted globally by four Generation Unlimited partners – UNICEF, UNDP, Plan International and the World Organization of the Scout Movement, with support from Irish Aid.
In December 2020, UNICEF, UNDP, Plan International, and the Scouts announced the global winners of the challenge, in an event that celebrated the efforts of the 15 million young participants and show-cased the transformative power of youth-led innovation!
The event saw the crowning of 8 winning teams that span all continents, which are set to receive further funding of up to $15,000 USD, along with a tailored global incubation programme from Generation Unlimited partners to support them to scale. Their creative ideas include Venus Arm, a team of teenagers who have created a 3D printed bionic arm that is 1/30th of the price of existing prosthetics and can ‘grow’ with children.
Join us
“Give it a try! You will become the person who will lead by example, creating a change.”
Your creativity and passion can unlock new ideas and create a world without limits.
We hope you can be a part of the Generation Unlimited as we expand our reach across more countries. Please follow us on Twitter or Instagram to be the first to hear our announcements in the coming months and to start an application.
Partner with us
We are inviting expressions of interest for global, regional and country level partnerships with the Generation Unlimited Youth Challenge. This is an exciting opportunity to empower young people, sponsor a rapidly growing initiative and join us in building sustainable impact throughout the world.
Alongside financial partnership, we welcome support for the challenge design, judging, mentorship and business development.