PRME Innovation Studio - Informational Webinar

Despite growing awareness and momentum, progress on the SDGs has stalled in many areas, and while young people are increasingly motivated to address global issues, the majority of youth-led ventures struggle to survive. According to Startup Genome (2023), over 90% of early-stage startups fail, with lack of mentorship, insufficient support systems, and limited access to networks cited as top reasons. Endeavor Insight (2021) found that ventures supported by strong mentorship are 3.5 times more likely to grow significantly than those without and are 1.7 more likely to raise funding. Meanwhile, less than 2% of global venture capital funding reaches women-led startups, highlighting persistent gender disparities in access to finance and entrepreneurial support (VC Corner, 2025).

In this context, the PRME Students Innovation Studio aims to:

• Accelerate the growth of youth-led ventures that directly advance one or more SDGs.
• Bridge the gap between young female innovators and the resources, mentorship, and visibility they need to scale their impact, addressing the persistent gender disparities in entrepreneurship and access to capital.
• Bridge the gap between early-stage ideation and real-world implementation by providing strategic support that includes personalized mentorship from industry experts, access to a global network of impact investors, and seed funding opportunities for selected finalists.

Join us for an informational webinar to learn more about the call for applications, including deadlines, eligibility criteria, and more.