Through Innovate for Life’s five-month accelerator programme, specifically designed for the African health context, the six entrepreneurs will be embedded in the Amref Health Africa organisation.
By KENNEDY KANGETHE, NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 27 – Two Kenya Start-ups are among six African Start-ups selected to benefit from the 2018 Amref Africa’s Innovate for Life Fund Accelerator programme.
Baobab Circle Limited and Ujuzi Fursa Africa joins Nigeria’s Baby Grubz and Tiny Hearts Technology as well as JOELEX from Uganda and Wastinnova from Zimbabwe.
The start-ups have been selected out of 300 applications from across sub-Saharan Africa. The program was in search of firms developing innovative solutions to improve healthcare in Africa and their leadership is African-driven.
Baobab Circle Limited is empowering those with diabetes and hypertension by providing tools and information its users need to manage their conditions anywhere, and at any time through AFYA PAP application while Ujuzi Fursa Africa is a social enterprise that provides essential home support services.
The Innovative Six 2018 vetting process was conducted by a health panel and a selection committee, consisting of African healthcare stakeholders and key investors in African ventures.
Now in its second year, the Innovate for Life Fund aims to support African entrepreneurs to accelerate home-grown health solutions for the African market.
Amref Health Africa believes that African-based, local innovations, with the realities of each country and each community embedded at their core, are vital for lasting health solutions.
Amref group CEO Githinji Gitahi, said that local entrepreneurs know all ins and outs of the market and therefore their solutions are often very appropriate and sustainable.
“Local solutions for local challenges are in the DNA of Amref Health Africa which makes the Innovate for Life Fund programme such a good fit. For over 60 years we have partnered with communities and governments to improve health in Africa. This experience is invaluable for entrepreneurs.” Githinji added.
The Innovate for Life Fund is supported by the Elsevier Foundation.