There is a stark gender imbalance in the healthcare innovation space—only 7% of investments made in Africa went to women-led ventures in 2023.
Recent reports show that male-led enterprises in Africa were 13 times more likely to receive funding. Last year, female founders raised only $201 million compared to $2.7 billion by their male counterparts. This disparity underscores the systemic challenges women in Africa face in securing funding for their ventures, especially for AI companies.
Since 2021, Impact Ventures by J&J Foundation has worked closely with Villgro Africa to strengthen the ecosystem of equitable health innovation in Africa. This partnership began with a focus on funding innovations that equipped frontline health workers, and last year we turned our attention to artificial intelligence (AI), a technology with enormous potential to transform healthcare in Africa.
This year, Impact Ventures has joined Villgro Africa to address the gender disparity in funding and support for women-led healthcare start-ups in Africa by launching a business incubation program to support women-led healthcare startups. With J&J Foundation as its anchor financial partner, Villgro Africa put together a consortium of partners to collaborate on increasing the participation of female founders and empowering them to take advantage of opportunities in the healthcare innovation space.
Out of 196 companies that competed for a spot in the program, 31 were selected to receive tailored support including funding, focused training, resources and technical support. Out of these, the five companies below will receive additional funds from the J&J Foundation and a deeper level of support.
- Ambulex Solutions Ltd (Kenya)
A mobile app that allows EMTs on motorbikes to respond to emergencies in hard-to-reach areas. Ambulex provides employment opportunities for trained emergency responders and offers safety and emergency training. - KPN Teleradiology (Kenya)
A teleradiology company with a central focus on improving healthcare delivery, they aim to provide quality and timely teleradiology solutions to healthcare providers across the region. - Malaica (Kenya)
A hybrid program that addresses maternal mortality by creating a tailor-made holistic journey for expectant mothers through linking dedicated midwives and a support group till delivery. - Thalia Psychotherapy (Kenya)
A comprehensive digital platform that integrates mental health screening into the triage process across health facilities in Africa, helping enable early detection and access to care. - Emergency Response Africa (Nigeria)
A technology-enabled Community-Based First Responder (CBFR) solution that addresses the lack of functional emergency medical services by integrating existing ambulances and healthcare facilities, optimizing primary-secondary-tertiary referrals and communication between victims and providers.
Additional winners comprising the 2024 cohort, listed below, represent exceptional women-led health innovation enterprises from 10 African countries—Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Tunisia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Egypt and Zambia. They offer healthcare solutions with potential for significant improvement in healthcare equity and access in all areas relevant to Africa’s health needs.
- MedAfri Ltd (Ethiopia) – provides support, including mental health support, for patients with noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.
- ZAK Health (Nigeria) – offers patients pre-diagnostic services.
- Infinity Health Africa (Nigeria) – assists healthcare and life science businesses in complying with regulatory standards.
- OneHealth (Nigeria) – offers a digital infrastructure for payers, providers and patients.
- Bevtech Solutions /PanaCare (Kenya) – provides patients access to manage and engage with healthcare services.
- Topcare Limited (Kenya) – a duplex pressure swing adsorption oxygen generation plant and an auto-loading transport truck.
- Meraky Healthcare Ltd (Kenya) – connects healthcare employers to employees within a certain geographical location.
- Anziboo Ventures Limited (Kenya) – an agroforestry solution that provides eco-friendly bamboo products.
- Aurora Health Systems (Kenya) – develops devices for cardiac and maternal care.
- BlueWave (Kenya) – leverages mobile technology to expand access to insurance products.
- Kosmotive (Rwanda) – offers affordable eco-friendly sanitary pads.
- Innorpha (Tunisia) – provides precise identification of complex genetic mutations, guiding tailored treatment strategies.
- Iwinga Smart Solutions Ltd (Tanzania) – analyzes samples and detect cervical cancer cells using an AI algorithm.
- SmartTB AI Centre (Tanzania) – offers a treatment monitoring system that aims to enhance overall treatment success in the fight against TB.
- MedTrack Technologies Limited (Ghana) – creates a universal database using a health information management system.
- Embrace (South Africa) – offers comprehensive menopause care through virtual and in-person consultations.
- Lenat (South Africa) – offers pregnancy, childbirth and early childhood development support.
- Kunamandla Health Solutions (South Africa) - offers a palm-sized diagnosis kit for TB and HIV biomarkers in a single-use, rapid, quantifiable, blood-based test.
- Foi Science (South Africa) – a custom skincare company pioneering sustainable and individualized solutions.
- Global Health Biotech (South Africa) – provides high-quality commercial medicinal products for musculoskeletal injuries.
- Phyenti (South Africa) – produces natural health products that promote well-being.
- Gideon Inno Textiles (South Africa) – develops natural antibacterial-infused fibers and yarns to create textiles that reduce bacteria exchange.
- BuriCare Limited (Uganda) – produces baby products crafted from eco-friendly materials.
- Neosave (Uganda) – aims to solve critical gaps in neonatal care.
- Intixel (Egypt) – offers medical image analysis and quantification.
- Invenker (Zambia) – manufactures smart medical devices and medical software.
Supporting female entrepreneurs in the healthcare sector is crucial to fostering innovation and addressing healthcare challenges across Africa. By providing tailored support, fostering community, and addressing systemic barriers, our efforts with Villgro Africa seek to accelerate and strengthen the ecosystem for talented female entrepreneurs developing impactful solutions in the healthcare space. Additionally, we hope our commitment and innovative approach offers a model that will inspire similar initiatives globally, ensuring that female entrepreneurs receive the recognition, support and opportunities they deserve to make a lasting impact in healthcare.