Salient Advisory studies innovations in healthtech across the African continent. This newsletter summarizes the most interesting news we read each month. Submissions are welcome. Feel free to share.
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Investing in Innovation launches 3rd cohort of African healthtech innovators
The Investing in Innovation Africa (i3) program announced its 3rd cohort comprising 7 growth-stage companies transforming access to pharmacy care across 19 African countries. The selected companies are Chefaa, Dawa Mkononi, Meditect, mPharma, MYDAWA, RxAll, and Sproxil.
Each innovator will receive up to $225K in risk-tolerant funding, tailored customer introductions, bespoke deal facilitation, and professional communications and advocacy support. i3 aims to facilitate ~150 strategic partnerships and influence deals valued at ~$30M between innovators and major healthcare purchasers.
i3 is sponsored by the Gates Foundation, MSD, Cencora (formerly AmerisourceBergen), Endless Foundation, HELP Logistics (a subsidiary of the Kühne Foundation), Sanofi’s Global Health Unit, and Chemonics.
Innovators secure early-stage funding to expand operations and services
i’SUPPLY, an Egyptian pharmaceutical distribution startup, raised $3 million in Sharia-compliant revenue-based financing from Bokra. The funding will support operational scaling and expand access to medical supplies across Egypt, particularly in underserved communities. Established in 2022, i’SUPPLY connects over 10,000 pharmacies with more than 200 distributors through its tech-enabled platform.
Platos Health, a Nigerian healthtech company, secured $1.4 million in pre-seed funding to expand its AI-driven metabolic health platform, Platos Monitor. Led by Google for Startups, with participation from Invest International and angel investors from Google, Tesla, and Unicredit, the funding will support the rollout of the Platos Body Monitor, a medical-grade device that tracks up to 49 health indicators including heart rate, BMI, and hydration levels and provides personalized health insights. Founded in 2020, Platos Health aims to enhance preventive care access across Nigeria.
MYDAWA, a Kenyan online pharmacy innovator, raised an undisclosed funding round from IFU, Alta Semper, AAIC Investment, Creadev, and Ohara Pharmaceutical to expand its “bricks-and-clicks super pharmacy” model across new markets. Launched in 2016, MYDAWA operates a hybrid model, offering both physical and virtual pharmacy operations in Kenya and Uganda.
Senegalese healthtech startup, Eyone, was awarded a $300,000 prize through the Africa’s Business Heroes competition by the Jack Ma Foundation. Founded in 2015, Eyone’s platform enhances medical interoperability, allowing real-time access to medical records for healthcare professionals and patients to improve efficiency and enable continuity of care.
Rwanda launches new digital health initiatives to advance data-driven healthcare
The Rwandan Government launched a Health Intelligence Center, a national and centralized platform designed to integrate and analyze real-time data across all healthcare system levels. The platform aggregates data from primary healthcare services, disease prevention and outbreak control, emergency response, health financing and workforce, supply chain and logistics, and civil registration and vital statistics to strengthen evidence-based decision-making and support more responsive health planning and resource allocation.
In parallel, the government is rolling out e-Ubuzima, a digital platform set to replace paper-based medical records by the end of the year. The platform is currently active in 15 districts and enables record management and appointment scheduling for both patients and healthcare workers. The government also plans to position e-Ubuzima as a national health communication tool in future phases.
Ghana deepens partnership with Zipline amid supply chain disruptions
Amid supply chain disruptions due to cuts in foreign aid, Ghana’s Ministry of Health is deepening its collaboration with medical drone delivery operator, Zipline, to ensure the continuous delivery of essential medical supplies. The collaboration focuses on leveraging Zipline’s drone delivery hubs to deliver items such as malaria test kits, medications, and nutrition supplements across the Northeast, Northern, and Eastern regions of the country.
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