Because we track locally-driven innovations in health-tech across the African continent, we curate a monthly newsletter to share our most “salient” learnings in more real time. We welcome submissions and suggestions.
African health-tech innovators are facilitating development of critical health infrastructure
Helium Health, an electronic medical records and hospital management information systems provider, has partnered with the Ekiti state government in Nigeria, to digitize patient records in hospitals across the state. Helium Health has similar partnerships with state governments in Lagos and Akwa Ibom, and recently expanded to Kenya – its fourth African market.
AirCo, the oxygen-focused subsidiary of LifeBank, a medical supplies logistics start-up, has launched an oxygen plant in north-central Nigeria. With a daily production capacity of 700 cubic meters, the plant will serve hospitals across the sub-region and aim to shore up Nigeria’s long-standing oxygen shortages at hospitals.
54gene, a genomics research start-up, has launched a trust to boost scientific research on the continent. The start-up will invest up to 5% of future proceeds from its commercial drug discovery program to support African scientific research, and ensure long-term improvement in healthcare delivery across the continent.
Expansion and acquisition activity is ramping up across African health-tech ecosystems
CribMD, a Nigerian health start-up, has acquired Charisland Pharmaceuticals, a pharmacy chain with outlets in major Nigerian cities. The acquisition comes two months after CribMD raised a $2.6 million seed round, and will allow the start-up add online pharmacy operations to its existing telemedicine and home care services.
Field Intelligence, a health supply chain solutions start-up, is expanding Shelf Life, its inventory management service, to 11 more cities across Nigeria and Kenya. The expansion will enable more pharmacies access Shelf Life’s service offerings, including subscription-based stock delivery, supply forecasting and stock financing.
Copia, a Kenya-based e-commerce player focused on middle to low-income communities, has finalized an expansion to Uganda. Copia bridges access for residents in target communities by allowing them order and receive items, including over-the-counter health products, through a vast agent-led network.
Investment in African health-tech remains on pace for a record-breaking year
In Egypt, online pharmacy Yodawy raised $7.5 million in a Series B funding round led by Middle East Venture Partners, Global Ventures and Algebra Ventures, with the participation from CVentures, P1 Ventures, and Athaal Angel Investors Group. Yodawy operates a dual B2C and B2B model, offering drug ordering and delivery services to consumers while also allowing pharmacies optimize its platform as a channel for digital sales. Estshara, a telemedicine start-up, also raised $500,000 in a seed round led by Egypt Ventures. The start-up offers subscription-based telemedicine services directly to patients and also through B2B insurance packages with small enterprises.
In Nigeria, RxAll, a drug anti-counterfeiting start-up, raised $3.15 million in funding from venture capital firm SOSV’s HAX start-up development program, Launch Africa Ventures and Japan-based KSK Fund. RxAll is aiming to expand its counterfeit detection technologies, including a proprietary handheld product scanner, to 14 countries before the end of the year.
In South Africa, iNNOHEALTH, a Cape Town-based health start-up raised an undisclosed seven-figure investment. The start-up is aiming for a nationwide expansion of its MyPocketHealth app which operates as a digital marketplace for healthcare consultations and solutions.
New additions to our online directory of African health-tech innovators
Salient Advisory’s directory of African health-tech innovators now features 17 more start-ups offering telemedicine and digital counselling services. Check them out!
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