Investing in Innovation Africa (i3), a pioneering pan-African initiative committed to fostering the future of healthcare supply chains, has proudly unveiled its second cohort, consisting of 29 dynamic start-up companies.
Generously funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and sponsored by Cencora (formerly AmerisourceBergen), Merck Sharpe & Dohme (MSD), Microsoft, and Chemonics, i3 is set to provide early and growth-stage start-ups with a vital $50,000 grant and tailored investment readiness support. These resources are being made available through partnerships with top-notch accelerators, including Villgro Africa, IMPACT Lab, Startupbootcamp Afritech, and CcHUB.
Kieran Daly, Director of Global Health Agencies and Funds at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, emphasized the critical role of such programs. He stated, "As countries and global health institutions work to expand access to priority products, we face an urgent need to leverage solutions across the public and private sectors to improve health outcomes and strengthen local health systems. Programs like i3 help us understand, support, and engage with technology-driven solutions emerging across Africa, hand-in-hand with our partners."
The 29 selected startups hail from 21 diverse African countries, and the cohort is notably inclusive, with 38% of the companies being led by women entrepreneurs. Additionally, 17% of the startups are operating in Francophone Africa. The cohort includes an impressive array of innovators: Afia Group Limited, Aimcare Health, Bena Care, BioCertica, Chari Pharma, CheckUps Medical, Chefaa, Dawa Mkononi, Drugstore Nigeria, Famasi Limited, Field Intelligence, Inc., GICMED, Grinta, Healthtracka, Kapsule, Medical Diagnostech, Medpharma Alliance International Limited, Octosoft Technologies Limited, Pharmarun, Pharmaserv Health Project Nigeria Limited, Reductiona, SASA Health Limited, Tech Care For All Eastern Africa, Technovera-Pelebox Smart Lockers, Tibu Health, UltraTeb, Waspito, WellaHealth, and Welo.
In November, i3 will convene its annual Access to Markets event in Nairobi, scheduled for the 14th to 15th of November. This event aims to facilitate dynamic partnership dialogues between industry stakeholders, governments, donors, and large multilateral agencies. Impressively, last year's inaugural cohort of 31 supported companies successfully forged 24 contracts, pilots, and strategic partnerships, showcasing the tangible impact of i3's initiatives.
Jason Dinger, Senior Vice President of Global Products and Solutions at Cencora, expressed his excitement, saying, "The range of startups selected for the second cohort reflects the breadth of talent and creativity in the African entrepreneurial landscape, and we look forward to witnessing the transformative impact of their solutions in the years to come."
i3 continues to pave the way for innovative healthcare solutions across Africa, empowering the next generation of healthcare leaders and making strides toward improved health outcomes on the continent.
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