The Innovate for Life Fund has announced its inaugural cohort of six African e-health startups that will take part in its three-month accelerator programme.
The Innovate for Life Fund is a new initiative from Amref Health Africa, with support the of Grassroots Business Fund, The Elsevier Foundation and Venture Capital for Africa (VC4A).
The fund aims to tackle Africa’s most daunting health challenges by supporting local entrepreneurs and investing in companies that develop innovative, homegrown solutions.
Taking part in the first programme are Kenyan emergency response startup Usalama, Kenyan drug store finder Uthabiti, Nigerian m-health startup Mobicure, Nigerian tech-enabled pharmaceutical company Medsaf, Nigerian maternal health company Mahauty Health Solutions, and Ghanaian eyecare startup Primary Health Vision Care.
The six startups were selected from a total of 246 applications from healthcare entrepreneurs from across Sub-Saharan Africa through a rigorous selection and vetting process that was undertaken by health and business panels.
They were received at Amref Health Africa at the end of September for their first intensive week, which will take place every month for the next three months. After the three months, a selection of the three entrepreneurs with whom Amref will start a mutual strategic relationship will be made.
