Sep 25, 2023

The second cohort of 29 companies has been revealed by Investing in Innovation Africa (i3), a pan-African initiative for startups creating the future of healthcare supply chains. The goal of i3, which is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Microsoft, Chemonics, Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD), and Cencora (formerly AmerisourceBergen), is to make it easier for promising early- and growth-stage businesses to go public. Selected startups receive a US $50,000 grant, introductions to key donors, governments, and industry leaders, as well as specialized investment readiness support from top accelerators Villgro Africa, IMPACT Lab, Startupbootcamp Afritech, and CcHUB. The 29 selected startups provide digitally enabled healthcare supply chain solutions across 21 different countries in Africa. In addition to offering inventory management services to pharmacies, clinics, and hospitals, supply chain data analytics, product protection, product visibility, and other services, innovators are establishing online pharmacies and telemedicine businesses. The annual Access to Markets event of the i3 will take place in Nairobi on November 14–15, benefiting the innovators chosen. The occasion promotes lively partnership discussions between government officials, donors, major multilateral organizations, and industry stakeholders. By means of cooperative agreements, pilot projects, and investments, connections are made to propel the commercialization and scale of the startups. The initial group of 31 companies that received i3 support last year formed 24 contracts, pilots, and strategic alliances to date. “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. Programmes like i3 help us understand, support, and engage with technology-driven solutions emerging across Africa, hand-in-hand with our partners,” said Kieran Daly, director of global health agencies and funds at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.