Health-tech startup Zuri Health raises funding to support its expansion in Africa

KENYA – Kenyan-based health-tech startup Zuri Health has raised an undisclosed amount of funding from Moroccan VC UM6P Ventures to support its growth and expansion across Africa.

The funds will be utilized to upgrade its existing technology, employ additional personnel, and broaden the services and regions available to patients.

With this funding, Zuri Health will be able to serve more patients and enhance the level of care they receive.

Zuri Health recently closed a US$1.3 million pre-seed funding round with investments from DOB Equity, Launch Africa and Founders Factory Africa.

Zuri Health, a telemedicine company established in 2021, offers quality, cost-effective and accessible healthcare services to patients throughout Africa through its mobile application, website, WhatsApp chatbot, and SMS service.

The platform enables patients to communicate and consult with doctors, purchase medication from pharmacies, schedule lab tests and diagnostic procedures, and arrange home visits with licensed medical doctors.

Zuri Health has so far recruited more than 600 physicians to its platform and formed partnerships with over 16 pharmacies and 29 laboratories, such as PharmaPlus and Ilara Health.

Through these collaborations, Zuri Health has received over 10,000 lab and pharmacy orders and 24,000 interactions with its WhatsApp Bot.

“Being at the helm of a rapidly growing and evolving company like Zuri Health is an interesting challenge. The company’s growth rate shows that we are doing something right. We will continue to improve our operations and services to serve people better,” Zuri Health’s Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder, Titilola Olaolu-Hassan said.

UM6P Ventures is the investment arm of UM6P, founded as a vehicle for the university to advance entrepreneurship and accelerate scientific innovation in Morocco and Africa, backed by the OCP Group.

UM6P Ventures is an African based early-stage ventures firm operating two funds; a Digital Transformation fund and a Deeptech Ventures fund.

It caters to innovators and entrepreneurs in the fields of science and technology and invests in startups from their creation to Series A funding.

“Several healthcare providers and facilities are still centralized in major cities or urban centers. Our investment in Zuri Health is what will help us in filling that gap, increase efficiency in the pharma supply chain, and broaden our reach,” Yasser Biaz, CEO at UM6P Ventures said.

“There’s no way enough hospitals will be built to reach everybody with the health care that they need.”

Last year, Zuri Health, was among 14 African countries selected for a US$7 million fund fronted by pan-African support organization Investing in Innovation (i3).

In December, the startup launched its Continuous Care Program in partnership with Pharmaplus Pharmacies Limited to offer support to persons with Chronic illnesses.

The program aims to offer chronic care patients in the country a wider range of healthcare services, including medication management and access to the Continuous Care Program.

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