AFRICA – Nigeria’s 54Gene and Ghana’s mPharma are among seven other African startups to be named among 100 most promising technology pioneers by World Economic Forum (WEF) this year.
The World Economic Forum’s Technology Pioneers are early to growth-stage companies from around the world that are involved in the use of new technologies and innovation that are poised to have a significant impact on business and society.
54gene is a health technology company tackling the disparity in healthcare research and clinical delivery through large-scale discovery and translational research, advanced molecular diagnostics, and clinical programs for the benefit of Africans and the global population.
54gene’s Dr Abasi Ene-Obong said it was an honor to be recognized.
“This is testament to the outstanding collective output of the 54gene team to address global health disparities, and to imagine a world where precision medicine applies equally to all irrespective of one’s geographical location or economic status,” Dr. Abasi said.
Susan Nesbitt, Head of the Global Innovators Community, World Economic Forum, said 54gene will also contribute to Forum initiatives over the next two years, working with global leaders to help address key industry and societal issues.
Ghana’s mPharma is a technology-driven healthcare company which improves access to medicines by providing innovative financing and inventory management solutions to hospitals, pharmacies and patient.
The Ghanaian healthcare start-up recently joined a list of five breakthrough innovative companies that will receive awards and participate in Morgan Stanley’s first initiative that aims to advance systemic solutions for complex sustainability challenges across the World.
The start-up joined some of the most innovative companies which are changing the game in sustainable business solutions by becoming one of the chosen few companies to join the cohort, including Sunculture from Kenya, MySoc from the US, Siklus from Indonesia and Trees as Infrastructure from the UK.
“Each one of these initiatives, which range from the fully commercial to the entirely nonprofit, has developed remarkable innovations. Through the help of the Collaborative, they have the potential to create the systemic changes needed to create a more sustainable future,” said Audrey Choi, Chief Sustainability Officer and CEO of the Morgan Stanley Institute for Sustainable Investing during the announcement.
For the first time in the history of WEFs community, over 30% of the selected cohort are led by women.
The firms also come from regions all around the world, extending their community far beyond Silicon Valley. This year’s cohort includes start-ups from 26 economies, with UAE, El Salvador, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe represented for the first time.
The diversity of these companies extends to their innovations as well. 2021 Tech Pioneer firms are shaping the future by advancing technologies such as AI, IoT, robotics, blockchain, biotechnology and many more.
Technology Pioneers were selected based on the community’s selection criteria, which includes innovation, impact and leadership as well as the company’s relevance with the World Economic Forum’s Platform.
