NIGERIA— Investing in Innovation Africa (i3) Program is opening the door for applications by e-health startups to be part of the 2nd cohort to a US$50,000 grant for their innovations in the healthcare sector.
This pan-African initiative not only provides access to funding but also connects startups with influential donors, industry experts, and institutional players who can introduce them to potential customers.
The i3 Program specifically focuses on supporting companies that utilize data-driven approaches to distribute medicines, consumables, medical devices, and assistive technologies, and manage medical waste within African healthcare systems.
One of the program’s key objectives is to promote inclusivity by supporting startups that are often overlooked for funding and support, including women-led companies and founders based in Francophone Africa.
The application round for the program will close on June 26th, 2023, and the 30 selected innovators for the cohort will be announced on September 13th, 2023.
The inception of the i3 Program can be traced back to June 2022 when Salient Advisory released a market intelligence report titled “Innovations in Digitising Distribution of Health Products,” which highlighted the potential of health tech companies operating in African supply chains.
Inspired by the findings of this report, the i3 initiative was formed and is currently led by prominent organizations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Merck & Co Inc., Afreximbank, Africa Union Development Agency – New Partnerships for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD), and AmerisourceBergen.
The first cohort of the program was selected in September 2022, featuring 31 African entrepreneurs.
Since then, the i3 Program has facilitated over 200 introductions between cohorts, sponsors, and partners, including notable entities such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), The Global Fund, Benshi.ai, i+Solutions, Chemonics, John Snow Inc., FHI360, and the Madiro Foundation.
The program has also provided exposure for cohort companies through platforms like CNBC Africa, the World Cup, the Africa Health Agenda International Conference, and the Africa CEO Forum.
As of 2023, several innovators from the program, including Dr. Sett, Sorbus, Medevice, Deep Echo, and Meditect, have secured partnerships and initiated pilot projects.
The i3 Program continues to be motivated by the progress and potential demonstrated by African innovators in improving healthcare supply chains.
Salient Advisory, Southbridge A&I, and the Solina Center for Research and Development (SCIDaR) coordinate the program, while leading African technology hubs such as Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB), Startup Bootcamp Afritech, Villgro Africa, and IMPACT Lab support cohort selection and provide investment readiness support.
According to the Sustainable Access Solutions department of Merck & Co Inc.’s Global Market Access in 2023, expanding access to medicines in Africa requires a fresh perspective that taps into the remarkable talent present on the continent.
They emphasize the need for African solutions to address African challenges, which necessitates collaboration among government entities, industries, and donors to create a supportive environment for entrepreneurial success.
Kieran Daly, the Director of Global Health Agencies and Funds at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation commented on the i3 Program’s vision, stating, “i3 intends to jump-start a new way of doing business across aid, industry, and government partners to support local innovation – starting with healthcare supply chains.”
The importance of addressing fragmented supply chains in African healthcare systems has been highlighted by a comprehensive report titled “Building Resilient Health Systems in Africa Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic Response,” published by the BMJ in 2021.
The report emphasizes that this fragmentation poses a significant obstacle to progress in the healthcare sector across the continent.
According to the report, a staggering 94% of pharmaceuticals in Africa are imported, while local manufacturers contribute only 25%–30% of pharmaceuticals and less than 10% of medical supplies.
This heavy reliance on imports creates vulnerabilities in the healthcare supply chain.
Compounded by inadequate infrastructure within national health agencies, which struggle with forecasting, procurement, and timely distribution, the ability to provide essential treatments and medications is severely compromised.
Encouragingly, there have been notable advancements in addressing these issues. Mpharma’s acquisition of Mutti’s network of local pharmacies and the expansion of provider ShelLife to 1600 outlets throughout the continent are noteworthy examples.
These initiatives aim to enhance the accessibility of healthcare products and services to underserved communities.
Investment in the healthcare ecosystem has also experienced remarkable growth, with funding reaching US$392 million in 2021 alone, representing an 81% year-on-year increase.
This surge in investment demonstrates a growing recognition of the significance of improving healthcare infrastructure and supply chains in Africa.
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