The Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA) has partnered with Villgro Africa, Kijenzi and ICChange in a healthcare innovation program contest.
The Kenya Innovation Healthcare Program is aimed at searching for healthcare entrepreneurs with ideas, devices, technologies or software apps that have the potential to ensure affordable healthcare to all Kenyans.
KeNIA is a State Corporation established under the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Act, No. 28 of 2013 under the Ministry of Education.
In a statement released on September 9, KeNIA together with the other partners has set up the program, which will culminate in a business pitching contest and award ceremony during Kenya Innovation Week in December 2021.
“As part of the initiative, an innovation bootcamp will provide selected entrepreneurs with business skills to support commercially viable products and services. This will aim at strengthening the capacity of Kenyan innovators with regards to scaling their enterprise and impact.
"Financial awards, including incubation support, will be presented to the top 3 finalists during the Kenya Innovation Week Start-up pitching event,” indicated in the statement.
The top awards include initial investment funding of up to $5,000 and up to $455 worth of 3D printing services, for selected entrepreneurs.
Villgro Africa is an early-stage business incubator and impacts investor that supports health, life science and agricultural startups on the African continent. Their aim is to transform product and process innovations into viable, scalable businesses that impact the base of the economic pyramid (BoP).
Meanwhile, ICChange is a global, collaborative social enterprise network committed to improving the quality of life and security of vulnerable populations worldwide. Their work in Kenya is focused on the medical and urban entrepreneurial ecosystem.
On the other hand, Kijenzi is a digital manufacturer operating a network of hubs intended to supply replacement parts, medical devices, and occupational therapy tools. The company digitize the supply chain and do all of the manufacturing at local facilities, serving customers better by shortening wait times and lowering costs.
The partnership and innovation competition comes at a time when the Economic Survey 2021, released on September 9 showed that 740,000 Kenyans had lost their jobs.
“This call shall be limited to Kenyan citizens who have the skills to actualize their product or service,” reads the statement in part.
How To Apply
Interested Innovators are requested to sign-up for an account using VC4A.com website or login to access the entire application. All applications will be have done online through the online application form.
