Five Kenyan startups have been selected for the Investing in Innovation Africa programme which is funded by billionaire Bill Gates.
In a statement dated September 28, it was detailed that health startups; Damu Sasa, the Pathology Network, Negus Med, Zuri Health and Xetova had been selected to be part of the 2022 programme.
The organisers noted that the initiative aims to empower health startups in various projects they are undertaking.
Through the programme, each startup will be entitled to Ksh6 million funding.
"Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and sponsored by Merck Sharp & Dohme, the World Health Organization for Africa, and AmerisourceBergen, i3 brings together major donors, industry leaders, and African institutions to initiate a new approach to business supporting African-made health innovations.
"These companies, which are in the start-up or growth phase, offer innovative solutions for the distribution of medicines and medical equipment, inventory management and financing, authentication, traceability, and medical waste management," read the statement in part.
Further, the programme organisers noted that the five startups will help Kenyans access affordable healthcare in the long run.
"Digitally-based, locally-led innovations have enormous potential to help address the challenges of access to medicines for historically underserved patients in Africa.
"We are thrilled to see women leaders at the helm of many of these startups, as we know that innovation ecosystems are strengthened by diversity," Ann Allen, Senior Program Officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation stated.
Damu Sasa is a technological innovation aimed at supporting the sourcing and transfusion management of blood founded by Francis Kilemi while the Pathology Network is an artificial intelligence platform linking small laboratories with big facilities of referrals.
Negus Med on the other hand deals with the supply of medical equipment as Xetoya deals with medical supplies.
The other startup - Zuri Health offers virtual medical services.
