The “Investing in Innovation” (I3) program will provide 30 HealthTech startups operating in Africa with a $50,000 grant. See details.
TheMoroccan strategic consulting giant Southbridge A&I and its partners launch I3, a $7 million program for HealthTech in Africa, sponsored in particular by the Gates Foundation, owned by American billionaire Bill Gates, and operated in French-speaking Africa by IMPACT Lab, a Moroccan firm specializing in startup support.
This program is designed to support 30 companies a year over two years, all specializing in HealthTech in Africa, particularly in the distribution of healthcare products.
The project's sponsors are the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the African Union Development Agency (AUDA NEPAD), the World Health Organization AFRO (WHO AFRO), and the Merck (MSD) and AmerisourceBergen pharmaceutical groups.
Through this program, I3 states that it aims to "Identify innovators in the startup or growth phase across the continent. These companies, selected by four accelerators, will receive a guaranteed grant of $50,000 as well as a market access program through events organized across the continent.".
For Cheikh Oumar Seydi, Africa Director of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the "local innovations (africaines, ndlr) have the potential to transform the functioning of supply chains and healthcare systems — and it is time to support them."
"Note that applications for the first cohort of 30 companies are open starting today and will close on August 14, with the program set to begin on September 19.
