Call for Women-Led Healthcare Startups in Africa

Background

Our experience has underscored noticeable gender imbalance in the healthcare innovation space and the undesirable impact of limited diversity in innovation on equitable healthcare. Female founders encounter numerous pain points, from limited start-up support programs that are sensitive to the natural ways in which women flourish in connecting, collaborating, and engaging in the start-up space, to support from family and friends and biased assessment approaches in pitching for funding across the entire funding spectrum (pre-seed and beyond). In response, we are strategically working to co-create opportunities and structures dedicated to supporting women innovators to thrive rather than survive in building their start-ups. 

This call is part of our efforts to increase the participation of female founders across the continent. By offering support throughout the application process and sharing information on it, we aim to empower female founders to take advantage of opportunities in the healthcare innovation space. This call is part of our efforts to increase the participation of female founders across the continent. By offering support throughout the application process and sharing information on it, we aim to offer female founders approaches that are sensitive to their immutable role in creating impactful solutions in the healthcare innovation space.

The opportunity

This opportunity is open to solutions that demonstrate strong potential for significant improvement in healthcare equity and access in all areas relevant to Africa’s health needs. Any type of technology leading to the creation of solutions towards disease prevention, diagnosis, management and treatment is eligible.

Examples of technologies include diagnostics, devices, therapeutics, vaccines. Health solutions in MedTech and Biotech with strong potential for impact are particularly encouraged. The opportunity is open to MedTech and Biotech from early stage through to growth stage. Solutions with a primary focus on digital technologies or AI as the main basis for value creation, or other health solutions, such as social care-related ventures that have generated compelling and demonstrable traction for health systems strengthening will also be considered.

FAQs

Do I have to be African to be eligible for this call?

Yes, the applicant must meet all these criteria below:

• a national of an African country or holds indefinite leave to remain in an
  African country
• domiciled in an African country in which they must be a legal resident and
• developing the proposed health innovation in their host country
• holds long-term control and management of the venture, and an active role in both strategic and day-to-day decision-making

How can I determine if the product/service I am developing is eligible for this call?

The call is open to any type of technology leading to the creation of solutions towards disease prevention, diagnosis, management and treatment. Beauty and lifestyle products are not eligible.

What technology readiness level of the solution is eligible?

The call is open to all levels of technology readiness (idea, prototype, validation and production) for diagnostics, devices, therapeutics, vaccines.

For digital technologies/AI, what are the technology readiness level requirement for eligible?

If the primary value creation is based on digital technologies/AI, the solution must be at the validation or production level of readiness to be eligible.

My solution is a service that creates value by reducing strain on health systems. Is it eligible regardless of the technology readiness level?

A supply chain streamlining, education/training and social care-related solutions e.g. at home care/support for elderly populations and other vulnerable groups are eligible. However, they must be at the validation or production level of readiness to be eligible.

Are there any specific requirements for venture eligibility?

Yes, the venture must be:

• A for-profit organization represented by a female founder/co-founder who is at least 18 years old and a citizen/national with a legal presence on the African continent.
• Owned/led/operated by an African woman (women). We define this as having a woman with long-term control and management of the business, an equity stake, and an active role in both strategic and day-to-day decision-making.

I am yet to register a formal legal entity for my solution. Am I eligible?

If the solution has not been registered in the country of operation, but there is a plan to register it in the future, the application will be considered.

Please note that: Non-profits, consultancies, intermediaries, and consortiums are not eligible.

What stage of development should my solution be for me to apply?

We are looking for solutions in the following stage of development:

• Idea/concept stage- (The idea or concept stage in a business refers to the very early phase of developing a business where the basic concept or idea for the business has been formed and refined)
• Technology development stage– (The technology development stage of a business refers to the phase in which a company is actively researching, designing, and creating new technologies or products)
• Early stage- (Early stage in refers to having achieved a first round of financing, the startup has crafted a minimum viable product (MVP), established a sizable customer base and has a steady stream of monthly revenue)  
• Growth stage- (Growth stage is when the company has a solid customer base and is working on expanding its operations)
• Mature stage– (Mature stage is when the company has reached its full potential and is focused on maintaining its position)

What problems will successful applicants be solving for?

Challenges faced by low- and middle-income communities in Africa that constrain disease prevention, diagnosis, management and treatment.

Solutions focused on strengthening health systems or reducing strain on health systems, including at home care/support for elderly populations and other vulnerable groups are also eligible.

 What is the deadline for the application?

The deadline is on the 31st Of March 2024

Can I apply ideas/concepts that have not yet been put into practice as businesses?

Yes, an idea that has been formed, defined and validated will be accepted. You’ll need to provide more details about your solution when applying.

I am at the idea/concept stage. Will I be disadvantaged?

Assessment is based on the strength of the application. Clear articulation of specific milestones achieved at the idea/concept stage will be crucial in determining the strength of your application.

Applications with solutions at the idea/concept stage are eligible for diagnostics, devices,
therapeutics, vaccines only.

What is meant by specific technology development milestones?

You should begin by determining the technology readiness level of your product/service (idea, prototype, validation or production). You must then provide details of the progress you’ve made so far to get to the technology readiness level you have achieve. 

Clear articulation of specific milestones achieved regardless of stage will be crucial in determining the strength of your application.

Will it cost me to apply? 

There is no cost to the application process, but should you have any questions about your application, please contact snider@villgroafrica.org

Do I need to upload any documents for submission with my application?

In addition to the application on the portal VC4A, applicants must submit the following:

• CVs of core team members (2 pages max)
• An updated company pitch document (2 pages max)/concept note (2 pages max) or pitch deck. 

They are also encouraged to submit a link to a video (2-minute maximum) that describes the innovation. 

How do I upload the pitch video/pitch deck/business plan/concept note?

You’ll need to upload a URL link to the document/video.

What is the selection process?

The selection committee will meet to select the top startups in the initial screening and harmonize the cohort based on: 

• Team: Strength of the current team 

• Product/solution: Any type of technology leading to the creation of solutions towards disease prevention, diagnosis, management and treatment.

• Geographic relevance: An African-owned company 

• Impact: A solutions that demonstrate strong potential for significant improvement in healthcare equity and access/quality access

My solution addresses a disease, has strong potential for significant positive health outcomes but does not lend itself to massive scale because it is endemic to a limited geography within Africa. Will this disadvantage my application?

Solutions with far reaching positive health outcomes in Africa for a limited population are eligible. This may include certain zoonotic and hemorrhagic fevers, genetic conditions etc.