Discover how the i3 program is empowering African healthtech startups through grants, partnerships, and strategic guidance. Applications for the third cohort are open until February 28, 2025.

Investing in Innovation Africa (i3), a pan-African initiative dedicated to supporting healthtech startups in commercializing and scaling their offerings, has announced a strategic pivot for its third cohort. This shift will prioritize immediate support for 5-7 growth-stage companies focused on building the future of pharmacy care in Africa. The decision comes in response to the U.S. State Department’s “stop-work” directive for foreign aid, issued on January 25, which is expected to disrupt the distribution of essential medicines across Africa’s healthcare supply chains.

Responding to Urgent Healthcare Needs

The “stop-work” directive has underscored the urgent need for locally-driven, market-creating approaches to health product distribution and service delivery. In light of this, i3 aims to bolster the capacity of growth-stage startups that can rapidly adapt to and address these emerging challenges.

Funded by prominent organizations including the Gates Foundation, MSD, Cencora, Endless Foundation, HELP Logistics (a subsidiary of the Kühne Foundation), Sanofi’s Global Health Unit, and Chemonics, the i3 program will concentrate on unlocking significant partnerships to enhance patient care access across the continent.

Support and Opportunities for Selected Startups

Selected startups will receive up to $225,000 in grant funding, alongside strategic support to facilitate rapid growth and scale their healthcare solutions. While this cohort focuses on growth-stage companies, i3 has plans to expand its support to early-stage startups in the future.

Key Dates:

Application Deadline: February 28, 2025
Virtual Q&A Session: February 21, 2025
Announcement of Selected Startups: April 30, 2025

Interested companies can apply via innovationsinafrica.com/application.

About i3 and Its Coordinators

i3 is coordinated by Salient Advisory and the Solina Center for International Development and Research (SCIDaR). These organizations play a pivotal role in guiding the program’s strategic direction and ensuring impactful outcomes for healthtech innovators across Africa.