How Salient Advisory Propelled Over $20M into African Healthtech in Five Years

Since its launch in 2020, Salient Advisory has played a central role in scaling African healthtech by facilitating over $20 million in catalytic revenue and grant-based funding. Working with startups, governments, global health institutions, and industry partners, the firm strengthens access to lifesaving medicines across the continent.

Key Contributions

• Tracked more than 1,000 African health-focused innovators and supported over 65 startups, including Figorr, Zuri Health, Chefaa, and MYDAWA
• Catalysed $20M+ in funding, connecting startups with public and private sector customers
• Facilitated 630+ bespoke meetings between startups and healthcare stakeholders
• Supported 15 governments and regulators, and produced 26 ecosystem reports reaching tens of thousands

Investing in Innovation (i3) Program

Launched in 2022, Salient’s flagship Investing in Innovation (i3) program delivered 38% of all grant funding to African healthtech startups in 2023. Backed by partners such as the Gates Foundation, Microsoft, MSD, Cencora, and Chemonics, i3 enables startups to validate business models, grow sustainably, and attract long‑term investment.

Its third cohort included seven growth-stage healthtech startups addressing pharmacy care across 19 countries—with each receiving up to $225K in grants and market access support. These dynamics are mirrored in Salient’s broader advisory support.

Context in African Healthtech Landscape

Salient’s approach aligns with broader trends in African startup funding. Despite a slowdown since 2022, startups secured $343M in April 2025 alone—a 43% increase year-over-year from January to April 2025. Programs like i3, driven by Salient, deliver meaningful catalytic funding amid that recovery.

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Furthermore, according to a 2023 report on government–innovator partnerships, i3 along with the Gates Foundation and Google’s Black Founders Fund were among the top grant providers in healthtech, addressing critical gaps in gender and geographic equity across the ecosystem.

Salient’s positioning as advisor and facilitator complements insights from recent coverage on Kenya’s innovation ecosystem, where local investment sources remain limited and women-led ventures face persistent funding barriers.

Strategic Impact & Future Outlook

Founder Mara Hansen Staples notes that Salient was born out of a “gap between promising African innovations and the capital, visibility, and systems they needed.” Five years later, demand for African-led, digitally-enabled healthcare approaches has never been higher.

Looking ahead, Salient plans to:

• Expand advisory support for governments, manufacturers, distributors—focusing on policy, regulation, and digitalisation
• Scale its Access to Markets events to convene innovators, insurers, payors, regulators, distributors, governments, investors
• Continue elevating African innovation on global stages and solving equity challenges in healthcare

The next chapter doubles down on proximity, partnership, and ensuring innovations reach communities that need them most.

Why It Matters

Salient’s work demonstrates the power of catalytic grant-based funding combined with strategic connections to shape an ecosystem where African healthtech solutions thrive. Their role amplifies startup impact while shaping policy and market environments supportive of locally-driven innovation.