Africa’s nascent health startup scene continues to gather momentum, despite the downturn in investment activity across global digital health.
Virtual first models have vast potential in the region, due to shortfalls in supply of healthcare resources coupled with massive geographical and systemic challenges. The lack of existing regulatory structures provides both a challenge and an opportunity for entrepreneurs and investors working in Africa but the region is generating successful startups despite these considerable obstacles.
Africa’s Health Tech startup scene is dominated by firms focused on Treatment shortfalls and Supply Chain issues.
The 2023 Africa Health Tech 50 is mapped to the HolonIQ Global Healthcare Landscape, an open-source taxonomy for the future of health and wellness. HolonIQ’s system of classification provides an overview of startup activity in Africa and highlights the strengths and weaknesses of the region. By viewing the Africa 200 cohort against the taxonomy’s ‘clusters’ we are able to better understand where both capital and innovation is currently focused. The last 12 months has proven challenging but a range of companies have been able to raise fresh capital in the region, including: Remedial Health (supply chain management); Kasha (women’s health); Helium Health (EHR platform); Field Intelligence (supply chain technologies) and TIBU Health (at-home healthcare services).
Exhibit 2
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Treatment and Supply Chain Remain as Key Sub-Sectors for the Region’s Startups.
Although recording a 6% drop in the cohort composition since 2022, Treatment remains the dominant source of startups fuelled by Telehealth and Home Health in the Africa Health Tech 50. Africa’s supply chain remains the second most dominant sub sector holding 18% of the region’s startups. Other notable sub sectors are Hardware and Systems whose share in the cohort expanded compared to 2022.
Exhibit 3
Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya account for three-quarters of the Africa startup market.
Nigeria remains the Africa Health tech 50’s leading player taking ownership of 39% and undergoing a 4% growth within the region’s startups. South Africa also still has significant domination over the market although recording a slight drop since the region’s 2022 cohort. Kenya has faced a larger decrease in the percentage of startups from 2022’ cohort.
Exhibit 4
Africa’s Health Tech 50 Cohort consists of older startups in 2023.
Africa’s 2023 Health Tech 50 cohort contains 52% of startups that are under the age of 6-years-old. Compared to the 2022 cohort, the composition of start-ups aged 6 and younger has declined, down from 70% in 2022. Meanwhile, start-ups aged between 7 and 10 years have occupied a higher share, an increase from 30% in 2022. Emerging startups include: Healthtracka (digital health platform); Zuri Health (virtual hospital); Waspito (low cost telehealh platfororm); Afya Rekod (health data platform) and Welo Health (home health services).
Exhibit 5
Track the Cohort
HolonIQ customers can track the most promising Health Tech startups from East Asia on the HolonIQ Market Intelligence Platform. Look for the 2023 Africa Health Tech 50 list in the Lists tab. Request a Demo if you are not a customer and would like to learn more.
Exhibit 6
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