i3 previous cohort of women founders.

Investing in Innovation Africa (i3), a pan-African initiative to support African health-tech startups to commercialise, is calling for innovators to join its 3rd cohort.

Funded by the Gates Foundation, MSD, Cencora, Endless Foundation, HELP Logistics–a subsidiary of the Kühne Foundation, Sanofi’s Global Health Unit and Chemonics, i3 will offer select start-ups 3 critical resources to prepare themselves for expansion: flexible grants, introductions to potential customers and tailored counsel to close partnership deals.

i3 is selecting a total of 15 start-ups for this cohort:

● 10 early-stage startups innovating in healthcare delivery or product distribution

● 5 growth-stage startups building the future of pharmacy care

Early-stage startups will receive a $50,000 grant and growth-stage startups will receive a $225,000 grant to unlock major partnerships that can expand patient access across the continent.

For startups in the cohort, i3 aims to facilitate at least 150 relationships with key healthcare organizations, worth at least $30 million, which will expand patient access while creating valuable local jobs, according to the organisation.

Applications for the 3rd cohort are open now until February 28th. Apply here: innovationsinafrica.com/application . The selected startups will be announced on April 30th.

Tech hubs CcHUB and Villgro Africa will spearhead cohort selection, alongside a panel of African experts.

In just two years since its launch, according to i3, it has empowered 60 African health innovators across 16 countries, exceeding expectations with 43% women-led and 20% Francophone-led ventures.

It said the program provided $3 million in direct grants, and facilitated 450 strategic connections, resulting in more than $11 million contracted partnerships, expanded reach, and nearly 1,000 jobs created—half of which were held by women.

i3 is coordinated by Salient Advisory and Solina Center for Research and Development (SCIDaR).

Dr. Uchenna Igbokwe, CEO, SCIDaR, commented: “With the right resources, African-led companies can scale commercially while reaching underserved communities and creating jobs. 

"The i3 program has been able to prove, in just two years, that an actively engaged network of leading global health institutions and partners can power African innovators to solve critical African problems in healthcare.”