Are you an innovative HealthTech entrepreneur with a transformative idea to reshape healthcare in Africa? Are you committed to harnessing innovation to further the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? If you have a scalable and defendable solution with clear monetization strategies, now is your chance to apply for the timbuktoo HealthTech Hub.
Africa’s HealthTech sector offers both challenges and opportunities, with the digital health market expected to reach $11 billion by 2025. To tackle significant healthcare gaps, establishing a strong HealthTech hub is crucial. This initiative seeks to support startups that are pioneering solutions in deep tech, hardware, and advanced technologies, focusing on areas like AI-driven diagnostics, locally produced medical devices, and biotechnology tailored to the continent’s needs. The hub will serve as a foundation for cultivating a vibrant full-stack HealthTech industry.
The timbuktoo HealthTech Hub aims to support innovative startups that meet the following key criteria:
Technology-Enabled Solution:
Your startup must have a technology-enabled solution at its core, utilizing digital tools and platforms to drive innovation and efficiency in the healthcare sector.
Contribution Towards the SDGs:
Your solution should align with and contribute to one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, addressing urgent global challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change, and more.
High Scalability:
Your startup should demonstrate significant scalability, whether through digital distribution channels or the ability to rapidly increase sales across various markets.
Defensible Position:
Your startup must have a defensible position, whether through Intellectual Property (IP) rights, network effects, domain expertise, or regional market dominance, ensuring a sustainable competitive advantage in the HealthTech landscape.
Innovation and Uniqueness:
You should present a novel approach to solving health challenges with the potential for a disruptive impact on the healthcare sector.
Technical Feasibility:
Your solution should be based on sound scientific or technical principles, with a realistic development timeline.
Regulatory Compliance:
You should be aware of relevant healthcare regulations and have a strategy for obtaining the necessary approvals.
Startups emphasizing the following areas are strongly encouraged to apply:
- Disease Prevention: Early detection technologies, predictive health analytics, lifestyle interventions.
- Clinical Preventive Frameworks and Community Advocacy: Public health outreach solutions, community health worker support systems, health education and awareness platforms.
- Vaccine and Medicine Production: Novel vaccine development technologies, local pharmaceutical manufacturing solutions, drug discovery platforms.
- Medical Robotics and Automation (MRA): Surgical robotics, automated diagnostic systems, AI-assisted medical procedures.
- Genomics: Personalized medicine solutions, genetic testing and counseling platforms, gene therapy technologies.
- Biomedical Systems: Advanced medical imaging, biomedical sensor technologies, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
- Patient Care Journey: Telemedicine and remote patient monitoring, electronic health records and data management, patient engagement and adherence solutions.
- Pandemic/Health Emergencies Management.
- Malnutrition and Stunting.
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Monetization Strategies: Your startup should have clear and sustainable monetization strategies, showcasing a path to profitability and long-term financial viability.
Eligibility:
Groundbreaking founders and innovators across Africa are invited to apply if they meet the following criteria:
- Founders: Startups must have founders who are nationals of an African country.
- Registration: Startups must be registered and operating within Africa.
- Operational Duration: Startups must have been in operation for a minimum of one year.
- Focus: Solutions should address development challenges.
- Technology-Based: Solutions must be technology-based.
- Minimum Viable Solution (MVS): Startups must have a Minimum Viable Solution (regulated and licensed if necessary).
- Governance: Startups should have existing corporate governance systems and accountability.
- Citizenship: This application is limited to citizens of African Union member states.
Programme Timeline:
- Application and Selection Process: August 2024 – October 2024
- Bootcamp: November 2024 – December 2024 (Attendance in Kigali, Rwanda from November 7th – 17th, 2024)
- Incubation & Acceleration: January 2025 – May 2025
The most promising startups from the bootcamp will receive comprehensive support for five months. This curated technical assistance will include coaching, product refinement, and scaling. Partnerships will be facilitated to enhance product iterations, market access, and capital raising. Startups selected for incubation and acceleration may receive equity-free grants of up to $100,000 USD.
Benefits:
- Membership in the pioneer cohort of the timbuktoo HealthTech Hub and the entire Timbuktoo ecosystem.
- Mentorship from industry experts and seasoned entrepreneurs.
- Equity-free funding of up to $100,000 USD.
- Networking opportunities with potential partners, collaborators, and customers.
- Access to investor networks.
- Resources and support to accelerate growth and impact.
- Access to networks and agencies within the larger UN system.
- Access to networks and resources within the AfCTA system.
- The opportunity to impact and shape a pan-African HealthTech evolution.
- Application and Selection Process: August 2024 – October 2024
- Founders: Startups must have founders who are nationals of an African country.
How to Apply:
If you’re ready to make a difference, complete your application Here
Applications open on August 27, 2024, and close on October 6, 2024.
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