Villgro Kenya gives away $150,000 to 12 startups fighting COVID-19 in Africa.
Villgro Kenya, a Nairobi-based impact investor has given away the $150,000 in grant funding to 12 startups in East Africa.
These startups are vested in technologies and innovations that can help in testing, monitoring, and managing the COVID-19 outbreak.
Villgro Kenya is an early-stage business incubator and impact investor that offers mentoring, funding, and access to networks to startups in the healthcare and life sciences sector in East Africa.
About one month ago, Villgro called for frontline solutions and innovations to help societies battle the COVID-19 pandemic. Villgro announced the 12 Startups who will share US$150,000 in grant capital.
The 12 companies selected for funding and technical assistance are KEMRI, a rapid diagnostic kit; Health-E-Net, a telemedicine platform; hail-a-clinic service Enzi Health; emergency response service Flare; remote patient monitoring device Neopenda Uganda; 3D printing shield manufacturer Maisha Technologies Ethiopia; UVC light treatment company Simbona Africa; 3D printing company Kijenzi; and Medixus, a peer learning platform for doctors.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Villgro Kenya, Dr. Robert Karanja said, “Innovations like these show the true resilience and grit communities have to fight health challenges in the African continent. We have come out to support these solutions because we believe they will have the greatest impact on the fight against corona-virus in Africa.
The funding will go towards product development, scaling up production to meet local and regional demand, and improving systems to ensure more people get access to quality and affordable healthcare during the pandemic.
Villgro Kenya will work together with the 12 innovative startups to allow their products and services to support frontline workers and widen access to quality treatment.
Funding will also go to three entities locally that are manufacturing ventilators.
These entities are; Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Ventilators Africa, and Samuel Kairu.
Villgro Kenya was launched in 2017.