Waspito raises $2.7m, announces expansion in Côte d’Ivoire

Cameroonian e-health startup Waspito has announced it raised a $2.7m seed funding round to grow its user base in its home market and expand to Ivory Coast.

The oversubscribed seed round was led by Newtown Partners via the Imperial Venture Fund, Launch Africa Ventures, BLOC Smart Africa managed by Bamboo Capital Partners, Saviu Ventures, Orange Ventures, BringCom and Plug and Play will fund the first stage of this expansion, which will see the company expand its coverage across Cameroon and launch in Ivory Coast.

Founded by Jean Lobe Lobe in 2020, Waspito allows users to have an instant video consultation with doctors via their smartphones. It also provides mobile lab services where users receive their results directly on their smartphones. Payment is affordable and easy via mobile payments, debit cards, or health insurance numbers.

To date, the Cameroonian startup claims more than 15,000 users. It also provides mobile laboratory services, with a lab technician collecting samples from a user’s home and results received digitally.

Waspito strives to connect Africa’s health ecosystem online to relieve the shortage of medical doctors and other health system challenges across the African continent.

The startup says it will use the money to strengthen its footprint in Cameroon and expand in Côte d’Ivoire. In the long term, Waspito plans to enter other markets and boost the health tech sector on the continent. “My incredible team has taken steps in the right direction and this additional funding will help accelerate the rollout of our services […] We are proud of the pool of investors we attracted in this round. Their experience and network will add value to our team as we continue this journey to solve the problem of accessibility and cost of access to healthcare in Africa,” said Waspito founder Jean Lobe Lobe.