New Investment Fund for African Entrepreneurs in Health care

Amsterdam, May 19, 2017: PRESS RELEASE

Amref Health Africa, Africa’s leading health organisation launched an investment fund focused on the African health sector on Friday, May 19 in Amsterdam. The Innovate for Life Fund will tackle Africa’s most daunting health challenges by supporting local entrepreneurs and investing in companies that develop innovative, home-grown solutions.

In September 2017 the fund will start with a health sector specific accelerator programme. The Innovate for Life Fund was launched at The Next Web Conference, Europe’s leading tech festival held in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Dr Githinji Gitahi, Group CEO of Amref Health Africa said: “We have experienced ourselves the enormous impact of innovation. In 2015 we launched Leap; a mobile platform which allows us to directly reach large groups of community health workers, and equip them with knowledge and skills. Subsequently, data collection and analysis allows us and other stakeholders in health to respond quickly and adequately, for example in the event of a disease outbreak. With the Innovate for Life Fund we want to tap into the innovative solutions and business drive of creative African entrepreneurs and help them to bring their health solutions to scale.”

Ylann Schemm, Director of the Elsevier Foundation and launching partner of the Fund, remarked: “We believe strongly in Amref’s vision and the creative potential of Africa’s youth.  With our longstanding commitment to improving global health, we recognise that the Innovate for Life Fund bridges a real gap -stimulating localised tech driven health solutions for and by Africans.”

• Read the full press release “New Investment Fund for African Entrepreneurs in Health care” on the Amref Health Africa/Amref Flying Doctors website