Joelex, a Ugandan startup innovating health solutions, is among six African start-ups that were selected to benefit from the 2018 Amref Africa’s Innovate for Life Fund Accelerator programme.
Joelex is a social enterprise that makes sanitation accessible and affordable for poor people living in urban areas in Kampala.
They build and operate toilets and showers within slums and markets.
The startup has also designed a water technology that helps turn water from any source, clean, drinkable and affordable for the urban poor, thereby helping to curb the number of deaths related to diarrhea, cholera, and typhoid.
Joelex is a brainchild of Joel Ssimbwa and it recently graduated from an accelerator organized by Fledge, where it secured a funding of $20,000 in 2017.
The other startups are Baobab Circle Limited and Ujuzi Fursa Africa, both from Kenya; Baby Grubz and Tiny Hearts Technology, both from Nigeria and Wastinnova from Zimbabwe.
2018 Amref Africa’s Innovate for Life Fund
Now in its second year, the Innovate for Life Fund aims to support African entrepreneurs to accelerate home-grown health solutions for the African market.
The accelerator is combining virtual and in-residence interactions at Amref Health Africa headquarters in Nairobi.
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The entrepreneurs will enjoy the support of Amref Health Africa’s facilities and their extensive health network in addition to tailored business coaching by Grassroots Business Fund.
In January 2019, a maximum of three entrepreneurs will be invited to develop a partnership with Amref Health Africa, which will offer follow up support and joint outreach to investors both in Africa and worldwide.
Amref group CEO Dr. Githinji Gitahi, says that Local entrepreneurs know all ins and outs of the market and therefore their solutions are often very appropriate and sustainable.
“Local solutions for local challenges is in the DNA of Amref Health Africa, which makes the Innovate for Life Fund programme such a good fit. For over 60 years we have partnered with communities and governments to improve health in Africa. This experience is invaluable for entrepreneurs.” Said Dr Githinji.
The Innovate for Life Fund is supported by the Elsevier Foundation.
“The Innovate for Life Fund has proven how critical an African health tech accelerator is, bridging a very real gap between brilliant ideas and investors in Africa,” said Ylann Schemm, Director of the Elsevier Foundation.
“The 2018 cohort of entrepreneurs will further stimulate tech-driven health solutions for and by Africans.”
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