After receiving ‘stop-work’ directive from US Aid, Pan-African e-health initiative i3 refocuses on growth-stage startups

The third cohort of Investing in Innovation Africa (i3), a pan-African initiative for startups creating the healthcare supply chains of the future, has undergone a significant shift in selection, giving priority to immediate support for five to seven growth-stage businesses creating the pharmacy care of the future in Africa.

With funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and support from MSD, Cencora, the Endless Foundation, HELP Logistics, Sanofi’s Global Health Unit, and Chemonics, i3 is committed to helping promising early- and growth-stage businesses become commercialized.

Prominent accelerators Villgro Africa, IMPACT Lab, Startupbootcamp Afritech, and CcHUB provide selected startups with grant funding, customized investment readiness support, and introductions to top industry, donor, and government potential clients.

Applications for the third edition of the program opened last week, according to the media. However, a significant change has been announced: instead of focusing on a mix of early-stage and growth-stage companies as initially intended, the program will now concentrate on growth-stage companies.

This is in response to the January 25 “stop-work” directive for foreign aid issued by the US State Department, which is expected to have an effect on the distribution of critical medications in Africa’s healthcare supply chains. The directive emphasizes and strengthens the need for locally driven, market-creating strategies for the distribution of health products and the provision of services throughout Africa.

Applications are open here until February 28.