The African Fund for Private Sector Assistance (FAPA), an institution of the African Development Bank Group, has announced the 2026 cohort of innovators selected to receive support under a program aimed at strengthening healthcare innovation across the continent.
The initiative brings together 15 companies developing health solutions in Africa. These innovators were selected from five groups in the Home Grown Solutions (HGS) initiative. The program is funded by the African Development Bank, sponsored by the African Union Development Agency – NEPAD, and jointly implemented by Villgro Africa and Briter.
Through this support, selected ventures will receive post-acceleration support aimed at scaling up their innovation and extending their reach across Africa’s health systems. The initiative focuses on ventures that address some of the continent’s most pressing health challenges, including access to health services, diagnostic capacity, maternal health, and digital health infrastructure.
By helping these companies grow and strengthen their business operations, the program aims to improve healthcare delivery while supporting Africa’s growing healthcare innovation ecosystem.
Supporting medical innovation across Africa
The 2026 cohort reflects a broad geographic footprint with companies operating across East, West, Southern and North Africa. Each venture brings a different solution designed to improve healthcare access, efficiency and patient outcomes.
Among the selected companies is Nairobi-based Daktari Online, a continuous professional development platform that enables healthcare providers to learn, connect and collaborate. The platform is accredited by several Kenyan medical bodies, including the Kenya Council of Doctors and Dentists and the Kenya Council of Nursing.
JiJi Health is another participant focused on improving hospital management and medical operations. Digital platforms such as Rafiki360 HMIS and Damuasa support hospitals with patient management, blood services, inventory systems, and data-driven decision-making.
Africa Healthcare Network (AHN) is working to improve kidney care across the continent. The company operates more than 60 dialysis clinics and is focused on providing affordable and accessible kidney care to underserved communities.
The program also includes Tech Care for All (TC4A) Africa, which supports the expansion of global medical innovation within African health systems. The organization focuses on the adoption and implementation of digital health tools, AI-driven platforms, and medical technologies.
Innovations in maternal health are also seen in this cohort. MSCAN Uganda is developing portable ultrasound technology designed for low-resource settings to improve early detection and reduce maternal mortality.
Afya Lead Limited is another healthtech company focused on maternal and community health. Its innovations include Mama Sarama Kit, Mukanda Sarama, and Pamoja Bima, which combine digital tools, medical devices, and healthcare financial solutions to improve access to care.
Expanding access to digital and specialty care
Several companies in this cohort are focused on expanding digital healthcare services and specialized medical support across Africa.
CarePoint operates technology-driven healthcare systems in Egypt, Kenya, Ghana, and Nigeria, focused on identifying and managing healthcare brands that deliver patient-centered services at competitive costs.
BetaLife, a stem cell therapy company focused on regenerative medicine for diabetes, develops advanced stem cell products aimed at improving treatment options for people with diabetes.
AfyA Care Nigeria is investing in health infrastructure and hospital capacity with the goal of making health services more accessible and affordable in urban markets.
APEX Medical Laboratories is expanding its clinical testing capabilities to support better patient management and enhancing its diagnostic services by providing results interpretation to physicians and clinicians.
Digital healthcare services are also a key part of this effort. OCLIYA provides online medical consultations, in-home physical therapy services, and access to medical professionals through a digital platform designed to make healthcare faster and more affordable.
Rology, a teleradiology platform, addresses the radiologist shortage by connecting hospitals with remote radiology experts and using AI-enabled tools to provide faster diagnostic reports.
The program also includes Appy People, an Angolan technology company focused on making critical information more accessible through mobile applications across sectors, including healthcare.
Eyone Medical is building a connected healthcare ecosystem that connects patients with hospitals, clinics, insurance companies, and governments, while enabling the secure sharing of medical data among healthcare providers.
Finally, DeepEcho develops artificial intelligence solutions that support medical diagnostics and help detect prenatal complications. The company focuses on reducing child mortality by using deep learning technology to identify risks such as premature birth, low birth weight, and birth defects.
Through the FAPA program, these 15 companies will receive strategic support to strengthen their operations and expand their impact. As these ventures grow, they are expected to play a key role in improving access to healthcare, strengthening healthcare systems, and accelerating innovation across Africa.
