Health Accelerator programme for African start-ups now open for application

Nairobi, Kenya, May 30, 2018: PRESS RELEASE

The Innovate for Life Fund is designed by Amref Health Africa to support home-grown innovations for better health in Africa.

Applications are now being accepted for Amref Health Africa’s Innovate for Life Fund, a five-month accelerator program specifically designed for African health entrepreneurs. 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.

In line with the Lancet Commission on the future of health in sub-Saharan Africa’s efforts, Amref Health Africa believes that African-based, local innovations, with the realities of each country and each community embedded at their core, are vital for lasting health solutions.

“Local entrepreneurs know the needs and characteristics of the market well and therefore their solutions are often very appropriate and sustainable,” says Dr. Githinji Gitahi, Group CEO, Amref Health Africa. “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 more than 60 years we have partnered with communities and governments to improve health in Africa. This experience is invaluable for entrepreneurs.”

The Innovate for Life Fund is supported by the Elsevier Foundation.

“We believe strongly in Amref Health Africa’s vision and the creative potential of Africa’s youth,” said Ylann Schemm, Director of the Elsevier Foundation. “With our long-standing 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.”

In 2017, the first group of six entrepreneurs from three different African countries took part in the Innovate for Life Fund accelerator programme.

• Read the full press release “Health Accelerator programme for African start-ups now open for applications” on the Amref Health Africa website