If you are a visionary HealthTech entrepreneur or innovator with a groundbreaking idea to transform healthcare in Africa, this is your opportunity to join the Timbuktoo HealthTech Hub. This initiative aims to harness innovation to contribute toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), offering a platform for startups with scalable, defensible solutions and clear monetization strategies. With a projected $11 billion digital health market by 2025, Africa’s HealthTech landscape presents unique challenges and opportunities. The urgent need for a robust HealthTech hub is clear, and the Timbuktoo HealthTech Hub is set to foster startups developing solutions in deep tech, hardware, and advanced technologies to meet this demand.
Understanding the Timbuktoo HealthTech Hub Initiative
Africa faces several critical healthcare challenges, from limited access to quality medical services to inadequate infrastructure and funding. However, with these challenges come immense opportunities for innovative solutions that can revolutionize healthcare delivery across the continent. The Timbuktoo HealthTech Hub is a new initiative designed to support and accelerate startups focused on creating groundbreaking solutions in areas such as AI-driven diagnostics, locally manufactured medical devices, and biotechnology tailored to African needs.
The goal is to build a flourishing full-stack HealthTech industry in Africa, leveraging advanced technologies to address critical healthcare gaps and meet the unique needs of the African population. By providing a foundation for startups to grow and thrive, the Timbuktoo HealthTech Hub aims to create a vibrant ecosystem that fosters innovation, drives economic growth, and contributes to achieving the SDGs.
Criteria for Startups to Join the Timbuktoo HealthTech Hub
To be eligible for the Timbuktoo HealthTech Hub, startups must meet specific criteria, including having a technology-enabled solution, contributing toward the SDGs, demonstrating high scalability, and maintaining a defensible position in the market.
1. Technology-Enabled Solution
Your startup must have a technology-enabled solution at its core, utilizing digital tools and platforms to drive innovation and efficiency in the healthcare sector. The solution should leverage cutting-edge technologies to create value, improve patient outcomes, and address critical healthcare challenges in Africa. Examples include AI-driven diagnostics, telemedicine platforms, remote patient monitoring, and electronic health records.
2. Contribution Towards the SDGs
Your solution should align with and contribute to one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, addressing pressing global challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change, and more. For example, your startup could focus on improving maternal and child health, reducing the burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, promoting healthy lifestyles, or increasing access to essential medicines and vaccines.
3. High Scalability
Your startup should demonstrate high scalability either through digital distribution channels or the ability to scale sales rapidly across markets. The solution should be designed to serve a broad audience, expand to new regions, and adapt to different contexts. Scalability is critical to achieving widespread impact and ensuring the long-term sustainability of your venture.
4. Defensible Position
Your startup should have a defensible position, whether through Intellectual Property (IP) rights, network effects, domain expertise, or regional market dominance, ensuring a sustainable competitive advantage in the HealthTech landscape. A defensible position is essential for protecting your innovation, maintaining market share, and attracting investment.
5. Innovation and Uniqueness
Your solution should offer a novel approach to solving health challenges, with the potential for disruptive impact in the healthcare sector. Innovation is critical to addressing complex healthcare problems and creating new opportunities for growth and development.
6. Technical Feasibility
Your startup should be based on sound scientific and technical principles, with a realistic development timeline. Technical feasibility is essential for ensuring that your solution is viable, scalable, and capable of delivering the intended impact.
7. Regulatory Compliance
Your startup should be aware of relevant healthcare regulations and have a strategy for obtaining necessary approvals. Regulatory compliance is critical to ensuring that your solution is safe, effective, and legally compliant.
Focus Areas for the Timbuktoo HealthTech Hub
The Timbuktoo HealthTech Hub strongly encourages startups with a focus on the following areas:
Disease Prevention
- Early Detection Technologies: Develop technologies that enable the early detection of diseases, reducing the burden of late-stage diagnosis and improving patient outcomes.
- Predictive Health Analytics: Utilize data analytics to predict health trends and identify high-risk populations, enabling targeted interventions and preventive measures.
- Lifestyle Intervention: Create solutions that promote healthy lifestyles and prevent the onset of chronic diseases.
Clinical Preventive Frameworks and Community Advocacy
- Public Health Outreach Solutions: Develop platforms for public health outreach, education, and advocacy to raise awareness about critical health issues.
- Community Health Worker Support Systems: Create tools and resources to support community health workers, improve their effectiveness, and expand their reach.
- Health Education and Awareness Platforms: Develop innovative approaches to health education and awareness, utilizing digital tools and multimedia content to reach diverse audiences.
Vaccine and Medicine Production
- Novel Vaccine Development Technologies: Innovate new approaches to vaccine development, particularly for diseases prevalent in Africa.
- Local Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Solutions: Support local production of medicines and vaccines to increase access and reduce dependency on imports.
- Drug Discovery Platforms: Utilize advanced technologies to accelerate drug discovery and development, focusing on diseases that disproportionately affect African populations.
Medical Robotics and Automation (MRA)
- Surgical Robotics: Develop robotic solutions to improve the precision, safety, and accessibility of surgical procedures.
- Automated Diagnostic Systems: Create automated systems for diagnosing diseases, reducing the burden on healthcare professionals and improving accuracy.
- AI-Assisted Medical Procedures: Leverage artificial intelligence to assist in medical procedures, improving efficiency and patient outcomes.
Genomics
- Personalized Medicine Solutions: Develop solutions that enable personalized medicine, tailoring treatments to individual patients based on their genetic profiles.
- Genetic Testing and Counselling Platforms: Create platforms for genetic testing and counselling, helping patients understand their risks and make informed decisions.
- Gene Therapy Technologies: Innovate new approaches to gene therapy, offering potential cures for genetic diseases.
Biomedical Systems
- Advanced Medical Imaging: Develop advanced imaging technologies to improve the accuracy and accessibility of diagnostic procedures.
- Biomedical Sensor Technologies: Create sensors that enable real-time monitoring of patients’ health, improving diagnosis and treatment.
- Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine: Innovate new approaches to tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, offering potential cures for previously untreatable conditions.
Patient Care Journey
- Telemedicine and Remote Patient Monitoring: Develop platforms that enable remote consultations, monitoring, and follow-up care, improving access to healthcare services.
- Electronic Health Records and Data Management: Create solutions for managing and analyzing health data, improving care coordination and decision-making.
- Patient Engagement and Adherence Solutions: Develop tools and platforms to engage patients in their care, promote adherence to treatment plans, and improve outcomes.
Pandemic/Health Emergencies Management
- Develop solutions to manage and respond to pandemics and health emergencies, improving resilience and preparedness.
Malnutrition and Stunting
- Innovate approaches to address malnutrition and stunting, particularly among children, using digital tools and community-based interventions.
Monetization Strategies
Your startup should have clear and sustainable monetization strategies, showcasing a path to profitability and long-term financial viability. Potential strategies could include subscription-based models, licensing agreements, partnerships with healthcare providers, or direct sales to consumers. It is essential to demonstrate how your solution will generate revenue and sustain its operations over the long term.
Eligibility Criteria for Participation
To be eligible for the Timbuktoo HealthTech Hub, startups must meet the following criteria:
- Founders Who Are Nationals of an African Country: Startups must have founders who are nationals of an African country, demonstrating a commitment to addressing local challenges.
- Registered and Operating Within Africa: Startups must be registered and operating within Africa, ensuring they are well-positioned to impact the continent’s healthcare landscape.
- Minimum of One Year in Operation: Startups must have been in operation for at least one year, demonstrating a level of maturity and readiness for acceleration.
- Address Development Challenges: Startups must address critical development challenges in the healthcare sector, contributing to the achievement of the SDGs.
- Technology-Based Solution: Startups must have a technology-based solution, utilizing digital tools and platforms to drive innovation and efficiency.
- Minimum Viable Solution (MVS): Startups must have a Minimum Viable Solution (MVS), regulated and licensed if necessary, demonstrating the potential for scaling and impact.
- Corporate Governance Systems and Accountability: Startups should have existing corporate governance systems and accountability mechanisms in place, ensuring transparency and good governance.
This application is limited to citizens of the African Union member states.
Programme Timeline
The Timbuktoo HealthTech Hub program is designed to support startups throughout their journey, from application to scaling. The program timeline is as follows:
- Application and Selection Process: August 2024 – October 2024
- Bootcamp: November 2024 – December 2024 (Attendance in Kigali, Rwanda, from November 7th – 17th, 2024)
- Incubation & Acceleration: January 2025 – May 2025
The most promising startups from the bootcamp will receive long-term wrap-around support for five months. This curated technical assistance, coaching, product refinement, and scaling support will help startups overcome challenges and achieve their growth potential. Additionally, partnerships will be facilitated to spur product iterations, market access, and capital raising for the startups. Startups selected for incubation and acceleration will have the opportunity to receive equity-free grants of up to $100,000 USD.
Benefits of Joining the Timbuktoo HealthTech Hub
Joining the Timbuktoo HealthTech Hub offers numerous benefits, including:
- Membership in the Pioneer Cohort: Be part of the pioneer cohort of the Timbuktoo HealthTech Hub and the entire Timbuktoo ecosystem.
- Mentorship: Gain access to mentorship from industry experts and seasoned entrepreneurs, helping you refine your product and strategy.
- Equity-Free Funding: Receive equity-free funding of up to $100,000 USD, providing a financial boost without diluting your ownership.
- Networking Opportunities: Network with potential partners, collaborators, and customers, expanding your reach and impact.
- Access to Investor Networks: Connect with investors and venture capitalists interested in supporting innovative HealthTech solutions.
- Resources and Support: Access resources and support to accelerate growth and impact, including technical assistance, coaching, and product development.
- Access to Networks and Agencies: Gain access to networks and agencies within the larger UN system and the AfCFTA system.
- Shape the Future of HealthTech in Africa: Contribute to a pan-African HealthTech evolution and shape the future of healthcare on the continent.
How to Apply
To apply for the Timbuktoo HealthTech Hub, complete the application here. Applications open on 27th August 2024, and the deadline is 6th October 2024.
Don’t miss this opportunity to join a dynamic community of innovators and entrepreneurs working to transform healthcare in Africa and contribute towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Apply now to be part of the Timbuktoo HealthTech Hub and make a meaningful impact on the future of healthcare in Africa.