Call for Villgro Africa 2025 African Women Innovating In Healthcare -AWIIH
Applications and entries are now being accepted for the African Women Innovating In Healthcare. Villgro Africa are on the lookout for African women who are making strides in healthcare innovation! Do you spearhead a significant health initiative that enhances lives in your community? Are you in search of a nurturing environment to refine your solution, boost your organization’s impact, deepen your grasp of the startup landscape, and hone your entrepreneurial abilities? Do you appreciate having access to networks that uplift and motivate female founders to achieve their utmost potential?
If this resonates with you, then this opportunity is perfect for you! We encourage you to submit your application here and participate in our virtual Application Q&A Session on May 29, 2025, from 3 PM to 4 PM EAT to discover more about this opportunity. Register here to secure your place for the Q&A session!
African Women Innovating In Healthcare
Background
Female entrepreneurs encounter a variety of challenges, including a scarcity of startup support programs that cater to their inherent strengths in collaboration and networking, limited support from family and friends, and biased evaluation methods when seeking funding at all stages, from pre-seed to growth. Acknowledging these obstacles, we initiated a specialized program for female founders in 2024, crafted with purpose and insight to meet their distinct needs in the healthcare field. In its inaugural edition, the program assisted 31 female-led ventures across 11 African nations, providing funding to 26 through grants and equity investments.
Our 2025 call builds on this progress and incorporates essential insights from the 2024 cohort. It is part of our ongoing dedication to enhancing the involvement of female founders throughout the continent. By delivering customized support during the application process and actively disseminating pertinent information, we aspire to empower even more women to lead and expand healthcare innovations in Africa.
The Opportunity – African Women Innovating In Healthcare
Villgro Africa is on the lookout for ventures that offer bold and innovative solutions to some of the most urgent healthcare issues facing the continent. If your startup is focused on any of the following areas:
– Strengthening and equipping the health workforce through job creation, digital skills training, and integration into digital health systems
– Addressing Africa’s significant burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases with solutions aimed at malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes, mental health, and neglected tropical diseases
– Enhancing access to quality medicines and medical equipment by addressing supply chain inefficiencies and fighting against counterfeit products
Then this opportunity is perfect for you. Apply now and amplify your impact on Africa’s healthcare ecosystem!
FAQs – African Women Innovating In Healthcare
1. Do I need to be African to qualify for this call?
Yes, applicants must fulfill all the following criteria:
– Be a female national of an African country or possess indefinite leave to remain in an African country
– Reside legally in an East African country
– Develop the proposed health innovation within their host East African country
– Maintain long-term control and management of the venture, actively participating in both strategic and daily decision-making
2. How can I find out if the product/service I am creating qualifies for this call?
This call is open to women-led innovative ventures that address critical healthcare challenges in East Africa. Innovations that support frontline health workers are particularly encouraged.
3. Are there any specific requirements for venture eligibility?
Yes, the venture needs to be:
Incorporated in East Africa.
A for-profit organization led by a female founder or co-founder who is at least 18 years old and a citizen or national with legal status in Africa.
Owned, managed, and operated by an African woman (or women). This means having a woman who has long-term control and management of the business, holds an equity stake, and plays an active role in both strategic and daily decision-making.
Demonstrating traction in at least one East African country and showing potential for expansion across Africa.
Having scalable distribution channels.
4. I haven’t registered a formal legal entity for my solution yet. Am I eligible?
No. Just a heads up, non-profits, consultancies, intermediaries, and consortiums aren’t eligible.
5. What stage of development should my solution be in to apply?
We’re looking for solutions in these stages of development:
Early stage – (This means you’ve secured your first round of financing, created a minimum viable product (MVP), built a decent customer base, and have a consistent monthly revenue stream.)
Growth stage – (This is when your company has a solid customer base and is working on scaling its operations.)
Mature stage – (This is when your company has reached its peak potential and is focused on maintaining its market position.)
6. What’s the application deadline?
The deadline is June 15, 2025.
7. Can I apply with ideas or concepts that haven’t been turned into actual businesses yet?
No, we’re looking for ideas that have been tested or are already in practice as businesses.
8. Is there a fee to apply?
No, applying is completely free.
9. Do I need to attach any documents with my application?
Along with the application form, applicants are required to provide the following:
An updated company pitch deck.
A 2-minute pitch video or product demo if you have one.
10. How does the selection process work?
The selection committee will convene to choose the top startups during the initial screening and align the cohort based on:
Team: The strength of the current team.
Product: We are looking for solutions that address significant healthcare challenges, such as enhancing and equipping the health workforce through job creation, tackling Africa’s substantial burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, and improving access to quality medicines and medical equipment.
Geographic relevance: A company that is registered and operates in East Africa.
Impact: High-impact health innovations that enhance lives and promote meaningful improvements in healthcare equity, access, and quality.
11. What benefits do selected companies receive?
Chosen companies will participate in a 9-month incubation and acceleration program, during which they will receive tailored support based on their specific needs, including:
Support networks – Access to a women-led community and peer learning opportunities.
Mentorship and guidance – Access to inspiring and suitable role models in your field.
Technical expertise – Customized business and technology support from Villgro Africa and partners.
Sponsorship – Curated access to potential external partners and other players in the startup ecosystem.
Funding – A fair chance to secure funding to expand your solution.
12. What kind of funding is available?
The size and type of funding will depend on the business needs and the stage of the solution.
13. Who has access to the information I provide in the application for African women innovating in healthcare?
All submitted information may be viewed by the coordinating and implementing team.
14. What kind of publicity will my application get?
Once companies are accepted into the program, Villgro Africa might promote your participation through various communication channels. This includes, but isn’t limited to, the Villgro Africa website, the websites of our collaboration partners, social media accounts of program partners, and other public communication platforms.
15. Who should I reach out to if I have questions or need clarification after missing the info sessions?
If you want to chat about whether your venture fits the call or need any other details about the application process, feel free to contact [email protected] or [email protected].
16. Who are the partners involved?
The African Women Innovating In Healthcare (AWIIH) call is run by:
Implementing partner: Villgro Africa
Supporting partners: Business for Health Solutions, Johnson & Johnson Impact Venture, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Daya Hub East Africa.
