Introducing the WiNFUND#2 Cohort: Pioneering Women-Led Healthcare Innovations

We are proud to unveil the WiNFUND#2 Cohort—a remarkable group of women-led ventures revolutionizing healthcare across Africa.

These entrepreneurs are tackling some of the continent’s most pressing health challenges with bold, scalable, and technology-driven solutions. From AI-powered diagnostics to accessible mental health support, telemedicine, and sustainable menstrual health innovations, this cohort represents the future of healthcare—one that is inclusive, innovative, and driven by women. Each of these ventures embodies WiNFUND’s mission: to empower women entrepreneurs, foster healthcare accessibility, and drive measurable impact in underserved communities.

Meet the changemakers transforming healthcare across Africa:

women carrying baby in her back close-up photography
women carrying baby in her back close-up photography
CHEFAA

Chefaa is transforming access to medications by providing a scalable, patient-centric digital healthcare solution. Through a mobile app, patients can seamlessly connect with a nationwide pharmacy network, ensuring safe and sustained access to recurring prescriptions. By improving treatment compliance and affordability, Chefaa has enhanced chronic illness outcomes and boosted individual productivity.

Founded in 2017, Chefaa was born from personal experience—its CEO, diagnosed with thyroid cancer, realized that while everything else was accessible online, essential medications were not. Partnering with a pediatric hematologist, she built Chefaa to digitize the entire pharmaceutical supply chain, from patient access to stock management, empowering patients while optimizing industry efficiency.

ZURI HEALTH

Zuri Health is revolutionizing healthcare across Africa by offering multichannel digital solutions that ensure seamless, affordable access to medical care—especially for rural and underserved populations. The platform has educated over 78,000 women on reproductive health and provided vital healthcare services to over 1 million individuals.

Founded in 2020, Zuri Health emerged from a deeply personal experience—its founder’s daughter, Zuri, faced a near-tragic birth complication due to the lack of specialist access. Years later, during the COVID-19 pandemic, digital healthcare solutions enabled the founder to manage life-threatening diabetes remotely. Inspired by these experiences, Zuri Health now leverages mobile technology to eliminate barriers to quality healthcare, ensuring that no family is left without access to life-saving medical support.

MEDTRACK TECHNOLOGIES

MedTrack Technologies bridges the healthcare access gap by integrating Ghana’s biometric ID system with portable health records, ensuring seamless patient management across facilities. The platform has increased antenatal visits by 52% and skilled delivery rates by 87%, significantly improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes.

Founded in 2018, MedTrack was inspired by a tragic event—a co-founder’s childhood friend lost her baby during childbirth due to fragmented medical records. Recognizing the need for interoperable digital health solutions, MedTrack launched with a pilot program in Ghana and has since expanded to over 50 public and private health facilities, transforming maternal healthcare through innovative data-driven interventions.

MARKET DOCTOR

Market Doctor delivers affordable and culturally adapted healthcare to informal sector workers through mobile clinics in community markets. By strategically positioning healthcare access points where people shop, Market Doctor has provided diagnostics and medical services to over 1.9 million individuals and delivered health education to 5 million people.

Founded in 2017, Market Doctor was inspired by the founder’s personal loss—her grandmother died from a preventable illness due to a lack of accessible healthcare. Determined to prevent similar tragedies, she pioneered a model that integrates healthcare into daily life, ensuring that underserved populations can conveniently receive medical care without financial or geographic barriers.

THALIA PSYCHOTHERAPY

Thalia Psychotherapy leverages AI-powered, culturally adaptive mental health solutions to make care accessible in schools, workplaces, and communities. Through its innovative platform, it has conducted over 1.6 million mental health screenings, reducing stigma and increasing access across underserved regions.

Launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, Thalia Psychotherapy was founded to address the rising demand for mental health services in Africa. Recognizing the urgent need for accessible and integrated care, the organization developed a mission to embed mental health into daily life, ensuring that individuals receive the support they need, when they need it, without fear of stigma.

ZANA AFRICA GROUP

Zana Africa empowers women and girls through a holistic approach that combines affordable menstrual products with health education and digital tools. By providing access to quality menstrual care, the initiative has improved school attendance, reduced cervical cancer risks, and advanced gender equality.

Founded in 2008, Zana Africa was born from a critical insight—sanitary pads were the second-largest expense for girls after food, and misinformation about reproductive health was widespread. With a mission to address these gaps, the organization developed innovative menstrual products alongside a rights-based health curriculum, reaching over 210,000 women and integrating life-saving education into Kenya’s national school system.

FRIENDNPAL

FriendnPal is Africa’s first AI-powered multilingual mental health platform, offering culturally relevant therapy and support. By facilitating over 1,000 therapy sessions and reaching 10,000 individuals across marginalized communities, FriendnPal is fostering resilience and breaking the stigma around mental health.

Founded in 2023, FriendnPal was born from the founder’s personal journey—growing up in a family affected by mental health challenges, she saw firsthand the lack of support, especially for marginalized communities. Inspired to change this, she built a platform that leverages AI to provide accessible, personalized mental health care, available in multiple African languages.

NEURAL LABS AFRICA

Neural Labs Africa is redefining radiology with AI-driven diagnostic tools tailored for African healthcare needs. By integrating cutting-edge technology into medical imaging, the company has significantly reduced diagnostic reporting times and improved early detection of critical diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis.

Launched in 2021, Neural Labs Africa was founded by two machine-learning experts who recognized the urgent need for accessible, AI-powered medical diagnostics. What began as a passion for AI competitions evolved into a mission-driven enterprise, now deployed in hospitals across Kenya and Senegal, bringing precision diagnostics to underserved communities.

MOSAIC HEALTH

Mosaic Health produces eco-friendly, biodegradable menstrual products designed specifically for Kenyan women’s needs. By improving menstrual hygiene accessibility, the initiative has helped schoolgirls regain 31,000 hours of learning each month while also supporting teenage mothers with skill development programs.

Founded in 2024, Mosaic Health was created to address the educational and economic setbacks caused by period poverty. Recognizing that many young women miss school due to a lack of menstrual products, the organization developed a sustainable and affordable solution that prioritizes both dignity and empowerment.

DENEBOLA TECHNOLOGIES

Denebola Technologies is breaking financial barriers in women’s healthcare through AI-powered telehealth and micro-health assurance programs. By combining technology with community-driven savings schemes, the initiative has reached over 200,000 women, significantly reducing waiting times and improving diagnostic accuracy.

Co-founded by a nurse and a doctor, Denebola was born from their shared frustration—too many women in rural Uganda delayed or avoided medical care due to cost constraints. By integrating micro-health insurance with digital healthcare access, Denebola has transformed the way women in underserved communities receive life-saving treatments.

DIAL A PAD

Dial A Pad is democratizing menstrual health and sexual reproductive education through a unique combination of AI, IoT, and smart pad dispensers. By integrating digital education with accessible sanitary products, the initiative has improved menstrual health and productivity for women in workplaces while educating over 10,000 women on sexual health through SMS-based learning.

Established in 2018, Dial A Pad emerged from the need to bridge the gap between menstrual equity and technology. The platform empowers women and girls aged 10-45 by providing affordable, discreet access to menstrual hygiene products while offering real-time, culturally sensitive sexual health education—ensuring that no woman is left behind due to stigma or lack of resources.

KAARO HEALTH

Kaaro Health bridges healthcare gaps in rural Uganda by deploying solar-powered telehealth clinics. By providing affordable consultations and essential medical services, the initiative has eliminated preventable deaths while creating jobs for nurses and technicians in underserved areas.

Founded in 2014, Kaaro Health was inspired by the founder’s near-fatal childbirth experience in a remote village. After surviving a medical emergency due to a lack of diagnostic equipment, she committed to ensuring that no other woman would suffer the same fate. Today, Kaaro Health supports 78 community clinics, providing life-saving maternal care to over 200,000 people.

CLAFIYA

Clafiya is redefining primary healthcare in Africa by combining localized health savings accounts with digital health tools, making quality care accessible and affordable. By eliminating financial barriers, Clafiya has improved healthcare access by 80% among users while enhancing mental health outcomes and reducing preventable deaths.

Launched in 2021, Clafiya was built to address the number one reason people avoid medical care—cost. After realizing that traditional health insurance models were ineffective in low-income communities, the founders pioneered a health savings account model tailored for emerging markets. Today, Clafiya is revolutionizing healthcare financing, empowering communities to invest in their well-being sustainably.

VEIN WELLNESS

Vein Wellness is transforming vascular access with advanced technology, training, and aftercare solutions that improve patient outcomes. By achieving a 98% success rate in vascular access insertions, the initiative has significantly reduced recovery times and minimized repeated procedures, lowering healthcare costs and environmental impact.

Founded in 2013, Vein Wellness was established to address critical gaps in vascular access. Recognizing the challenges in patient care, founder Louise leveraged her expertise to bring innovative, globally recognized solutions to South Africa. As a leader in the field, she represents the country on prestigious platforms such as WoCoVa and GloVANet, ensuring that Vein Wellness remains at the forefront of patient-centered innovation.

person injecting syringe
person injecting syringe
DOKTOR CONNECT

Doktor Connect is reshaping healthcare access by integrating genetic analysis, mental health assessments, and remote patient monitoring into a single platform. By offering personalized, data-driven healthcare, the initiative has improved patient outcomes and expanded medical access for underserved populations across Africa.

Founded in 2019, Doktor Connect was born from a tragic loss—the founder’s close friend died prematurely due to undiagnosed diabetes. This experience inspired a commitment to preventative healthcare, leading to the development of a tech-enabled wellness platform that helps individuals track their health, receive tailored medical insights, and access real-time consultations, ultimately saving lives before emergencies arise.

EWAKA

eWAKA is pioneering sustainable, electric last-mile logistics solutions with IoT-enabled cargo bikes that reduce carbon emissions and support temperature-sensitive medical deliveries in underserved regions. By improving urban air quality and making logistics more efficient, eWAKA is driving Africa’s green mobility revolution.

Founded in 2021, eWAKA was born from a vision to transform transportation inefficiencies in African cities. The co-founders saw an opportunity to integrate electric mobility with smart technology, ensuring a sustainable and inclusive logistics ecosystem. Today, eWAKA partners with healthcare providers and businesses to deliver essential goods, from medical supplies to food, while fostering a cleaner environment.

LUGHA ISHARA

Lugha Ishara is dedicated to empowering Deaf children and their families through early intervention programs that bridge both medical and social gaps. By enhancing language development and reducing stigma, the initiative is ensuring that Deaf children can fully participate in education, work, and community life.

Founded in 2017, Lugha Ishara was inspired by its founder’s personal journey overcoming labels and societal barriers. Recognizing that many Deaf children lack access to critical language development support, she created an inclusive model that integrates therapy with community engagement, empowering families to become active advocates for their children’s futures.

MAPALO INVESTMENTS

Mapalo Investments is transforming menstrual and incontinence care through its 2-in-1 padded underwear, offering comfort and dignity to women, girls, and individuals with special needs. By addressing unique challenges in menstrual health, the innovation has gained widespread adoption across Uganda, becoming a leading brand in the market.

The inspiration for Mapalo came from the founder’s personal struggles caring for her autistic daughter, who frequently discarded conventional menstrual pads. Realizing that many others faced similar challenges, she developed Mapalo Pants—a comfortable, discreet, and reusable solution. Today, the brand has expanded to include maternity and adult incontinence products, ensuring dignity for all.

GLOBAL HEALTH BIOTECH

Global Health Biotech harnesses the power of indigenous plant-based medicine to develop natural, effective, and affordable solutions for pain management and tissue regeneration. By merging traditional knowledge with modern biotechnology, the initiative has improved mobility and reduced chronic pain for thousands of patients.

Founded in 2016, the company was inspired by a remarkable case study in Venda, where a traditional plant remedy successfully healed a fractured bone. Driven by a passion for sustainable healthcare solutions, Global Health Biotech has since patented its discoveries, bringing scientifically validated, eco-friendly treatments to the forefront of musculoskeletal medicine.

REME-D

REME-D is making molecular diagnostics more accessible and affordable by developing locally manufactured, stable diagnostic kits for infectious and genetic diseases. By eliminating reliance on expensive imported tests, REME-D is improving early disease detection and treatment outcomes in Africa, particularly for women’s health.

Founded in 2022, REME-D was born out of necessity—during the COVID-19 pandemic, testing shortages across Africa exposed the urgent need for locally produced diagnostics. Recognizing that many imported kits were unsuitable for low-resource settings, the founders pioneered a new approach, using patented technology to create cost-effective, easy-to-use diagnostic solutions designed specifically for African healthcare systems.