i3 announces three major deals to accelerate African healthtech innovation
Investing in Innovation Africa (i3) has announced three agreements aimed at reshaping healthcare delivery across the continent. The deals were unveiled during the organization’s third flagship Access to Markets (A2M) event held in Lagos on December 10, 2025.
The two-day gathering brought together Africa’s most promising healthtech startups and global strategic partners to accelerate commercialization and scale through pilots, partnerships, and investment.
One of the headline announcements was a collaboration between global pharmaceutical giant MSD and Kenyan healthtech firm MYDAWA. This partnership focuses on enhancing MYDAWA’s concierge services to strengthen cervical cancer elimination efforts. The initiative will expand access to health services, including at-home and in-clinic options, supported by online booking tools and educational counseling.
Dr. Priya Agrawal, Vice President of International Health Equity and Partnerships at MSD, emphasized the strategic importance of the collaboration.
“We’re excited to support MYDAWA in improving access to healthcare, powered by purpose and technology. Together, we’re meeting communities where they are, forging new paths for patient access and creating health markets. This is how we break down barriers across Africa—through collaborations that enable sustainable and scalable solutions,” said Dr. Agrawal.
In a significant move to combat malaria, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Nigeria’s National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), and Sproxil. The partnership will leverage Sproxil’s “test-to-treat” model and AI-powered surveillance to provide real-time data from pharmacies and patent medicine vendors.
This data-driven approach aims to give the NMEP vital insights to track distribution and monitor disease patterns, supporting Nigeria’s target of reducing malaria prevalence to below 10 percent.
Dr. Ashifi Gogo, CEO and Founder of Sproxil, hailed the agreement as a victory for locally-led innovation.
“We are honored to partner with Nigeria’s National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) and the Presidential Initiative For Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) in deploying AI-enhanced surveillance infrastructure that transforms every consumer product verification into timely epidemiological intelligence. This partnership demonstrates that African-led solutions, when properly supported, can drive continental health transformation while ensuring affordable anti-malarials reach the children and families who need them most,” said Dr. Gogo.
The event also saw Boehringer Ingelheim’s Social Engagement Fund announce investments in three companies driving the future of pharmacy care: Dawa Mkononi, Kasha, and Reach52. These investments underscore a growing commitment to sustainable healthcare models.
Dr. Ilka Wicke, Head of Sustainability Social at Boehringer Ingelheim, expressed her enthusiasm for the new cohort of investees.
“We are delighted to invest in three additional startups that deliver a strong impact to communities across Africa. These partnerships reflect our belief that sustainable healthcare solutions are best built through collaboration—with local innovators who understand the needs on the ground and with global partners who can help scale their vision. Together, we’re making meaningful progress toward our goal of improving the lives of 50 million people by 2030,” Dr. Wicke stated.
Since July, i3 has facilitated over 110 bespoke introductions between innovators and investors, generating 15 partnerships with a potential value exceeding $20 million. The current cohort of startups already powers more than 66,000 healthcare providers across 12 African countries.
Oladunni Lawal, Investing in Innovation Lead, noted the rapid pace of these developments.
“Leading healthtech startups are an increasingly powerful force across Africa, reshaping the continent’s healthcare landscape. Through Access to Markets, these innovators are linked with strategic, high-impact partners across industry, government, donors, and global health agencies, enabling them to better scale their solutions. This approach is rapidly delivering tangible results, as evidenced by the more than 100 meetings being held at this year’s event and the 3 deals announced today,” Lawal said.
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