Kenya seems to be getting a lot of attention from venture capitalists and seed investors as another incubator has just opened in the country. It is called Villgro Kenya. It is a healthcare incubator opened by India-based Villgro Innovation Foundation in partnership with USAID’s Partnering to Accelerate Entrepreneurship (PACE) initiative.
The Kenyan Villgro will provide funding and mentor startups in the healthcare sector, in addition, to mentoring these organizations.
Aditi Seshadri, head of communications at Villgro Innovations Foundation, said: “After initial research, we saw the need in the health sector and in the incubation of health startups, with the potential to have the maximum impact.
“Replicating many of Villgro’s learnings and knowledge over a period of time, Villgro Kenya will run a longer incubation programme offering companies close mentoring support and other services to help their businesses scale.”
Seshadri added: “Villgro sees plenty of potential for more South-South collaboration, particularly in Kenya, which is similar to India in that it has social problems but a stable political climate and an entrepreneurial culture.” He concluded.
So far, Villgro has supported and mentored about 119 entrepreneurs and has created more than 4,000 jobs since inception in 2001.
Interested Kenyan healthcare startups can apply for incubation here.
