Zuri Health completes $1.3 million pre-seed funding round

Healthtech startup, Zuri Health, announced that it has closed a $1.3 million pre-seed funding round with investments from DOB Equity, Launch Africa and Founders Factory Africa. Other investors in this round include V8 Capital, Platform Capital, Villgro Africa, Asime Ventures, and the Salik Family Trust.

Launched by Ikechukwu Arthur Anoke and Daisy Isiaho in 2021, Zuri Health provides its mass-market customers with affordable, convenient, and quality healthcare services via SMS, WhatsApp and a dedicated app. Though it started in Kenay, its service is now available in Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, and Zambia.

Zuri Health says it has so far partnered with 16+ major mobile network operators in seven countries with over 400,000 SMS subscribers, over 300 doctors, 27 lab and diagnostic centres and 15 pharmacies across its markets.

Its partnership with mobile telecom operators like MTN, Safaricom and Telkom (Kenya) and healthcare providers like medical labs, pharmacies, and hospitals, has enabled it bring healthcare services closer to patients – doctors are a few clicks or a text away.

The company says the investment will be used to build out its digital platform, increase its product offerings and launch operations in new markets

According to CEO, Ikechukwu Anoke, “We are driven by the impact our service could have —to be a solution to Africa’s lack of sufficient healthcare. Healthcare infrastructure in most parts of Africa is grossly inadequate, with painfully high doctor-patient ratios. There are many Africans who cannot afford healthcare services or who live too far away from healthcare facilities. And with skilled healthcare workers increasingly leaving Africa for greener pastures, the situation is worsening.”

“We have a burning desire to democratise healthcare access and harness the power of technology to provide quality, first-tier medical services.”

Saskia van der Mast, Co-CEO of Nairobi-based Dutch private equity firm DOB Equity, said: “We are excited to support the growth of Zuri Health as it builds an innovative and scalable platform that will enable access to healthcare for millions of rural and urban communities”.

Zachariah George, Managing Partner at Launch Africa, comments: “Zuri Health shows tremendous potential to scale across the continent and democratise access to healthcare. We truly believe in Anoke and Isiaho’s abilities to lead the path in the HealthTech sector in Africa.”.

Bongani Sithole, Managing Director at Founders Factory Africa, said: “Founders Factory Africa is honoured to be a part of backing the Zuri Health Team’s ambitious mission of addressing critical gaps in Africa’s healthcare systems.”

Dr. Akintoye Akindele, Chairman of Platform Capital said “We believe that Anoke, Isiaho and the Zuri Health team have created a platform that addresses the large healthcare infrastructure gap that exists on the continent and has the potential to ensure access to affordable medical care for every African. We look forward to working closely with the team to transform access to healthcare.”