Villgro Africa has invested Kes171.8 million into Kenyan health startups in seven years.

 The early-stage business incubator has given 36 Kenyan startups a lion’s share of Villgro Africa’s investments accounting for Kes271.5 million.

Villgro Chief executive officer and Co-Founder Wilfred Njagi noted that since the inception of the company, it has enabled access to healthcare to those at the bottom of the pyramid.

Further, she said that Villgro has steadily invested seed funding in social enterprises with homegrown solutions that are solving Africa’s healthcare and lifestyle dilemmas.

“To date, these enterprises have generated revenues of over $5.2 million, generated 540 jobs and touched more than 2 million lives,” she added.

On his part, Villgro Africa co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer, Robert Karanja, noted that local manufacturing in the healthcare sector presents an opportunity for startups and investors.

Additionally, Karanja noted that reduced international funding would be an opportunity for African governments, corporates, and others to invest in the start-up ecosystem.

“As we celebrate 7 years of growth and impact, we are incredibly grateful for a pipeline of quality companies, for funders who believe in the vision, our board members and mentors who freely give of their time and expertise and our clients who entrust their plans to our team,” he said.

However, Villgro Africa has set its eyes on unveiling an Incubator-Fund Platform in partnership with Jaza Rift Fund, with a target fund size of $30 million, aimed at supporting startups graduating from the incubator.

“We are excited about the launch of a Biotech Innovation Hub that will create shared value by leveraging East Africa’s genetic diversity to accelerate the development of drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics for the control and elimination of poverty-related diseases, rare diseases, neglected tropical diseases and NCDs,” explained Wilfred.

To achieve this, Villgro Africa has set its eyes on launching an Incubator-Fund Platform in partnership with Jaza Rift Fund, with a target fund size of $30 million, aimed at supporting startups graduating from the incubator.

Notable startups that Villgro Africa has invested in include Drop Access, a Kenyan company locally manufacturing portable solar powered, Bena Care.