HealthX Africa backs three startups with $10,000

July 1, 2026 by Chinyere Okoroafor

HealthX Africa backs three startups with $10,000

Twelve early-stage health technology startups completed the inaugural edition of the HealthX Catalyst incubation programme. Three emerging ventures received a combined grant of $10,000 to accelerate the development and commercialisation of their healthcare solutions.

The 12-week programme, organised by Evon Labs, concluded with a Demo Day on June 24 at the UNDP Innovation Centre in Lagos. This event brought together investors, healthcare leaders, development partners and innovation stakeholders to assess technology-driven solutions addressing healthcare challenges across Africa.

The participating startups showcased innovations focused on improving access to healthcare, service delivery, health system efficiency and technology-enabled patient care.

Delivering the keynote address, Fola Laoye, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Iwosan Investments Limited, said innovation, collaboration and stronger private-sector participation would be critical to transforming Nigeria’s healthcare sector.

Laoye noted that while the healthcare ecosystem presents significant opportunities, sustained support for entrepreneurs is necessary to enable them to build scalable, sustainable solutions that improve health outcomes.

Also speaking, Anuoluwa Ife-Olatunji, Group Chief People Officer of the EHA Group, urged the startups to focus on developing products that provide long-term solutions to the country’s healthcare challenges.

Isioma Udeozo, Founder of Evon Labs, said the HealthX Catalyst programme was created to support entrepreneurs building practical solutions to pressing healthcare problems.

According to her, the participating founders demonstrated remarkable growth and resilience throughout the 12-week incubation programme.

She described the Demo Day as more than a graduation event, saying it showcased the strength of locally developed innovations and the impact of providing startups with mentorship, technical guidance and access to a supportive innovation ecosystem.

Udeozo encouraged the founders to remain committed to solving healthcare challenges, continue refining their products and build sustainable businesses capable of delivering lasting impact across the continent.

At the close of the programme, three startups were selected to receive a combined grant of $10,000 to support product development, pilot projects, market validation and early-stage expansion.

Evon Labs said the HealthX Catalyst programme was established to address gaps in Africa’s health technology ecosystem, where many promising startups struggle to move beyond the idea stage due to limited access to mentorship, funding and industry networks.

The inaugural programme received support from Washington University in St. Louis, which provided funding to strengthen the research component of participating innovations.

Dr. Juliet Iwelunmor, Professor of Medicine at the university, commended the startups for developing innovative healthcare solutions and encouraged them to continue creating technologies tailored to Africa’s healthcare needs.

Other partners supporting the initiative included the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Odu’a Investment Company Limited, the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, EHA Group, Brooks Insights and NOVVA Media & Communications, which provided technical support, industry connections and visibility for participating startups.