Inspiring New Student-Led Healthcare Ventures Through The Fuel Africa Innovation Program
Futurize, a leading global innovation studio, announced the launch of the second cohort of Fuel Africa, an entrepreneurial bootcamp and venture-building program for students from top-tier universities across Sub-Saharan Africa to develop their creative talent.
Following the success of the inaugural program in 2022, Fuel Africa 2023 returns this year to offer students the chance to apply their innovative, problem-solving, design-thinking, and technical skills to real-world challenges. In partnership with AstraZeneca, through the A. Catalyst Network and co-funded by Bristol Myers Squibb, students will ideate creative solutions to improve access to healthcare and screening, early detection, and optimal management of cancer.
Over 1,000 students compete virtually across ten countries during the program's first half, which runs from March 23-31. Participants form multidisciplinary teams and receive industry insights, mentorship, and hands-on training through workshops in order to develop solutions for their early-stage business ventures. Students in Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana also have opportunities to attend physical events during the program around various university campuses. The top six teams then pitch to a panel of judges for pre-seed funding, mentoring, and access to building their ideas.
“It is a great joy to replicate the success of Fuel Africa this year and expand it to include more countries, universities, an incubator program, and physical events. The intelligence, creativity, and knowledge of young entrepreneurs contribute to the economic growth of the continent. It's our objective to empower them as much as we can,” says Futurize CEO Rhea Singhla.
Futurize's incubator will host the top teams from this year's cohort and last year's cohort during September-November 2023 to build their MVP and assess their market fit. The program also invites other campus-led startups in the field to apply.
“Every day in AstraZeneca we collaborate alongside a number of leading stakeholders in Africa to tackle some of the greatest healthcare challenges faced by populations across the continent, jointly working towards developing pioneering solutions and promoting equitable access to health care. I am delighted that this year AstraZeneca, through the A.Catalyst Network, will once again be partnering with Futurize, offering students in Africa exciting opportunities to connect with a truly global network of expertise to mentor and guide them in realising their ideas, helping to accelerate innovation to ensure that more patients can get access to the latest health tech solutions”, says Gagan Singh, African Cluster Country President at AstraZeneca.
Fuel Africa 2022 upskilled over 1000 students in 11 universities across 7 countries with over 97% of participants better prepared for the professional work environment. Two startups have since been incorporated, while several others are still in the works.
For more information and how to get involved, visit: https://www.futurize.studio/fuel-africa
