Cardiac TEK gets selected for the 2024 FuturizeU Incubator Program.

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Deals & Close Ups 🤑🤑

Futurize and AstraZeneca announced the second Cohort for its African Healthcare Incubator: Empowering the Next Generation of HealthTech Innovators program which kicked off from August 12th 2024 and expected to be concluded on November 12th 2024. With over 150 applications, the program admitted the top 14 teams from partner universities across Sub-Saharan Africa. These cross-country teams, from 11 countries and 24 universities, are tackling healthcare challenges like medical diagnostics, early detection of cervical cancer, and ocular disease.

Cardiac TEK, a Tanzanian health-tech startup based at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), has been selected to join other teams from participating African countries and universities.

Cardiac TEK leverages technology and data-driven innovations to accelerate and democratize access to specialized quality cardiovascular care and diagnostics in Africa. Their solution is based on cloud-based and AI-aided web software for automated digitization and interpretation of electrocardiogram (ECG) data to enable early diagnosis and management of critical cardiac conditions such as heart attacks and arrhythmias.

Let’s Unpack 😀 

Cardiovascular diseases are the main non-communicable conditions, are major public health concern worldwide.

• Account for 9.2% of total deaths in the African region.

• Account for 7-10% of all adult medical admissions to hospitals in Africa with heart failure contributing to 3-7%

• The reported hospital mortality by cardiovascular disease is high reached 21.9% in Tanzania

• Evidence suggests that the very high cost of CVD treatment .
  

Futurize is committed to equipping the next generation of healthcare entrepreneurs with essential tools to navigate startup complexities. This year's program focuses on leveraging advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to accelerate meaningful healthcare advancements.

Program Highlights:

• Comprehensive Curriculum: An intensive curriculum covering critical startup principles such as product-market fit, financial strategies, and practical go-to-market approaches.

• Mentorship and Networking: Guidance from seasoned advisors and industry experts, providing invaluable networking opportunities.

• Demo Day: Participants will showcase their startups to a network of industry partners, investors, and stakeholders at the FuturizeU Demo Day in November, 2024

The program focuses on nurturing early-stage, health care focused university startups—with the support of the A Catalyst Network’s Africa and Egypt Health Innovation Hubs—and supporting healthcare entrepreneurs to strengthen healthcare systems in Africa and beyond.

Heavenly Pitches

This week, the spotlight was on Tanzanian startups at the VBAN x Malaika Angels Drinks & Deals event, where six innovative businesses pitched their ideas to early-stage investors. The joint event between VBAN and Malaika Ventures Angels from Tanzania was more than just a pitching session—it was a celebration of cross-border collaboration, unlocking new opportunities for capital, market access, and partnerships.

Tanzania's growing angel network scene was a standout topic, with the country now hosting four active networks—double that of Kenya. This is a significant milestone and raises important questions about the factors fueling this growth. .

The ventures that took the stage included:

• Zendawa (Kenya)

• DigiTax (Kenya)

• IDTech Holdings - YesID (Tanzania)

• Medikea (Tanzania)

• Expendo Mobility (Kenya)

• Baki Beauty (Kenya)

What truly resonated was the potential each venture showcased. It was a powerful reminder that, while our ecosystem's journey may not always be straightforward, our collective vision and efforts are making a real impact.

Startup Spotlight🌟🌟

Chanzi’s Expands Operation.

Chanzi, a company based in Tanzania, specializes in producing animal feed protein by converting food waste into protein using Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL). Their innovative approach not only addresses critical environmental issues but also supports 16 out of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, including combating deforestation and climate change.

By operating a facility capable of planting 49,000 trees, Chanzi actively contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, their BSFL farming method is highly efficient, using 671 fewer acres than traditional soybean farming while producing more protein and consuming fewer resources like water.

Chanzi is currently expanding its operations across East Africa, with three commercial farms processing over 50 metric tons of organic waste daily. This process yields 1-2 tons of dried BSFL each day. The expansion in Kenya and Tanzania has significantly increased waste collection by 260%.

The environmental impact of Chanzi’s work is profound, having prevented 2,300 metric tons of CO2 emissions from entering the atmosphere. Chanzi’s CEO, Andrew Wallace, stated, “We believe Chanzi has developed the most suitable, viable, and scalable model for managing waste and farming insects (BSF) in Africa. Our dream is to replicate this model across the continent, transforming numerous cities into zero waste to landfill zones.”

For more information about Chanzi, visit Chanzi.

Dawa Mkononi Launches New Sales-Force Platform

Dawa Mkononi is unlocking opportunities in sales operations with the release of their new Sales-Force platform. This innovative tool is designed to supercharge sales teams with actionable insights and enhanced efficiency in their day-to-day activities 💡.

But the impact doesn't stop there. The platform also opens up exciting opportunities for freelancers, providing a flexible way to earn extra income. Now, individuals can join the platform as sales professionals, working on their terms and making a meaningful impact in the process.

With the new Sales-Force platform, salespeople can:

• Track their performance with ease, staying on top of their goals.

• Access client information effortlessly, ensuring smooth relationship management.

• Monitor order status and follow up on payments seamlessly, keeping operations running smoothly.

Dawa Mkononi's new platform is a game-changer for both seasoned sales teams and those looking to break into the field. Whether you're aiming to boost your team's productivity or explore new income opportunities, this tool is designed to support your success every step of the way.

Community Highlights 🔥🔥

Bank of Tanzania Launches Regulatory Sandbox to Support Fintech Innovation and Financial Inclusion.

The Bank of Tanzania has introduced a regulatory sandbox for Fintech startups, aiming to boost financial inclusion and drive innovation within the country’s financial sector. This sandbox will allow new financial technologies to be tested in a controlled environment, ensuring customer protection throughout the process.

• The regulation targets three key groups:

• Licensed Financial Service Providers

• Fintech Companies Partnering with Licensed Providers

• Independent Fintech Companies

To qualify for the sandbox, companies must submit a detailed risk profile of their financial solution, outlining potential risks, their causes, effects, and control measures. Once approved, companies have up to nine months to conduct testing. During this period, they are required to protect personal and financial data, address customer complaints, and ensure overall customer safety.

For more information, visit the Bank of Tanzania website.

Tanzania EEAP launches the Energy Audit and Management Training. 

On 12th August 2024, Tanzania Energy Efficiency Action Plan Project launched the Energy Audit and Management Training at Dar-es-salaam Institute of Technology (DIT) to continue the support of energy efficiency initiatives in Tanzania.

The program with a total of 132 participants, from both government and private sectors, is structured into six cohorts, each with 22 trainees. This program, combining both classroom learning with practical hands-on experience, aims at building the capacity of the participants and providing accreditation to those who will pass exams at the end of the program, enabling them to conduct energy audits and management.

The Energy Efficiency Action Plan is a 3-year project under the Ministry of Energy, funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), European Union (EU) and Embassy of Ireland, with the aim of promoting energy efficiency practices in Tanzania and ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. This training particularly aims at fulfilling a key action for the development of professional qualifications and skills in energy management and audit in support of the country’s energy policy and Tanzania National Development Vision 2025.

Energy efficiency is a potential yet highly untapped line of business in the energy sector in Tanzania which focuses on ensuring businesses with performances and conducts that are cost-saving, increased productivity, and reduced carbon emission.

It is a call for innovators and actors in the ecosystem to also look into the creation of green jobs and support of the global net zero carbon emission agenda.

Event Highlights 🌟🌟

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