This article was originally published on 26 July 2018 on www.ehealthnews.co.za.
Following the successful completion of their inaugural digital health accelerator earlier this year, Digital Health Cape Town (DHCT) have announced the commencement of their second accelerator programme along with their chosen finalists. With the goal of fostering local healthcare innovation, this second round was open to digital health tech entrepreneurs and startups, as well as medical devices linked to apps and ideas in the pre-commercialisation stage.
“We have an exciting second cohort joining our accelerator programme,” said DHCT Founder, Siraaj Adams. “The candidates affirm our initial belief that South Africa has some of the best digital health talent and we are impressed by the diversity of applications and founders. I’m proud to say that we have over 60% female-lead companies in this cohort.”
The selected second DHCT accelerator finalists have each developed innovative digital health solutions and medical devices that address real-world problems. The successful participants are:
Zulfa Carloo: TreatED – TreatED offers a discreet exclusive platform for male patients diagnosed with erectile dysfunction.
Redaa Cader: ExPharm – Expharm is a mobile and web-based platform that facilitates pharmacies to sell their soon to expire or overstocked products.
Gokul Nair: Impulse Biomedical – Impulse Biomedical is a medical devices startup that develops affordable healthcare technology.
Neo Hutiri: Technovera – Technovera is a social impact startup that has developed a smart locker system that enables patients to easily collect their repeat chronic medication.
Sylvia Klopper: CareChamp – CareChamp is a web and app-based platform that connects homecare seekers with qualified & vetted caregivers.
Radiyya Moosa: Elixir – Elixir is a mobile application based pharmacy, partnered with an on demand delivery service.
Dr Carol Thomas: iMobiMaMa – iMobiMaMa is an interactive service that records maternal health information and responds with information appropriate to individual needs.
Miriam Parker: SignSupport – SignSupport is a mobile app which facilitates medicine instructions and healthcare information between a pharmacist and a patient who speaks a different language.
The digital health and medical devices finalists will take part in a 12-week programme which started on 20 July 2018. As part of the programme, the participants will receive mentoring and in-person sessions with eHealth systems experts and engage in product design discussions with key opinion leaders. The sessions will focus on digital health problem and solution development; strategic planning and alignment to the healthcare environment; defining and marketing a value proposition; stakeholder’s analysis, building a sales pipeline and pitching a business plan, as well as execution of projects and operations.
“Our partners have reconfirmed their commitment to participate and they are excited and impressed with the diversity of our digital health solutions and medical devices participants,” said Adams.
Junior Portfolio Manager at Innovation Edge, Lyndsey Petro, confirmed her excitement about the accelerator. “At Innovation Edge, we work to turn brilliant ideas into sustainable solutions. We therefore understand that accelerators like these are an invaluable resource to budding entrepreneurs.”
“We know from our own experience that connecting, doing and understanding the market are essential for social entrepreneurs as they aim for impact at scale. This is what DHCT offers: a deep understanding of the digital health ecosystem, many connections and lots of doing,” concluded Petro.
Finalists of the accelerator will present at the South African Digital Health Conference 2018 taking place taking place on the 2nd of October 2018 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. This inaugural, one-day event will attract local and international stakeholders from both public and private healthcare to engage with experts, decision makers and colleagues to explore opportunities in digital health.
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