Sanofi has opened the application for African technology entrepreneurs and startups to apply for the AfricaTech Challenge 2020.
AfricaTech is a lab dedicated by Sanofi at VivaTech to encourage open innovation by African technology startups. The AfricaTech Challenge initiative is part of Sanofi’s strategy to promote entrepreneurship and development in the health sector in Africa.
This year, Sanofi announced four health challenges for its AfricaTech Challenge:
1.) How to support patients with a digital health book in order to access information and make a decision.
2.) How to help healthcare systems leapfrog from manual to smart logistics solution at the point of care.
3.) How to improve financing and impact of innovative health solutions in Africa
4.) Sanofi Espoir Foundation’s challenge on how to improve maternal and neonatal health in sub-Saharan Africa.
Benefits
1.) A corner to demonstrate your solution to the attendees in the Lab
2.) Develop your network with key stakeholders and investors
3.) 4 tickets / 3 days at VivaTech
4.) Some support for traveling costs to Paris
5.) Opportunity to attend a pitch preparation workshop the day before VivaTech
6.) Pitch in front of a jury composed of Sanofi top executives and key external stakeholders
7.) Engage deep discussion with expert functions and Sanofi in Africa General Managers to assess the feasibility of future collaboration in Africa (e.g. potential pilot, potential scale-up in another African country)
8.) Coaching / Mentoring & potential acceleration, with the involvement of Sanofi Africa Leadership team
9.) Opportunity for access to Sanofi internal expertise to support your business and your international growth strategy
Director, External Affairs at Sanofi Nigeria, Oladimeji Agbolade, said: “We are in search of affordable and user-friendly solutions from African start-ups, with at least a proof of concept with positive results, in at least one country in Africa.
This initiative provides a unique opportunity for aspiring tech-preneurs in Nigeria to showcase their talent and provide real solutions to some of the issues currently plaguing the health sector.
“We invite startups from Nigeria to submit their solutions to these challenges. This call for projects is free and open to all. Interested applicants are to visit.”
Entries close on the 25th of February 2020. Selected startups will be invited to AfricaTech to pitch and demonstrate their solutions before an audience of Sanofi leaders, industry professionals, and a jury during the VivaTech event holding in Paris, France on June 11-13, 2020.
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