Sanofi In Africa Challenges: Global pharma calls for African health solutions

Global pharmaceutical company Sanofi is calling on African innovators within the medical and healthcare sectors to enter the Sanofi In Africa Challenges.

The Sanofi in Africa Challenges — of which there are three — aim to identify, reward and support startups with innovative and adaptive solutions with the potential to disrupt Africa’s health sector.

The first focuses on solutions that can diagnose non-communicable diseases. The second challenge focuses on telemedicine solutions with mobile payment integration. While the third centers around multi-device and multi-channel solutions that can both educate and inform health professionals on non-communicable diseases.

Applications to the Sanofi in Africa Challenges close on 15 February

Selected winners will get the opportunity to join the company in a lab for three days at VivaTech 2018 in Paris.

The conference which takes place between 24 May and 26 May is expected to bring 6000 startups together with investors, tech leaders and other companies from around the world.

In addition, the challenge winners will also get to pitch their solutions in front of jury at the conference. Selected projects stand to benefit from financial assistance and support from Sanofi, including coaching and mentoring.

Selection

In March 2018, a jury will select the successful participants that will attend VivaTech. The selected startups will be announced on 26 March.

The judges will evaluate the startups based on the following criteria; proof of results in an African country, maturity of the project, relevance of the solutions, market and business model potential, competences of team members, expertise and proof of concept.

“For over 50 years, we have been committed to improving access to medicines and healthcare for all African communities and people. We feel it is our responsibility to accompany, develop and shine a light on these talented South African startups”, Sanofi South Africa country chair and RX general manager Thibault Crosnier Leconte said in a press release.

The challenges are open to all Africans and interested innovators have until 15 February to submit their applications here.