Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [15/04/2020]

A Cape Town based healthtech Ingress Healthcare has raised a R6-million investment for a platform that distributes spare consulting rooms in hospitals and clinics to general practitioners and specialists.

This, as Egyptian accelerator programme Falak Startups is offering up to 1 million Egyptian pounds in investment and support for startups to help them tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.

With the coronavirus (Covid-19) headlining news all over the world, Ventureburn has launched a regular daily roundup on the virus and how it is affecting Africa’s tech startup sector.

Those with any news releases relating to Covid-19 and Africa’s tech startup sector can send these to editor@memeburn.com.

Cape Town based healthtech Ingress Healthcare has raised a R6m investment

Here then is the latest on the coronavirus and African tech startups:

Ingress Healthcare lands R6m: Cape Town based healthtech Ingress Healthcare has raised R6-million to help it to scale its platform that aims to distribute spare consulting rooms in hospitals and clinics to general practitioners and specialists. The platform also manages their administration and helps them to book clients. This could prove vital in tackling Covid-19, particularly at a time when many doctors and specialists have shut their consulting rooms. The platform which went live in December last year, was founded in 2018 by three doctors: Jason McArthur (the CEO), Noxolo Gqada (pictured above) and Nicolina Bardou (see this story).

Egyptian accelerator launches call: Egyptian accelerator programme Falak Startups is offering up to 1 million Egyptian pounds in investment and support for startups to help them tackle the Covid-19 pandemic. Tech publication Disrupt Africa reported in an article yesterday that the six-month programme is open startups in healthtech, fintech, logistics, 3D printing, remote work and edtech sectors.

Over 10 000 firms apply for UIF: South Africa’s Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has received over 10 000 applications from employers for the Department of Labour’s Covid-19 Temporary Employee/Employer Relief Scheme (Ters), The Cape Argus newspaper reported in an article yesterday. It said the department has also set aside R40-billion to help employees who are unable to work during the lockdown. By last Friday (10 April), R356-million had been paid out.

SA edtech offers free learning material: Cape Town based edtech Snapplify has announced that it has partnered with key South African publishing partners to launch a free access programme for children and young adults, and their teachers and parents – unlocking over 5000 more free titles to support remote learning until 31 December. The selection of digital content covers educational resources for the CAPS curriculum, including e-textbooks, readers, teacher guides and study guides, as well as interactive products like the Zoom In series.

Read more: Covid-19 and African tech startups roundup [14/04/2020]
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Featured image: Ingress Healthcare co-founder Noxolo Gqada. The startup’s other co-founders are Jason McArthur and Nicolina Bardou (Supplied)