i3 — Investing in Innovation Africa
FoundationNairobi · Pre-Seed–Growth · 22 people tracked
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Investment thesis
i3 is a pan-African program focused on commercializing and scaling African health technology innovators, particularly those improving healthcare supply chains and expanding access to medicines and care. Over a three-year period it provides risk-tolerant grant funding, customer introductions to major healthcare organizations, bespoke deal facilitation, and communications and advocacy support. The initiative aims to strengthen African health systems and accelerate progress toward universal health coverage by identifying and backing market-creating innovations. It is backed by leading global healthcare and supply-chain organizations and coordinated by specialist advisory partners, targeting ventures that bring affordable, high-quality health products and services closer to patients.
Source: firm website, verified Nov 1, 2026.
Team · 22 people
from the firm's websiteSteering committee member affiliated with the Gates Foundation.
Steering committee member affiliated with the Gates Foundation.
Steering committee member affiliated with the Endless Foundation.
Steering committee member affiliated with the Kühne Foundation.
Steering committee member affiliated with Boehringer Ingelheim.
Steering committee member affiliated with the Christensen Institute.
Steering committee member affiliated with Ignite Venture Studio.
Steering committee member affiliated with MSD.
Steering committee member affiliated with Sanofi.
Oladunni Lawal is an Associate Director at Salient Advisory with experience in business transformation, organizational design, risk management, and process improvement across the Financial Services Industry. His work focuses on strategic planning, implementation, and stakeholder engagement to address complex business challenges.
Olufunto Olude is a pharmacist and public health practitioner currently serving as Senior Associate at SCIDaR - Solina Centre for International Development and Research. With experience in inventory and drug supply management, customer service, and event hosting, Olude works toward developing healthcare policies that support equitable and affordable access to quality care.
Steering committee member affiliated with Cencora.
Philip Carroll is a communications executive with nearly two decades of experience across non-profit, for-profit, and philanthropic sectors. He has held leadership roles at organizations including PATH, Save the Children, the International Rescue Committee, and the Johnson & Johnson Foundation, and previously led the global communications team at Smile Train. Carroll currently serves as Strategic Communications Lead and Project Manager at the American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association.
Steering committee member affiliated with the Council on Foreign Relations.
Steering committee member affiliated with MSD.
Somto Keluo-Udeke is a Senior Consultant at Salient Advisory specializing in global health strategy and African healthtech scaling. With over eight years of experience as a pharmacist, he works across supply chains, digital health, and primary care systems, leading engagements with governments, health agencies, and healthtech founders to advance health innovation outcomes. He writes and speaks on African health innovation, market design, and care delivery models.
Uchenna Igbokwe is Chief Executive Officer of the Solina Centre for International Development and Research. He brings over five years of experience in management consulting and project management across private, public, and international development sectors, with particular focus on health systems strengthening. His background includes conducting health care system diagnostics and leading teams on large-scale implementation projects.
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does i3 — Investing in Innovation Africa invest at?
- i3 — Investing in Innovation Africa invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Growth stages.
- What is i3 — Investing in Innovation Africa's typical check size?
- i3 — Investing in Innovation Africa typically writes checks of $50K – $225K.
- What sectors does i3 — Investing in Innovation Africa focus on?
- i3 — Investing in Innovation Africa focuses on Digital Health, Healthtech, Impact & Social Good, Logistics & Supply Chain, Medical Devices.
- Where is i3 — Investing in Innovation Africa located?
- i3 — Investing in Innovation Africa is headquartered in Nairobi, KE.
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