The Health Equity for Africa Program is an initiative by Boehringer Ingelheim and Villgro Africa designed to support social entrepreneurs (SEs) tackling health disparities across Sub-Saharan Africa. This program aligns with Boehringer Ingelheim’s sustainability commitment to improve the lives of 50 million people through social engagement models by 2030. Through incubation, acceleration, and catalytic funding, they empower high-impact SEs to scale their solutions and drive sustainable health equity.
Program Structure
Incubation Phase (6 Months)
Weekly coaching from a dedicated portfolio manager and expert mentors.
Monthly masterclasses covering business modelling, operations, and investment readiness.
Graduation pitches for the chance to move to the acceleration phase (selection for acceleration is not assured).
Access to incubation grants based on need assessment.
Acceleration Phase (6 Months)
Bi-weekly coaching and expert-led mentorship.
Quarterly diagnostic panels with industry leaders.
Access to research vouchers to validate and refine solutions.
Investor connections, with direct engagement from Boehringer Ingelheim and Villgro Africa.
Showcase at MMH T for networking and investment opportunities.
Eligibility
To be eligible, social enterprises must meet the following criteria:
Registered for-profit business with operations in at least one African market.
Post-revenue company with a minimum annual revenue of USD 250,000 and a strong operational track record.
Demonstrated market traction, serving a sizable customer base and addressing a clear demand.
Seeking to raise USD 1M+ in the next year with a clear growth strategy.
A full-time, dedicated founding team, with the company operating for at least three years.
Clear social impact, improving healthcare access for at least 60,000 people annually.
Proven ability to leverage funding and secure financing through grants, equity, or debt.
Compliance with regulatory frameworks within the healthcare sector and investment standards.
Robust impact measurement framework with defined KPIs for tracking health outcomes and financial performance.
Geographical focus on Africa.
Benefits
This program provides unparalleled support to social enterprises working to improve healthcare access in underserved communities. Selected SEs will benefit from:
Catalytic Funding: Grants up to USD 80K to support growth and impact.
Tailored Support: Six months of incubation and six months of acceleration, including expert mentorship and coaching.
Investor Connections: Direct linkages to potential investors to explore funding opportunities.
Capacity Building: Masterclasses, diagnostic panels, and research support to strengthen business models and investment readiness.
Global Exposure: A showcase and networking opportunity at the annual Making More Health Together (MMH T) convention in Germany.
