Google for Startups Announces 24 AI-Driven Healthcare Startups for Growth Academy: AI for Health Program

Google for Startups has revealed the 24 startups selected for the 2024 cohort of its Growth Academy: AI for Health program. This initiative is aimed at supporting high-potential startups across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) that are leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize healthcare and medical research.

Among the selected startups are Nigeria’s Healthtracka, Kenya’s Thalia Psychotherapy and TibuHealth, and South Africa’s Zoie Health. These companies are addressing critical healthcare challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa, such as mental health integration, accessible outpatient services, and affordable healthcare for underserved populations.

Thalia Psychotherapy’s AI-powered chatbot increases access to mental health support in a region with a severe shortage of mental health professionals. TibuHealth delivers affordable outpatient services via “minute clinics” in partner pharmacies in high-density neighborhoods.

Dorothy Ooko, Head of Communications and Public Affairs at Google Africa, stated, “We are committed to supporting the growth of innovative startups, particularly those leveraging AI to address critical healthcare challenges. The Growth Academy: AI for Health program is a testament to this commitment, and we are excited to see the impact these startups will have on the future of healthcare.”

The three-month program offers intensive training, mentorship, and networking opportunities. Participants will benefit from workshops on best practices for AI, leadership development, responsible innovation, product design, and customer acquisition. They will also receive one-on-one mentorship and technical project support from Google experts across various domains, including Research, Health, Verily, Fitbit, and DeepMind.

Here is the full list of the selected startups and their healthcare innovations:

1. Aide (United Kingdom): A digital service that helps patients and clinicians manage chronic diseases, specifically comorbidity.
2. AmplifAI (Saudi Arabia): Combines AI-driven thermography and computer vision to assess diabetic foot ulcers.
3. Biorce (Portugal): Enhances clinical trials with AI, featuring Jarvis, a clinical AI assistant.
4. C the Signs (United Kingdom): An AI cancer prediction platform identifying cancer at its earliest stages.
5. Callyope (France): Develops speech-based remote patient monitoring solutions for serious mental illnesses.
6. Clear.bio (Netherlands): Works to reverse type 2 diabetes through precision nutrition and real-time glucometry.
7. Ephion Health (Spain): Develops digital biomarkers for disease monitoring and therapy assessment.
8. Exakt Health (Germany): A certified medical app for physiotherapy with personalized treatment plans.
9. FiveLives (France): A digital brain health platform for cognitive health management in people aged 50+.
10. Healthtracka (Nigeria): Decentralizes access to healthcare in Africa with remote medical diagnostics.
11. HearMe (Poland): Supports employees’ mental health through secure 1:1 sessions with professionals.
12. Juniver (United Kingdom): Provides on-demand help for eating disorders with AI-powered interventions.
13. Mindgram (Poland): Offers a holistic solution for psychological and self-development support.
14. Motherbeing (Egyp: A digital solution for Arab women’s sexual and reproductive health.
15. Noah Labs (Germany): Develops voice-based machine learning software for early detection of heart failure.
16. Nui (Germany): An app supporting family caregivers with an intelligent chatbot.
17. O7 Therapy (Egypt): Offers mental health support via encrypted chat, audio, and video sessions.
18. Powerful Medical (Slovakia): An AI-driven platform for cardiovascular diagnostics.
19. Research Grid (United Kingdom): Automates clinical trials with smart software.
20. Rofim (France): Develops telemedicine software to connect patients with healthcare professionals.
21. SYCAI Medical (Spain) Prevents abdominal cancer non-invasively with medical device software.
22. Thalia Psychotherapy (Kenya): Integrates mental health services into primary healthcare systems.
23. TibuHealth (Kenya) Delivers affordable outpatient services via “minute clinics” in pharmacies.
24. Zoie Health (South Africa): A digital health platform providing affordable and accessible healthcare.

The Growth Academy: AI for Health program is set to drive significant advancements in the healthcare sector by supporting these innovative startups and their AI-driven solutions.