In the bustling city of Chiba, neighboring Tokyo, and the vibrant capital of Rwanda, Kigali, a Japanese startup, Spiker, has been tirelessly working on a revolutionary solution that has the potential to transform healthcare across Africa. Their pioneering creation, Alert-Monitor, is an innovative combination of artificial intelligence (AI) technology and central monitoring software, specifically designed to analyze fetal heart rate labor chart data.
Recently, the startup made headlines when it secured a significant boost to its mission. Inclusion Japan and DG Incubation joined forces, contributing a substantial sum of 83 million yen (approximately $600,000) in a pre-series A round, fueling the momentum behind Alert-Monitor’s potential impact.
At its core, Alert-Monitor is designed to address a heartbreaking reality: the devastatingly high number of infant deaths in developing countries, particularly in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Shockingly, an estimated 3.9 million babies lose their lives every year, accounting for a staggering 95% of global perinatal deaths.
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Rwanda, like many countries in Africa, has felt the profound impact of this crisis. Traditional methods of providing healthcare have been hindered by numerous challenges, such as a severe shortage of medical personnel. Training midwives and nurses to analyze complex cardiotocography (CTG) data proves to be an arduous task in these regions.
This is where Spiker’s Alert-Monitor shines. With its advanced AI technology, the solution efficiently processes data from delivery monitoring equipment, enabling timely and accurate medical decisions. It bridges the gap, allowing midwives and nurses to make informed medical judgments without the need for extensive instruction and training by skilled physicians.
The potential impact of Alert-Monitor on medical institutions across Africa suffering from personnel shortages is immense. Proper utilization of CTG data can lead to appropriate interventions, saving countless lives and easing the burden on already strained healthcare facilities.
An inspiring aspect of Spiker’s work is the spirit of collaboration that fuels their success. Engineers from Rwanda, India, and Japan work hand-in-hand, united by the common goal of improving healthcare outcomes in Africa. To ensure the solution’s efficacy, the team conducts rigorous demonstration tests in Africa, where the number of deliveries far surpasses that of Japan, facilitating an in-depth understanding of the unique challenges faced by the continent.
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As they march forward with determination, Spiker’s engineers engage in speedy collaboration with their Japanese counterparts, fostering innovation and adapting the technology to suit Africa’s specific needs. The recent funding injection will be put to use for crucial activities, including preparations for sales activities in Africa, AI development, and obtaining medical device certifications.
Spiker AI Rwanda Spiker AI Rwanda
Charles Rapulu Udoh
Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer, who has several years of experience working in Africa’s burgeoning tech startup industry. He has closed multi-million dollar deals bordering on venture capital, private equity, intellectual property (trademark, patent or design, etc.), mergers and acquisitions, in countries such as in the Delaware, New York, UK, Singapore, British Virgin Islands, South Africa, Nigeria etc. He’s also a corporate governance and cross-border data privacy and tax expert.
As an award-winning writer and researcher, he is passionate about telling the African startup story, and is one of the continent’s pioneers in this regard