eHealth - Afrikan Heroes

Egyptian Healthtech Startup TakeStep Secures Seed Funding Round

March 30, 2021

Egypt’s angel investors are some of the most active in Africa. Serial investor and entrepreneur Mohamed Hossam Khedr and another undisclosed angel investor have poured some seed funding into TakeStep, a Cairo-based healthtech startup that aims to support people struggling with substance abuse and addiction. Khedr becomes TakeStop’s latest managing partner, following the latest investment.

“We’re very excited about closing this investment round, and proud of the unfailing trust our investors have in us,” said Mohamed Khashaba, CEO of TakeStep. “We look forward to further developing our technology and operations in order to help more patients in the region on their road to recovery.”

*The team at TakeStep. Image credits: TakeStep*

Here Is What You Need To Know

Ahmed Hossam, a gamification guest lecturer at Oakland University for AI PHD Researchers and vice-chair at The International Gamification Confederation, has also joined the TakeStep board at this stage.

The funding will assist TakeStep in expanding its operations to the Gulf Countries made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates — except for Iraq.

The startup was part of the RiseUp Pitch Competition in 2018, securing funding in the process.

Why The Investors Invested

“This is truly an exciting time for TakeStep. I am personally thrilled about joining this exceptional team, and cannot wait to see how the company will grow in the coming months,” said Khedr. “TakeStep is very intelligently using technology to transform patients’ healing processes, and has a significant impact on the community.”

A Look At What The Startup Does

Launched in 2018, TakeStep helps patients, licenced therapists, and guardians to interact with one another while still allowing them power over their rehabilitation. Since its founding, the organisation has helped over 15,000 people in resolving their addictions.

Takestep has initiated many campaigns to provide mental health care to over 260,000 Egyptians since the beginning of the pandemic.

Charles Rapulu Udoh

Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer who has advised startups across Africa on issues such as startup funding (Venture Capital, Debt financing, private equity, angel investing etc), taxation, strategies, etc. He also has special focus on the protection of business or brands’ intellectual property rights ( such as trademark, patent or design) across Africa and other foreign jurisdictions.
He is well versed on issues of ESG (sustainability), media and entertainment law, corporate finance and governance.
He is also an award-winning writer

TakeStep healthtech funding TakeStep healthtech funding

South Africa ’s e-health startup Erada Raises $318k For malaria diagnostics tool

September 11, 2019

Apart from fintechs, logistics and transport, Venture Capital firms seem to be going after Africa’s e-health startups this year. South Africa ‘s e-health startup Erada is the latest to join the league of fund raisers, with a new EUR288,000 (US$318,000) foundation grant from the De Beers Group to support its saliva-based Malaria Asymptomatic and Asexual Rapid Test (SMAART) test.

Here Is The Deal

De Beers Group, which has mining operations in South Africa, Botswana, Canada and Namibia, has provided the grant through its Venetia Diamond Mine in Limpopo, close to the border with Zimbabwe and Botswana.
The foundation grant from mining firm De Beers Group will be utilised in the final stages of Erada’s work prior to the product’s global launch, planned to coincide with World Malaria Day in April 2020. SALVA! will complete its field trials before full commercialisation and distribution in 2020.
The (SMAART) test developed by Erada is known as SALVA!, and is the world’s first ever saliva-based rapid diagnostic test for malaria. It includes a simple device for standardised collection of saliva, and can detect parasites circulating in an infected human before symptoms start to show, assisting in early detection of malaria.

“This generous grant from De Beers Group makes it possible for Erada to complete much of our vital preparatory work before we conduct field trials and finalisation of commercialisation of SALVA!,” said the startup’s founder Dr Benji Pretorius.

“The introduction of SALVA! is going to play a major part in achieving effective diagnostic testing and surveillance; as well as prevention and treatment of this disease, and therefore will be a major catalyst in meeting the WHO’s 2030 target to reduce malaria incidence and mortality by 90 per cent, ” Dr. Benji Pretorius said.

Read also: South Africa: e-health Startup SmartBlade Raises $635k

Why De Beers Group Invested In The Startup

“Mining and exploration operations face a number of unique challenges related to exposure to endemic diseases such as malaria, emergency medical care and in some cases a lack of available health services. Our investment in a local business which has the potential to transform the lives of millions of people worldwide is a logical extension of De Beers Group’s long history of supporting world and community health projects,” said Gerrie Nortje, general manager of the Venetia mine.

“Through this foundation grant, we are proud to be playing a pivotal early part in the eradication of one of the most pervasive and destructive diseases on the planet.”

Charles Rapulu Udoh

Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based Lawyer with special focus on Business Law, Intellectual Property Rights, Entertainment and Technology Law. He is also an award-winning writer. Working for notable organizations so far has exposed him to some of industry best practices in business, finance strategies, law, dispute resolution, and data analytics both in Nigeria and across the world