[vc_row nav_skin="light" consent_include="include"][vc_column css_animation=""][vc_image_caption aspect_ratio="4:3" overlay_mobile="yes" style="style_1" caption_appear="caption_appear" skin="light" radius="0" title="CLINIC PESA AND MAMA OPE JOIN VILLGRO KENYA'S PORTFOLIO" description="" preloader="" css_animation=""][vc_column_text]The workshop on Bringing MedTech Devices to scale in Uganda brought together various stakeholders in a bid to explore how innovation ecosystem development can facilitate the rapid scaling of health related devices in Uganda.
Dr. Karanja gave insights on the milestones Villgro Kenya has achieved with regards to supporting early stage innovations in East Africa. Speaking on the quality of pipeline on the Villgro Kenya portfolio he explained the process of due diligence that companies go through before being on-boarded onto the incubation program.
"Entrepreneurship is all about meeting demand. Villgro Kenya talks to all the stakeholders in our portfolio companies to ensure they position themselves for maximum impact and sustainability."
He also added that one the companies come onto the program, they are taken through customized model validations for maximum impact.
“We take all our companies through model validations to come up with the most suitable business model for each. We believe one size does not fit all.” Explained Dr. Karanja.
On how to attract accelerator programs, he mentioned that some of the key incentives for bringing an accelerator into the space include local investor participation; local money brings in local expertise. Events and meet-ups like competitions and hack-a-thons also help increase the quality of companies/innovations, making it more attractive to accelerators.
Speakers for the event also included Co-creation - Sourcing Design Projects, Soumyadipta Acharya MD, MSE, Ph.D. Graduate Program Director, Center for Bioengineering Innovation and Design (CBID) who spoke on Expanding academic partnerships.
Dr. Data Santorino, Uganda Country Manager Consortium for affordable medical technology (CAMTech;) Uganda’s first Tech Transfer office provided advice on IP development with regards to medical technologies.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]