Wambui Nyabero is an inventor and innovator who is passionate about the healthcare industry, especially technology that keeps us healthy, helps us live better and get better faster. She has 20+ years of experience directing change and growth within both small and large enterprises in the U.S. She has a B.S in Mechanical Engineering & M.S in Manufacturing Systems Engineering from Stanford University and excels at finding creative solutions to human, technical, and logistical problems. Wambui’s focus at Villgro is building the eco-system for medical device development, growing the medical device pipeline and supporting Invention Based Enterprises in their journey from concept, through regulatory approval to commercialization.
Franciscah Nzanga has a wide portfolio of experience in Operations, Programs and Innovations’ design, set-up and management having worked with diverse teams that span across Africa, Asia, Europe and the US. She has set-up and run efficient operations systems, policies and processes in various countries working closely with regulators and other key stakeholders. She is a Certified Micro-insurance expert, having designed sustainable micro-insurance products and processes in East Africa; and has led the charge in the development of community health solutions focused on combating Covid-19, RMNCH, iCCM, ANC and PNC. Her Actuarial Science background and Creative mind allows her to take a systematic approach to her work identifying opportunities for innovation through leveraging data and user insights. She also has an MBA from Hariot Watt University, Edinburgh Business School with a focus on Corporate Governance, Entrepreneurship and Strategy. Her experience in setting up operations and programs in various industries gives her a broad perspective to the different approaches needed to ensure excellence especially at an incubator such as Villgro Africa which supports a diverse range of early-to-late-stage entrepreneurs.
Wilfred holds an MBA from University of Milan and a BSc. in Computer Science. He brings in diverse experience having lived and worked in the Middle East, India and East Africa. He is well plugged into the Kenyan entrepreneurial ecosystem. Following a short stint at the African Venture Capital Association, he was immersed into the startups and incubation world while pitching his idea to a Jordanian-based incubator, OASIS500 in 2012. He went on to do a one-year Villgro fellowship in India (2013/14) after which he took up the challenge of scaling Villgro to Africa.
Dr. Beatrice Murage is an experienced, results-oriented leader in systems strengthening, healthcare management, entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship, digital innovation and exploration/ventures. She has successfully built teams and led strategy, policy formulation, and project implementation in emerging and established markets.
Ordia Akelo holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics Media and Communication from Moi University. She was awarded a Climate Tracker Fellowship as a Climate journalist in 2016 & 2017. She has worked as a writer, editor and managed websites & social media sites for Standard Media Group and the African Network for Internationalization of Education.
Immanuel is a Senior Portfolio Associate on Villgro Kenya’s team. Prior to Villgro Kenya, Immanuel gained multi-sectoral experience working firsthand with businesses throughout Sub-Saharan Africa to develop new business strategies, raise capital, and pioneer innovative products and services. He is an alumni of Zamara Actuaries, Administrators and Consultants and holds a Bachelors in Actuarial Science from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. Immanuel likes everything related to nature, cars, and believes gaming is cool.
Rescue by Flare, an emergency response platform in Kenya is using their robust dispatch system to manage all intake and triage at Kenya’s main COVID-19 isolation, testing, and treatment facilities.
As part of the Wheels For Life consortium, they have also partnered with the Ministry of Health Kenya, AMREF, Bolt, Pharmaccess Foundation, Kenya Healthcare Federation, and Telesky to get expectant mothers to the hospital during curfew hours.
Through their network of first responders, the team has fielded 3,714 calls, dispatched 198 taxis, and 60 ambulances. Their fast response rates have helped save the lives of an average of 8 mothers every night, since the initiative began.
Telemedicine platform enables patients to get treatment from any part of the country without having to visit a hospital physically and exposing themselves to COVID-19.
Artificial Intelligence based solutions and data analytics for diagnosis of Covid-19 from Xray images. Have developed a system that detects COVID-19 using AI in real time.
Images can be uploaded to the system via a website portal and diagnosis is returned in real time
Ventilate Africa have developed a ventilator locally for the treatment of COVID 19. This is in line with the impending global shortage of ventilators due to the high number of cases in countries with low healthcare infrastructure.
A functional prototype of a locally manufactured ventilator developed using a wind screen motor. Currently working closely with the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute to develop the second prototype that meets global standards.
Simbona Africa, an Ethiopian healthcare research and development company developed a fully automated UVC room sterilizer for use in hospitals and public spaces.
The UVC apparatus is fitted with UVC lamps (8 watts) that emit high-intensity ultraviolet light that is able to kill microorganisms and pathogens found on surfaces in the room including COVID-19. It has the ability to disinfect up to 40 square meters of a room at any given time.
They have manufactured 14 units and are in the process of delivering 30 orders requested from the Ministry of Health Ethiopia. Villgro Kenya will help scale their production and unlock regional partnerships so that their devices can serve other countries within the region.
