The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has approved an equity investment of up to $10 million in Kera Health Platforms, a Senegalese start-up specializing in e-health. This investment, with final approval expected on June 20, 2025, marks a turning point for healthcare technology financing in Francophone Africa.
IFC’s investment will support Kera’s regional expansion within the UEMOA space, as well as the development of inclusive health insurance products. The institution, a branch of the World Bank’s investment arm, will support the young company in adopting international standards in governance, social compliance, and environmental matters.
Prior to this new round, Kera had already raised pre-seed funding from technology angel investors and targeted venture capital funds in an underdeveloped ecosystem in Francophone Africa.
Founded in 2023 in Dakar by Moustapha Cissé (AI expert and founder of AMMI), Papa Sow (former CEO of MTN Guinea), and Hosam Mattar (ex-AXA Africa), Kera Health offers a digital platform powered by artificial intelligence. It integrates medical records, laboratory results, pharmaceutical prescriptions, and insurance data to improve the quality of care, reduce costs, and accelerate payments.
With less than one doctor for every 10,000 inhabitants in Senegal according to the WHO, the startup aims to streamline medical flows and support underserved populations, including informal workers and women, through an evolving, affordable, and personalized service offering.
Opportunities for African healthtech
African healthtech is experiencing strong growth, driven by increasing healthcare needs and rapid digital adoption. Startups like Zipline, Helium Health, or 54gene have raised significant funds in recent years, reflecting this momentum.
Francophone Africa, long overlooked, is starting to attract investor attention. In 2024, the Kenyan startup Kasha, focused on women’s health, raised $21 million in Series B. In West Africa, Ivorian startup Susu secured €2 million in pre-seed funding, while Senegalese Eyone received $1 million to strengthen its teleconsultation and electronic medical records services, with support from Sonatel’s investment fund and BICIS.
