The Health Entrepreneurship (HENT) Challenge’s first cohort is getting ready for their upcoming visit to Toronto, where they will continue their implementation phase through activities targeting business development, expanding entrepreneurial networks and facilitating exposure to potential investors.
In the meantime, the HENT Communications team caught up with the ventures from the first HENT Challenge cohort to learn more about the origins of their companies, what they’ve learned to date, and what is coming up next…
DoctorsLive
Pauline Gethi was inspired to start DoctorsLive with the simple mindset that change is possible. Gethi had previously tried to seek support from a mental health professional, only to find that it would take her over one year to finally receive quality care. For Gethi, and the many others facing this barrier to care, this meant being left to face her mental health challenges alone. From this experience, Gethi recognized a gap in quality mental health care in Africa, and DoctorsLive was created to be the source of change that the system desperately needs.
Some of the challenges that DoctorsLive are seeking to solve include long wait times to book therapy sessions, inaccessibility for many patients, and a limited number of mental health practitioners. Awareness of mental health disorders is also lacking in the region which has led to stigma and discrimination, creating additional barriers to accessing mental health care.
DoctorsLive aims to combat these problems through personalized and on-demand digital mental health care that matches individuals to a care plan that is tailored to their unique needs. DoctorsLive offers a range of care services, including mental health assessments, video therapy sessions, live coaching, a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) chatbot and self-care resources. Through these varied models of care, clients of DoctorsLive benefit from diversity, quality and affordability through a single point-of-access.
What is the accomplishment to date that your team is most proud of?
As a team, DoctorsLive is proud to launch their MVP, to continue learning from their customers, and integrate improvements into the app as needed. From March 2022 to December 2022, the app hosted an estimated 165 therapy sessions. Additionally, the venture is proud to be a part of the African Impact Initiative 2022 Incubation program.

If you could give advice to another founder getting started, what would that be?
“Fall in love with the problem, not the solution. Don’t let other people validate your company if you are truly passionate about your idea and you know it is going to change people’s lives.”
In the coming year, DoctorsLive is looking to increase their sales growth rate from 10% to 30% and expand their client base to the African diaspora. As they continue to grow, DoctorsLive plans to launch their B2B platform to help businesses improve the well-being of their employees, as well as create a healthy work environment that can better their employees’ productivity. While working towards this goal, the venture is continuously upgrading the platform to best serve their users and deliver the highest quality of care possible.

You can learn more about DoctorsLive
More News & Events
Skip scroller content
What Ghana’s Vaccine Ambitions Teach Us About Africa’s Health Sovereignty
Dr. Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, Chief Executive Officer of Ghana’s National Vaccine Institute (NVI), shares Ghana’s compelling vision for health sovereignty at the Health Innovation Festival (HIFest 2026) in Accra.

Health Innovation Festival 2026 Opens in Ghana with a Call for Collaboration, Innovation, and Investment
HIFest 2026 brings together emerging entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, and health-sector leaders from across Africa and beyond to explore locally driven solutions to some of the continent’s most pressing healthcare challenges

Inside HIFest 2026: Meet the 37 Ventures Shaping the Future of Health in Africa
These African-led ventures represent some of the most promising health innovations advancing primary healthcare, entrepreneurship, and health systems strengthening across the continent.

Africa’s Young Health Innovators Need More Than a Stage
HIFest is the nexus where Africa’s young health innovators turn their bold and transformative ideas into huge impacts. Here’s an opportunity to fuel the future of Africa’s healthcare system.

Strengthening Pandemic Preparedness through WASH and Infection Prevention
Join two IPC and WASH experts as they share practical approaches to strengthening healthcare systems through sustainable WASH services and robust IPC measures.
Road to HIFest 2026: Winning Innovations from AfyaFest 2025
As preparations begin for HIFest 2026 in Accra, Ghana, this June, jointly hosted by Ashesi University and KNUST, we celebrate the 2025 winning innovators advancing equitable primary healthcare access across the continent.

Health Innovation Festival 2026 Heads to Accra, Ghana this June
The future of healthcare in Africa will be shaped by young innovators, bold partnerships, and locally driven solutions — and the Health Innovation Festival (HIFest 2026) – formerly AfyaFest, aims to bring all three together in one dynamic continental gathering. This flagship innovation event of the Africa Health Collaborative (AHC) will take place in Accra, Ghana, from June 4-6, 2026. Co-hosted by two of Ghana’s leading universities — Ashesi University […]

Leveraging Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and AI Innovations to Strengthen Healthcare Delivery in Ghana
Join policymakers, health practitioners, and digital health innovators to learn valuable lessons on applying data-driven approaches in real-world health system contexts.

#IWD2026: Give to Gain—The Ripple Effect of Investing in Women Leaders in Global Health
Read about how fellows from the Women in Global Health Leadership Fellowship are leading and strengthening health systems across Africa.

FemSTEM Africa 2026: Kickoff Event & Panel
Join Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) & U of T on Tuesday, March 31 as we kickoff the FemSTEM Africa 2026 event series!
