Join us live
← Swipe to see all time zones →
The Health Innovation Festival (formally AfyaFest) is Africa Health Collaborative’s flagship innovation event, bringing together health entrepreneurs and aspiring innovators in a vibrant ecosystem of creativity, mentorship, collaboration and growth.
Hosted by two of Ghana’s leading Universities, Ashesi University and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the Festival will feature two parallel tracks designed to support ventures at different stages of growth. One track will help idea-stage teams transform concepts into prototypes and business models, while the other will support early-stage ventures to strengthen market strategies and accelerate growth.
Over three days in Accra, participants from AHC partner institutions will collaborate with mentors, industry leaders, and public and private sector experts from across Africa and Canada to refine their ideas, strengthen their ventures, and build lasting connections within Africa’s health innovation ecosystem.
Moments from the 2025 Experience
Innovation Track
Track 1: Idea Stage
For visionaries and innovators who have a clear health problem and are actively exploring and testing solutions.
FOCUS:
Refine ideas into clear, evidence-informed solutions with a Business Model Canvas and early prototype.
Track 2: Early Stage
For established early-stage health ventures with a solution that has moved beyond concept into real-world application and are working on refining, validating, and scaling.
FOCUS:
Design and refine actionable go-to-market strategies that drive user acquisition, partnerships, and scalability.
Festival Themes
Ventures across both tracks will address one of the following health innovation themes:
The #HIFest’26 Experience
Enjoy a three-day immersive experience alongside participants and experts from across Africa and Canada.
Day 1
Kick off the festival with business workshops, investor sessions and networking.
Day 2
Deepen your entrepreneurial journey through workshops, coaching clinics, and curated cultural and industry visits.
Day 3
Refine your ideas, pitch your solutions, and celebrate the festival with awards and a closing dinner.
Venture Profiles
Skip scroller content
BellyTalk
Yeabsra A. Sisay (Co-founder & CEO)
Institution: Addis Ababa University
Stage: Idea Stage
Theme: Digital & AI-Driven Healthcare Solutions
BellyTalk solves prenatal care gaps through a digital platform that integrates consultations, peer networks, and product access. Mothers gain affordable online consultations with trained professionals, overcoming barriers of cost and distance.
Savvy General Trading PLC
Hiwot Mehabaw (IT Specialist & Finance Leader)
Institution: Addis Ababa University
Stage: Early Stage
Theme: Digital & AI-Driven Healthcare Solutions
Savvy General Trading PLC provides inclusive assistive technology solutions for people with hearing and visual impairments by using IPAS technology for hearing support and iPads with accessibility features for visual assistance.
Herblma
Iman Redwan (Founder & CEO)
Institution: Addis Ababa University
Stage: Idea Stage
Theme: Indigenous Medicine
HerbIma offers Iron+, a high-bioavailability supplement formulated from Ethiopian Red Teff, which is a gluten-free supergrain naturally rich in iron. Unlike synthetic pills, Iron+ is formulated to eliminate GI irritation, constipation, and nausea.
Digital Mental Health Support for Ethiopian Youth
Yeabsira Yohannes (Lead Researcher)
Institution: Addis Ababa University
Stage: Early Stage
Theme: Mental Health
Our venture provides a digital mental health platform designed to make psychological support accessible, affordable, and confidential for Ethiopian youth.
AfriMedLink
Josue Nguinabe (Lead Founder)
Institution: African Institute of Mathematical Sciences
Stage: Idea Stage
Theme: Digital & AI-Driven Healthcare Solutions
AfriMedLink is a WhatsApp-based medicine locator that helps patients quickly find nearby pharmacies with medication in stock. Users receive pharmacy details, prices, phone numbers, stock status, and map directions within seconds without downloading an app.
Amani Health AI
Nadine Cyizere Bisanukuli (Co-Founder)
Institution: African Institute of Mathematical Sciences
Stage: Idea Stage
Theme: Digital & AI-Driven Healthcare Solution
Amani Health AI is creating a text-based clinical support tool for Rwanda’s community health workers in Kinyarwanda. Built around Rwanda Biomedical Centre protocols, the platform helps frontline workers assess physical and mental health concerns more confidently during patient care.
MESO+
Veronica Ochieng Adhiambo (Founder)
Institution: African Institute of Mathematical Sciences
Stage: Idea Stage
Theme: Mental Health
MESO+ is creating a safe digital space where mothers can check in on their emotional wellbeing and recognise warning signs early. Through private daily support and tracking tools, the venture encourages mothers to seek help before mental health challenges escalate.
KardioSense AI
Patricia Kamau Wanjiru (Strategy and Clinical Validation Lead)
Institution: African Leadership University
Stage: Idea Stage
Theme: Digital & AI-Driven Healthcare Solutions
KardioSense AI is building a portable cardiovascular disease detection system designed for low-resource healthcare settings. Using a compact ECG device and offline functionality, the platform helps healthcare workers assess heart disease risk more efficiently.
Menava Health
Yvone Khavetsa (Founder & CEO)
Institution: African Leadership University
Stage: Early Stage
Theme: Maternal, Child & Community Health
Menava Health is developing a wearable biomedical belt designed to help detect and respond to postpartum complications early. The system combines monitoring sensors with automated support features to improve maternal care and emergency response after childbirth.
Menstrual Empowerment Initiative
Muniratu Muna Iddrisu (Founder)
Institution: African Leadership University
Stage: Early Stage
Theme: Innovative Healthcare Devices & Services
Menstrual Empowerment Initiative produces biodegradable sanitary pads using paper waste, corn husk fibre, and cotton textile scraps sourced locally. By reducing production costs, the venture is making menstrual products more affordable while promoting environmental sustainability.
RiseBeyond Organisation
Flora Uwase (Founder & CEO)
Institution: African Leadership University
Stage: Early Stage
Theme: Digital & AI-Driven Healthcare Solutions
RiseBeyond Organisation is extending physiotherapy support beyond hospitals for children living with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. The platform combines digital rehabilitation plans with community-based care to help families continue treatment from home.
Benevita Home Health Care
Mohamed Yunus (CEO & Clinical Nurse)
Institution: AMREF
Stage: Early Stage
Theme: Maternal, Child & Community Health
Benevita Home Health Care supports patients during recovery by connecting them with professional healthcare practitioners at home. The service helps individuals continue receiving care safely and comfortably after leaving the hospital.
Elmah College of Health Studies – Vocational College
Elizabeth Wamwea (Founder & Director)
Institution: AMREF
Stage: Early Stage
Theme: Innovative Healthcare Devices & Services
Elmah College of Health Studies delivers an agile, vocational training solution that solves youth unemployment while strengthening a fragmented primary healthcare system. The venture bridges this divide by formalizing the education of frontline healthcare support staff and Community Health Promoters (CHPs)
KAARAANGE
Mor Talla Mouhniyan Ndiaye (Founder & Project Lead)
Institution: AMREF
Stage: Early Stage
Theme: Water, Sanitation & Environmental Health
KAARAANGE is developing a smart biomedical waste bin that automatically sorts waste at the source using cameras and sensors. The system helps reduce human error, improve safety, and lower exposure risks for healthcare workers.
Mobile Eye Health & Cataract Surgery Van
Ekisa Ambuchi Kennedy (Team Lead)
Institution: AMREF
Stage: Early Stage
Theme: Maternal, Child & Community Health
Mobile Eye Health & Cataract Surgery Van brings eye care directly to underserved communities through a fully equipped, solar-powered mobile clinic. The van provides screenings, diagnosis, treatment, and cataract surgeries on-site, helping people receive care closer to home.
Mosaan Health
Alyssa Madeleine Fatima Youm (Co-founder & CEO)
Institution: AMREF
Stage: Idea Stage
Theme: Innovative Healthcare Devices & Services
Mosaan Health is developing a portable digital microscope that modernizes laboratory diagnostics in low-resource settings. The device captures high-resolution sample images and assists with disease detection, including malaria and other infections.
Afya-ai Technologies
Evans Kumi (CEO)
Institution: Ashesi University
Stage: Early Stage
Theme: Digital & AI-Driven Healthcare Solutions
Afya-ai Technologies is developing a respiratory health platform that uses breath analysis and non-invasive tools to support early detection of illness. Through a connected mobile app, users can receive real-time health insights and ongoing monitoring support without needing complex medical equipment.
Nurture+
Tracey Lartey (Founder & CEO)
Institution: Ashesi University
Stage: Early Stage
Theme: Maternal, Child & Community Health
NURTURE+ is a digital and community-driven maternal wellness platform providing continuous support for mothers, fathers, and caregivers before, during, and after childbirth.
OvaTrack
Ewura Abena Opare-Ansah (Founder)
Institution: Ashesi University
Stage: Early Stage
Theme: Digital & AI-Driven Healthcare Solutions
OvaTrack is building a private and culturally sensitive reproductive health platform for women. Through mobile and chat-based support, users can access health guidance, symptom checks, educational resources, and timely care referrals in a more accessible way.
nBogne
Tchio Thierry (Founder & CTO)
Institution: Ashesi University
Stage: Early Stage
Theme: Digital & AI-Driven Healthcare Solutions
nBogne compresses clinical records by 90%+, encrypts them, and transmits them between facilities via SMS/USSD over basic 2G cellular, no internet required. Patient data arrives before the patient does, at $0.003 per record.
SeizureGuard
Asedaa Boatemaa Tweneboah-Koduah (Lead Innovator & CEO)
Institution: KNUST
Stage: Idea Stage
Theme: Innovative Healthcare Devices & Services
SeizureGuard is developing a wearable EEG monitoring system for people living with chronic seizures. Combined with a mobile health platform, the solution helps monitor seizure activity in real time and supports safer day-to-day living.
Elias Biosciences Ltd
Michael Darko (Founder & CEO)
Institution: KNUST
Stage: Early Stage
Theme: Innovative Healthcare Devices & Services
Elais Biosciences Ltd. is addressing the problem by establishing a diagnostic laboratory equipped with clinical chemistry, haematology, and hormone analysers to provide accessible, reliable testing services for communities.
IntelliDiag Smart Diagnostics
Kobi Ampem Afriyie (CEO)
Institution: KNUST
Stage: Early Stage
Theme: Digital & AI-Driven Healthcare Solutions
IntelliDiag provides an AI-powered diagnostic platform that analyzes medical images to support the early detection of diseases such as cancer. The system assists healthcare professionals by delivering fast, accurate, and accessible preliminary diagnostic insights, helping reduce delays.
Metagrade Company Limited
Edmond Osei Kwabena Agyapong (Founder)
Institution: KNUST
Stage: Early Stage
Theme: Maternal, Child & Community Health
Metagrade Company Limited is producing a plant-based sweetener designed to help maintain stable blood sugar levels while reducing calorie intake. The product offers a healthier alternative without compromising on taste.
MicroInnovate Hub
Jacob Narh Ahuakessey (Founder & Team Lead)
Institution: KNUST
Stage: Early Stage
Theme: Innovative Healthcare Devices & Services
MicroInnovate Hub develops affordable scientific and medical equipment using open-source technology and 3D printing. One of its key projects adapts OpenFlexure microscopes to provide schools, clinics, and laboratories with low-cost diagnostic tools.
DawaPoint
Alvin Cheruiyot Kiprop (Venture Lead)
Institution: Moi University
Stage: Idea Stage
Theme: Innovative Healthcare Devices & Services
DawaPoint is rethinking how people access medication by placing solar-powered dispensing kiosks in markets, bus terminals, and busy community spaces. Patients can verify their identity through fingerprint scans or RFID cards and speak directly with a remote nurse or pharmacist before receiving medication.
Herbal Glow
Kowthar Mohamed Aftin (Founder & CEO)
Institution: Moi University
Stage: Early Stage
Theme: Indigenous Medicine
Herbal Glow creates natural skincare products designed to address acne, dark spots, and uneven skin tone using plant-based ingredients. The venture focuses on making gentle and affordable skincare accessible to more people.
DAMUBOOST
Linsen Ngweno (Project Manager)
Institution: Moi University
Stage: Early Stage
Theme: Maternal, Child & Community Health
DAMUBOOST is developing a food supplement designed to help women restore and maintain healthy blood levels. The venture focuses on supporting women’s health and wellbeing through accessible nutritional support.
Mind Link
Sharon Nyokabi Mbai (Co-Founder)
Institution: Moi University
Stage: Early Stage
Theme: Mental Health
Mind Link is a mental health support app that combines chatrooms, one-on-one sessions, support circles, and crisis referral services in one platform. The venture aims to create safe spaces where people can access emotional support and mental health resources more easily.
FreshStart Foods
Asanda Dumse (Founder & Manager)
Institution: University of Cape Town
Stage: Idea Stage
Theme: Maternal, Child & Community Health
FreshStart Foods is making healthy eating more affordable through a community backyard farming initiative. By sourcing and growing fresh vegetables locally, the venture helps families access nutritious food at lower prices while supporting healthier lifestyles.
Ingcambu
Asanda Qoyi (Founder)
Institution: University of Cape Town
Stage: Idea Stage
Theme: Indigenous Medicine
Ingcambu is focused on creating awareness around the health benefits of natural herbs and traditional wellness practices. The venture aims to educate communities on how locally available plants can support healthier living and preventive care.
Health Awareness Podcast
Ncebazaki Maza (Founder)
Institution: University of Cape Town
Stage: Idea Stage
Theme: Maternal, Child & Community Health
Health Awareness Podcast uses conversations and storytelling to educate people living positively with HIV and the communities around them. The platform aims to reduce stigma and improve public understanding of HIV through accessible and relatable discussions.
University of Life
Solomzi Mbawuli Homeboy (Founder & Concept Lead)
Institution: University of Cape Town
Stage: Idea Stage
Theme: Water, Sanitation & Environmental Health
University of Life is tackling indoor air pollution in township homes through smokeless coal briquettes that produce significantly less smoke than raw coal. The venture also plans to improve living conditions by making cleaner cooking and heating options more affordable for families.
StainSmart
Auma Eunice (Founder)
Institution: University of Toronto
Stage: Early Stage
Theme: Innovative Healthcare Devices & Services
StainSmart is developing affordable and flexible healthcare systems that can be used by every healthcare provider irrespective of where they work.
Ecohealth Alerts
Philemon Ondigo (Founder & Tech-Lead)
Institution: University of Toronto
Stage: Early Stage
Theme: Digital & AI-Driven Healthcare Solutions
EcoHealth Alerts is developing integrated health intelligence systems designed to streamline surveillance workflows, improve reporting visibility, and support faster, more coordinated decision-making across front-line health settings.
SnooCode Red Limited
Dr. Nana Serwaa Agyeman Quao (Co-CEO)
Institution: University of Toronto
Stage: Early Stage
Theme: Digital & AI-Driven Healthcare Solutions
SnooCODERED enables emergency services, offline navigation, modular applications, and AI-powered clinical decision support for medical emergencies and first aid.
OneClick-Med
Faith Oluwabusayomi Taiwo (Co-Founder)
Institution: University of Toronto
Stage: Early Stage
Theme: Digital & AI-Driven Healthcare Solutions
OneClick-Med is a unified patient registration and Electronic Health Record (EHR) platform, paired with a patient-facing mobile app, Beta Health, designed to address fragmentation in healthcare delivery.
Plan Your Visit
Accommodation Options
($190/night & Airport Pick-Up)
Click Here to make reservations
or Call: +233302740811
(Booking Code: HIF2026)
($150/night & Airport Pick-Up)
Click Here to make reservations
(Booking Code: HIF2026)
($150/night & Airport Pick-Up)
Click Here to make reservations
or Call:+233204335539
(Booking Code: HIF2026)
Location and Venue
Frequently Asked Questions
Most non-African travelers will need a visa to enter Ghana. However, visa requirements vary depending on your country of citizenship. We recommend checking with the nearest Ghanaian embassy or consulate in your country for the most up-to-date information and application procedures. Participants are encouraged to apply early, as visa processing times may vary.
If you require an invitation letter to support your application, please contact health@ashesi.edu.gh.
Airport transfers are not provided by the 2026 Health Innovation Festival organizers. Delegates are advised to arrange transfers directly with their selected hotel, as most partner hotels offer this service for their guests. Car rental services, such as Avis Rent A Car, are also recommended.
Yes, meals will be provided during official event days.
Yes, but we recommend the listed hotels for convenience and transport coordination.
Additional delegates should be submitted via the provided Google Sheet here, where institutions will be required to fill in the relevant details. Once submitted, the planning team will reach out directly to the additional delegates with payment instructions and next steps.
Yes, buses will be available at the selected partner hotels to transport delegates to and from the conference venue each day.
Institutions are encouraged to nominate up to four (4) ventures in total. While allocating ventures across both idea-stage and early-stage ventures is recommended, this is not mandatory. Institutions may structure their nominations in any of the following ways:
- Four (4) idea-stage ventures
- Four (4) early-stage ventures
- Any combination of idea-stage and early-stage ventures (e.g. 3 idea-stage and 1 early-stage, or vice versa)
- Fewer than four ventures, with multiple representatives per venture (e.g. 1 venture with 2 representatives, or 2 ventures with 2 representatives each)
All nominated ventures must fall within one of the two tracks and meet the corresponding selection criteria.
June in Accra is warm and humid, with occasional rainfall. Short showers are common, so lightweight clothing and a light rain jacket or umbrella are recommended.
For more information, contact:
Program Officer – Ashesi Health & Care Initiative
+233509550871
Join the conversation using
#HIFest26 #HIFestGH #HealthForward
HIFest News & Updates
Skip scroller content
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.
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 […]
AfyaFest 2025
Hosted by Amref Health Africa Who Can Participate Participants will include invited student-led teams and early-stage entrepreneurs from Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Ethiopia, Senegal, Zambia, and Canada—ensuring a rich mix of perspectives and experiences. The Experience Three days. One goal: Transform ideas into impact. FAQ We’re spotlighting solutions in four urgent health priorities: Maternal […]
Roselyn Sackitey-Matey
Program Officer - Ashesi Health & Care Initiative
Ashesi University
Ashesi University
Ghana
Roselyn Sackitey is the Program Officer – Ashesi Health & Care Initiative at Ashesi University, Ghana.