Nigeria’s pioneering maternal health startup, HelpMum, has secured a spot as one of the ten selected startups participating in the prestigious 2023 Chat for Impact Health Accelerator. This dynamic initiative is led by Turn.io in collaboration with industry giants WhatsApp and The Agency Fund.
The primary goal of the Chat for Impact Accelerator is to expand the efforts of healthcare organizations committed to delivering crucial health information and services to communities through the WhatsApp platform.
HelpMum, dedicated to curbing maternal and infant mortality rates across Africa, has not only been chosen as part of this accelerator but stands as one of the three exceptional African tech startups included in the program. Each of the ten selected startups will be granted funding amounting to $25,000, in addition to invaluable guidance and mentorship from prominent entities like Open AI, The Behavioural Insights Team (BIT), SameSame, Noora Health, Reach Digital Health, Vote.org, and White Rice.
The objective of this multifaceted support is to bolster the participating organizations by integrating behavioral science, meticulous evaluation, and ethically designed AI into their digital messaging strategies to enhance their existing healthcare services.
Dr. Abiodun Adereni, Founder of HelpMum, expressed his excitement about the startup’s selection for this impactful accelerator program. He emphasized that this recognition is a testament to the significant strides HelpMum has made since its inception. The accelerator initiative will prominently feature the HelpMum Vaccination Tracker Chatbot, showcasing the startup’s latest innovation.
Pippa Yeats, Co-Founder of Turn.io, shared her enthusiasm for assisting these startups in expanding their influence and outreach. She highlighted that these organizations are already making a substantial impact within their communities, and Turn.io is eager to work alongside them to amplify their health services.
HelpMum was recently awarded a substantial $250,000 grant from the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation to support the deployment of their AI-driven vaccine Intervention Optimiser, ADVISER, in Nigeria. Notably, HelpMum is the first Nigerian startup to receive this esteemed grant.
Chosen from a competitive pool of over 375 applicants, the 2023 cohort features diverse organizations spanning the EMEA, LATAM, and APAC regions. These startups are active in various sectors of health, encompassing mental health, general healthcare access, maternal health, women’s health, immunization, health education, and more.
Among the ten selected startups, HelpMum stands as the sole representative from Nigeria and one of only three African startups in the cohort. The other two African representatives are Access Afya from Kenya, delivering localized primary healthcare solutions for low-income markets, and Rocket Health from Uganda, a leading digital health company providing telemedicine and last-mile health services through virtual patient-doctor interactions.
Aras Jizan, a Member at The Agency Fund, expressed their enthusiasm for supporting this initiative, foreseeing a healthier future as these teams continue to strengthen their impact and scale their operations. The Chat for Impact Accelerator, which attracted over 375 applications from health organizations globally, will culminate in an event toward the year’s end where all participating startups will present their live chat services.
