On Wednesday, The International Finance Corporation revealed a $10 million equity investment in Senegalese AI healthcare firm Kera.
Kera, which integrates and digitises health data using artificial intelligence, has made a significant stride forward with this funding. It is designed to transform the delivery of healthcare in Senegal and beyond.
AI-powered healthcare integration: Kera’s vision for Senegal and West Africa
Kera Health Platforms, founded by Moustapha Cisse—a former Google AI research scientist and leading African AI expert—focuses on connecting fragmented health information systems into a unified digital platform.
The startup aggregates electronic health records, lab results, pharmacy data, and health insurance information using AI to empower patients, healthcare providers, and partners with actionable insights.
Moustapha Cisse emphasised the urgency of this mission: “As Africa stands on the cusp of a demographic boom, harnessing the power of technology in healthcare is not just an opportunity; it is an imperative. Through initiatives like KERA, we do not just envision a healthier Africa; we are actively moulding it”.
His team includes Papa Sow, former CEO of MTN Guinea, and Hosam Mattar, ex-Chief Medical Officer at AXA Africa, bringing deep expertise in business and healthcare.
KERA’s seed round is anticipated to be financed partly by the IFC investment after a pre-seed round backed by technology-focused angel investors and a few venture capital firms.
The IFC aims to provide financial support for developing venture capital landscapes and non-financial assistance for startups following international corporate governance standards.
Tackling healthcare challenges with AI innovation
Africa faces some of the world’s most pressing healthcare challenges, including a severe shortage of medical professionals—Senegal had less than one physician per 10,000 people as of 2020.
Kera’s AI-driven platform aims to alleviate these constraints by improving clinical care management’s speed, accuracy, and quality, especially in underserved regions.
The startup’s technology aggregates siloed data sources, enabling a comprehensive view of patient health and streamlining communication between healthcare stakeholders.
This integration is expected to reduce inefficiencies and empower informed decision-making, which is critical in a region where healthcare infrastructure is often fragmented.
Kera, launched in 2023, has already completed a pre-seed funding round and is now raising its seed round to accelerate product development and expand its footprint within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) region. The IFC’s $10 million equity investment will be crucial in scaling these efforts.
This collaboration between Kera and IFC is a landmark example of how AI and digital solutions can address healthcare access and quality in Africa. With leadership from former executives at Google, AXA, and MTN, Kera is positioned to make a lasting impact on the continent’s health ecosystem.