Who's filling the gap when donor funding exits, and what will it take to build markets that don't need permission to grow?

In this second episode of Investing in Impact, host Moses Waweru sits down with David Saunders and Efosa Ojomo to tackle a question reshaping the continent's health innovation landscape: as donor capital retreats, who steps in and on what terms?

Together, they explore how shifting capital flows are forcing a reckoning with an uncomfortable truth: not all investment fits every context, and solutions built on dependency rarely survive the transition. The conversation moves from diagnosis to design, unpacking what it actually takes to build health innovations that generate real demand, attract the right capital, and grow on their own terms.

The big takeaway? The question was never who funds the solution. It's whether the solution creates enough value to fund itself.

In this episode:• Who steps in when donor funding exits, and what that means for health innovation• Why not all capital fits every context, and how to find the right fit• What it takes to build markets that grow without permission• How to design for demand, not dependency

What if funding constraints aren't a crisis — but a catalyst?

In this debut episode of Investing in Impact, host Moses Waweru sits down with Dr. Tonny Omwansa, Evelyn Gitau, and Yasmin Chandani at the IDIA Summit in Nairobi to explore a provocative idea: that the shift in donor funding may be exactly the pressure African health innovation needed to grow up.

Together, they unpack what it really means to innovate in today's landscape, moving beyond buzzwords to a grounded definition of innovation as "change that adds value." The conversation digs into how researchers and health innovators must rethink their role, not just as problem-solvers, but as architects of solutions designed for real-world demand, sustainable systems, and lasting adoption.

The big takeaway? The question was never where the funding comes from. It's whether the value you create is compelling enough to attract it.

In this episode:

• Why funding pressure may be Africa's greatest innovation accelerator

• How to reframe research as a pathway to market-ready solutions

• What sustainable, demand-driven health innovation actually looks like

• The mindset shifts separating innovators who adapt from those who disappear

Recorded at the IDIA Summit, Nairobi.

As Villgro Africa celebrates 10 years of pioneering health innovation on the continent, we’re not just looking back—we’re looking forward.

In this powerful season finale, host Moses Waweru is joined by Wilfred Njagi (CEO of Villgro Africa), Naom Monari (Founder and CEO of Benacare), and Rob Schneider (Executive Director of the Lemelson Foundation). 

Together, they explore what lies ahead for African health innovation. From emerging trends and ecosystem shifts to the critical role of funding and partnerships, this episode offers a compelling glimpse into the future—and the bold vision that Villgro Africa is helping bring to life.

Key discussion points include the biggest opportunities and challenges for African health startups, evolving support models for entrepreneurs, the importance of local solutions backed by global partnerships, and how Villgro Africa is positioning itself as a key player in shaping the next decade. Whether you're an investor, entrepreneur, funder, or policy maker, this episode is a must-listen.

Listen now and be part of the movement driving sustainable, scalable health innovation across Africa.

Welcome back to Investments for Impact! This season, Scaling for Impact: 10 Years of Villgro Africa, we’re celebrating a decade of health innovation incubation in Africa—reflecting on the journey so far and what lies ahead.

In this episode, we explore the critical role of partnerships in scaling health innovation. From funders and incubators to global and local collaborations, strategic relationships have been at the heart of Villgro Africa’s success.

Joining the conversation are Rob Beyer, co-founder and Board Chairman of Villgro Africa, and Dr. Peter Singer, founder and former CEO of Grand Challenges Canada. Together, they discuss how partnerships helped launch Villgro Africa, why collaboration is essential for sustainable impact, and what lessons we can learn from global initiatives. Tune in to hear insights on building a stronger, more connected innovation ecosystem!

And we highly recommend Peter Singer's insightful article "New Year, Greater Impact." To read that and more, visit his Substack here. 

Welcome back to Investments for Impact!This season, Scaling for Impact: 10 Years of Villgro Africa, we’re celebrating a decade of building Africa’s health innovation ecosystem. In this episode, we explore the key moment when Villgro Africa truly started to take shape. It all began with one connection—Ken Simiyu, then at Grand Challenges Canada and now with USAID, who introduced our three founders: Wilfred Njagi, Robert Karanja, and Rob Beyer. Joining us are two key figures in Villgro Africa’s journey:

🔹 Robert Karanja – Co-founder & Chief Innovation Officer, Villgro Africa

🔹 Ken Simiyu – A driving force behind Villgro Africa’s origins

We’ll dive into:

✅ What health innovation in Africa looked like a decade ago

✅ The critical gaps between academic research and commercialization

✅ Why an incubator like Villgro Africa was needed

✅ How the ecosystem has evolved over the past 10 years

Have we successfully bridged the gap between research and the market? What’s next for Africa’s health innovation landscape?

(Please note that this podcast was recorded before significant changes occurred within the U.S. government, including at USAID.)

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insights on impact investing and health innovation!

Join us for the first episode of Scaling for Impact: 10 Years of Villgro Africa, our sixth season of Investments for Impact. We are celebrating 10 years of Villgro Africa and, more importantly, 10 years of the African healthcare incubation ecosystem. In this episode, we’re taking a deep dive into the origins of Villgro Africa. How did a vision born in India come to impact Africa? Host Moses Waweru is joined by two pioneers who played a key role in this journey: 🔹 Wilfred Njagi – Co-founder & CEO, Villgro Africa 🔹 Paul Basil – Founder, Villgro India Together, they explore: ✅ The inspiration behind Villgro Africa’s launch in 2014 ✅ Lessons learned from India’s health innovation ecosystem ✅ What the future holds for Africa’s health startups, investors, and incubators This is where it all began—don’t miss this insightful conversation on the past, present, and future of healthcare incubation in Africa! Subscribe for more episodes on how innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment are shaping the continent’s healthcare landscape. #VillgroAfrica #InvestmentsForImpact #HealthcareInnovation #ScalingForImpact

We have reached the final episode of our series on African MedTech and in this episode, we welcome George Murumba from AUDA-NEPAD. This episode covers market shaping efforts in the African MedTech space and we discuss AUDA-NEPAD's role in promoting local manufacturing, their work to de-risk companies for investors, and how their acceleration program is also supporting innovation in this space.

In the fourth episode of our series on African MedTech, we are very excited to welcome Dr. Stanley Aruyaru, a surgeon and the Chief Medical Officer at PCEA Kikuyu Hospital.

So far this season, we have discussed MedTech from the perspective of how to make medical devices and how to get those medical devices to the places they are needed.

Today, we are discussing MedTech from the perspective of the user -- the clinician. Dr. Aruyaru takes us through the important role that MedTech plays in a clinical setting and how important it is to utilize data in the decision-making process for purchasing, budgeting, and maintenance. And, ultimately, how all of this impacts patient care. We hope you enjoy this lively conversation!

Follow him on his YouTube channel, Something About Surgery, and follow his blog and learn more about his upcoming books at www.aruyaru.com. For more information about the Transforming African MedTech Conference (TAMC) and how to attend, please visit www.africanmedtech.com.

In the third episode of our series on African MedTech, we are very excited to welcome Uche Chidi-Anene, the current CEO of the African Medical Supplies Platform (AMSP), which was created during COVID-19 and continues to enable African Union Member States to purchase certified medical equipment with increased cost effectiveness and transparency. Uche speaks with me about the structure of the AMSP and how innovators in the MedTech space can benefit from the platform.

For more information about the Transforming African MedTech Conference (TAMC) and how to attend, please visit www.africanmedtech.com.

This episode if Investments for Impact welcomes Professor Sudesh Sivarasu, who walks us through the medical device development process. Prof Sudesh has a compelling personal story, is passionate about the potential impact of medical devices, and has significant experience developing medical devices on the African continent. Join us for a very engaging, interesting episode!

For more information about the Transforming African MedTech Conference, please visit www.africanmedtech.com.