Investing in Impact

What if the biggest barrier to innovation is not funding, but the story we tell about what is worth funding?In the final episode of Investing in Impact, recorded at the IDIA Summit in Nairobi, host Moses Waweru is joined by Nivi Sharma and Nashiru Salifu to explore what it really means to build innovations that last.As global capital shifts and old development models give way, locally grounded innovators are still being asked to prove their worth repeatedly, often within systems that were never designed around their realities.The conversation unpacks the gap between research, funding, and real-world application, and points to the need for models that recognise local innovation, align incentives for long-term adoption, and build stronger pathways from idea to impact.In this episode:Why local innovators are often forced to continually validate their work to external systemsThe disconnect between research, capital, and real-world implementationHow funding models can better support long-term adoption rather than short-term validationWhy redefining value is essential to stronger innovation ecosystemsWhat it takes to recognise and sustain locally led solutionsLike, subscribe, and follow Investing in Impact for more conversations shaping Africa’s innovation ecosystem.

What does inclusion look like when global support systems start to pull back?In Episode 4 of Investing in Impact, recorded at the IDIA Summit in Nairobi, host Kippy Joseph, Senior Fellow at Results for Development, leads a conversation with Royford Mutegi, Co-Founder of Vermi-Farm, Katie Alesbury, Senior Strategic Initiatives Lead at Value for Women, and Snider Mugese, Director of Operations & Finance at Villgro Africa.The discussion explores the realities of building and sustaining inclusive innovation in challenging times, and where opportunities still exist for entrepreneurs and ecosystem players. As funding tightens, the focus shifts to practical models that expand access, support underserved founders beyond capital, and strengthen local ecosystems to sustain innovation over time.In a world pulling back, inclusion does not happen by default. It has to be chosen.In this episode:• How innovators can stay resilient amid global economic uncertainty• Why inclusion requires intentional ecosystem design• The role of alternative models in expanding access beyond capital• What it takes to support underserved founders in constrained environments• Where new opportunities for scale are emergingLike, subscribe, and follow Investing in Impact for more conversations shaping Africa’s innovation ecosystem.Turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.#InvestingInImpact #AfricanInnovation #HealthInnovation #IDIASummit #GlobalHealth #AfricaHealth #SocialImpact

What would it take to build a truly self-determined, resilient health ecosystem in Africa?In Episode 3 of Investing in Impact, recorded at the IDIA Summit in Nairobi, host Moses Waweru sits down with Prof Mirkuzie Woldie, Senior Health Policy and Systems Advisor at the Ministry of Health Ethiopia, Gina Lagomarsino, CEO of Results for Development, and Thomas Davin, Global Innovation Director at UNICEF to explore what the future of health systems could look like.This conversation looks beyond immediate challenges to a deeper shift: how African health systems can move from fragmented, externally driven models to integrated systems shaped by local priorities, data, and community engagement.From the role of AI in decision making to the importance of community-based systems and domestic financing, the discussion challenges how governments, innovators, and partners think about resilience, scale, and long term impact.The takeaway? The future of health innovation depends on building systems that are integrated, data-driven, and designed to serve real communities.In this episode• What resilient and self-determined health systems look like• How governments can use data and AI to make better decisions• Why community-based systems are critical to long term resilience• The role of innovators in building for integration and scale• What it takes to design solutions that are affordable and scalableLike, subscribe, and follow Investing in Impact for more conversations shaping Africa’s innovation ecosystem.Turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.Join the conversation: What will it take to build truly resilient health systems in Africa?#InvestingInImpact #AfricanInnovation #HealthInnovation #IDIASummit #GlobalHealth #AfricaHealth #SocialImpact

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 disappearRecorded 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. If you want to learn more about the Transforming African MedTech Conference, please visit www.africanmedtech.com.