Key Takeaways
- • Future Health – A Global Initiative by Abu Dhabi and Bridge for Billions are preparing an entrepreneurship program to strengthen promising health companies in emerging markets, according to a Business Wire release.
- • The first phase will identify about 50 health entrepreneurs in Africa and Asia whose companies have moved past the incubation stage or are at the start of acceleration.
- • The program combines structured capacity building, online training on regulatory navigation, health system integration, business model validation and fundraising preparation.
- • Selected participants may be invited to an acceleration phase in Abu Dhabi, with access to the emirate's health innovation ecosystem.
- • The release cites World Intellectual Property Organization data showing Latin America and Africa together accounted for about 3% of global venture capital deals in the first half of 2024, with venture investment down 19% in Asia-Pacific and 80% in Africa.
Summary
Future Health and Bridge for Billions are preparing a new entrepreneurship program aimed at strengthening promising health enterprises in emerging markets and helping locally developed solutions reach more people, according to a Business Wire release datelined Abu Dhabi. The initiative is designed to address persistent gaps in capital, specialized advisory support and connections to health systems that many promising ventures in these markets face.
The release cites the 2024 Global Innovation Index from the World Intellectual Property Organization, which found that Latin America and Africa together represented roughly 3% of global venture capital deals in the first half of 2024, while venture investment fell 19% in Asia-Pacific and 80% in Africa. It also cites World Bank Group figures indicating that each health sector job in low-income countries is associated with roughly 3.4 additional jobs in related industries.
The program will combine structured capacity building with access to expertise, networks and health system connections. The first phase will select about 50 entrepreneurs in Africa and Asia who have moved beyond the initial idea stage but remain early enough to benefit from structured support. Companies will be assessed on quality, maturity, scalability potential, market need and alignment with health priorities. The second phase will offer a tailored online program, after which a smaller group will be selected for an acceleration phase in Abu Dhabi, where they can engage with regulators, care providers, research institutions and investors.
Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, said that access to the right expertise, networks and investment can turn local potential into lasting impact. Pablo Santaeufemia, CEO of Bridge for Billions, said that the organization works through Conecta Healthcare with entrepreneurship support organizations, which are often the first to back health founders before capital arrives. Application details, eligibility criteria and further program information will be announced at a later date. Future Health is an annual global health collaboration platform organized under the patronage of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and coordinated by the Abu Dhabi Department of Health with founding partners including PureHealth, M42, the Institute for Healthier Living Abu Dhabi and Mubadala Bio.
The release cites the 2024 Global Innovation Index from the World Intellectual Property Organization, which found that Latin America and Africa together represented roughly 3% of global venture capital deals in the first half of 2024, while venture investment fell 19% in Asia-Pacific and 80% in Africa. It also cites World Bank Group figures indicating that each health sector job in low-income countries is associated with roughly 3.4 additional jobs in related industries.
The program will combine structured capacity building with access to expertise, networks and health system connections. The first phase will select about 50 entrepreneurs in Africa and Asia who have moved beyond the initial idea stage but remain early enough to benefit from structured support. Companies will be assessed on quality, maturity, scalability potential, market need and alignment with health priorities. The second phase will offer a tailored online program, after which a smaller group will be selected for an acceleration phase in Abu Dhabi, where they can engage with regulators, care providers, research institutions and investors.
Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, said that access to the right expertise, networks and investment can turn local potential into lasting impact. Pablo Santaeufemia, CEO of Bridge for Billions, said that the organization works through Conecta Healthcare with entrepreneurship support organizations, which are often the first to back health founders before capital arrives. Application details, eligibility criteria and further program information will be announced at a later date. Future Health is an annual global health collaboration platform organized under the patronage of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and coordinated by the Abu Dhabi Department of Health with founding partners including PureHealth, M42, the Institute for Healthier Living Abu Dhabi and Mubadala Bio.
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