By Fatima Saka
Lagos, Nigeria — Evon Labs has concluded its inaugural HealthX Catalyst incubation programme with a Demo Day that awarded a combined $10,000 grant to three outstanding health-tech startups, reinforcing efforts to scale innovative healthcare solutions across Africa.
The 12-week programme culminated on June 24, 2026, at the UNDP Innovation Centre in Lagos, where 12 early-stage founders presented solutions addressing critical healthcare challenges, including access to care, service delivery gaps, health system efficiency, and technology-enabled patient support.
The funding is expected to accelerate product development, pilot testing, market validation, and early-stage scaling for the selected startups, positioning them closer to commercial success and broader healthcare impact.
Speaking at the event, Founder of Evon Labs, Isioma Udeozo, said the programme was designed to bridge gaps in Africa’s health-tech ecosystem, particularly the limited access to mentorship, funding, and structured support that often hinders early-stage innovators.
She noted that the Demo Day marked not the end, but the beginning of a longer journey for the founders, urging them to remain focused, resilient, and committed to building sustainable healthcare solutions.
Keynote speaker and Co-Founder of Iwosan Investments Limited, Fola Laoye, highlighted the increasing role of innovation, collaboration, and private sector participation in transforming Nigeria’s healthcare landscape. She stressed the need for sustained support systems to enable entrepreneurs to develop impactful and scalable solutions.
In a second keynote address, Anuoluwa Ife-Olatunji, Group Chief People Officer at EHA Group, challenged the startups to prioritise long-term value by building solutions that address enduring healthcare needs.
HealthX Catalyst was established to support Africa’s growing pool of healthcare innovators, many of whom struggle to move beyond the idea stage due to limited access to industry networks and investment opportunities. Through structured incubation, the programme aims to strengthen both founders and their ventures.
The initiative received support from Washington University in St. Louis, with Professor Juliet Iwelunmor commending participants for their innovative approaches and encouraging them to continue building locally relevant healthcare solutions.
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Other key partners, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, EHA Group, and Brooks Insights, provided critical support by connecting startups to expertise, visibility, and funding opportunities.
The successful conclusion of the inaugural cohort signals growing momentum in Africa’s healthcare innovation space, with Evon Labs set to expand the programme to support more entrepreneurs and scale solutions aimed at improving health outcomes across the continent.
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