Google for Startups has unveiled the 24 startups selected for the 2024 cohort of the Growth Academy: AI for Health program.
This initiative is designed to support high-potential startups across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) that are leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize healthcare and medical research.
Among the selected startups are Nigeria’s Healthtracka, Kenya’s Thalia Psychotherapy and TibuHealth, and South Africa’s Zoie Health.
These companies exemplify the potential of AI to address pressing healthcare challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa, advancing mental health integration, providing accessible outpatient services, and delivering affordable healthcare to underserved populations.
According to the World Health Organization, more than 116 million people across Africa were already estimated to be living with mental health conditions pre-pandemic, and there are fewer than two mental health workers for every 100,000 people. Thalia Psychotherapy’s AI-powered chatbot provides initial assessments and therapy sessions, increasing access to mental health support in a region with a critical shortage of mental health professionals. TibuHealth, on the other hand, delivers affordable outpatient services via “minute clinics” in partner pharmacies in high-density neighborhoods.
Dorothy Ooko, Head of Communications and Public Affairs, Google, Africa, said: “We are committed to supporting the growth of innovative startups, particularly those that are leveraging AI to address critical healthcare challenges.
“The Growth Academy: AI for Health program is a testament to this commitment, and we are excited to see the impact these startups will have on the future of healthcare.”
The three-month program will provide participants with intensive training, mentorship, and networking opportunities.
Startups will benefit from workshops on best practices for AI, leadership development, responsible innovation, product design, and customer acquisition.
Additionally, Google experts from Research, Health, Verily, Fitbit, and DeepMind will offer one-on-one mentorship sessions and technical project support.
Below are the participating startups, representing 13 countries from across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and how they’re using AI models and technology to improve patient care and advance medical research:
- Aide (United Kingdom): Digital service helping patients and clinicians manage chronic diseases, specifically comorbidity.
- AmplifAI (Saudi Arabia): Combines AI-driven thermography and computer vision for assessing diabetic foot ulcers.
- Biorce (Portugal): Enhances clinical trials with AI, developing Jarvis, a clinical AI assistant.
- C the Signs (United Kingdom): AI cancer prediction platform for early and curable stage detection.
- Callyope (France): Speech-based remote patient monitoring solutions for serious mental illnesses.
- Clear.bio (Netherlands): Reverses diabetes type 2 with precision nutrition and real-time glucometry.
- Ephion Health (Spain): Develops digital biomarkers for disease monitoring and therapy assessment.
- Exakt Health (Germany): Certified medical app for physiotherapy with hyper-personalized treatment plans.
- FiveLives (France): Digital brain health platform for people aged 50+, offering brain health assessments and coaching.
- Healthtracka (Nigeria): Decentralizes access to healthcare in Africa through remote medical diagnostics and at-home lab tests.
- HearMe (Poland): Supports employees’ mental health through secure 1:1 sessions with mental health professionals.
- Juniver (United Kingdom): On-demand help for eating disorders with AI-powered interventions and telemedicine.
- Mindgram (Poland): Provides holistic psychological and self-development support for employees and their relatives.
- Motherbeing (Egypt): Digital solution for Arab women’s sexual and reproductive health, with personalized health education and AI-powered assistant.
- Noah Labs (Germany): Voice-based machine learning software for early detection of decompensated heart failure.
- Nui (Germany): App supporting family caregivers with an intelligent chatbot for guidance.
- O7 Therapy (Egypt): Bridges the mental health treatment gap with instant, anonymous support via encrypted chat, audio, and video sessions.
- Powerful Medical (Slovakia): AI-driven platform for cardiovascular diagnostics and management of 39 conditions.
- Research Grid (United Kingdom): Automation engine for faster, more successful clinical trials.
- Rofim (France): Telemedicine platform connecting patients with healthcare professionals.
- SYCAI Medical (Spain): Develops medical device software for non-invasive cancer prevention in the abdomen.
- Thalia Psychotherapy (Kenya): Integrates mental health services into primary healthcare systems with AI-powered chatbot.
- TibuHealth (Kenya): Delivers affordable outpatient services via “minute clinics” in high-density neighborhoods.
- Zoie Health (South Africa): Digital health platform providing affordable and accessible healthcare to underserved populations.
