#38: 54gene - How the HealthTech platform is building diverse datasets to improve diagnostic and treatment outcomes across Africa
Afrobility: Africa Tech and BusinessSeptember 19, 2021
19
01:58:15216.55 MB

#38: 54gene - How the HealthTech platform is building diverse datasets to improve diagnostic and treatment outcomes across Africa

Overview: Today, we’re going to talk about 54gene - the genomics HealthTech company. We’ll explore the 54gene story across 6 areas:

  1. African Health care status & context
  2. 54gene early history
  3. Fundraising & Growth
  4. Product & monetization strategy
  5. Competitive positioning & potential exit options
  6. Overall outlook.

This episode was recorded on Sep 19, 2021

Companies discussed: 54gene, llumina, African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Y Combinator (YC), 50 Years, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Gilead, IMS Health, Broad Institute, Novartis, Cathay AfricInvest, Helium Health & mPharma

Business concepts discussed: Genomics, Capacity development / Local knowledge development,  Healthcare technology, Health insurance coverage, commercial biobanks & public policy

Conversation highlights:

  • (00:54) - Why we’re talking about 54Gene today
  • (06:25) - Context on Healthcare and Genomics in Africa
  • (27:02) - 54Gene founding and early history
  • (34:13) - Fundraising and early growth - Seed, Series A, Series B
  • (54:15) - Product and monetization strategy
  • (1:11:00) - 54Gene capacity building
  • (1:17:00) - Competition in this space, exit opportunities
  • (1:30:39) - Olumide’s overall thoughts and outlook
  • (1:42:38) - Bankole’s overall thoughts and outlook
  • (1:56:03) - Recommendations and small wins


Olumide’s recommendations & small wins:


Bankole’s recommendations & small wins:


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