Join PATH at the African MedTech Conference 2025

Theme: The Big picture: Setting the stage for MedTech transformation

Startup pitching competition

2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. EAT

From hundreds of MedTech startup applications, a select group of Africa’s most promising innovators will take the spotlight, each with just three minutes to make their case for how their innovation could change lives. A panel of expert judges will offer rapid-fire feedback, giving the entrepreneurs valuable insights to sharpen their ideas. Conference participants will be part of the action, voting live for their favorite pitch in the People’s Choice Award. Between sessions, participants can get up close with the innovations at dedicated showcase tables, where devices and prototypes will be on display for hands-on exploration.

The judges’ panel for this session includes:

• Natnael Shimelash, UGHE
• Emmanuel Kamuhire, A-Lite Uganda
• Dr. Emily Njuguna, PATH
• Dr. Ahmed Osman, Access Health International
  

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Panel session: Understanding the government lens: Market landscape analysis

3:45 p.m.-5:15 p.m. EAT

From early-stage innovators to distributors, panelists will share experiences bringing locally developed health technologies to market. The conversation will highlight lessons from working with the government and explore opportunities in taking innovations to market.

The panelists for this session include:

Moderator: Maureen Awuor, Amref

• Washington Dinga, Neopenda
• Dick Oranja, Hatch Technologies
• Raphael Kayambankadzanja, PATH

Theme: Solutions for today, strategies for tomorrow

Keynote speech: Moving innovations to market

9:00 a.m. –9:15 a.m. EAT

The session will outline PATH’s priorities in strengthening local manufacturing, driving regulatory harmonization, shaping markets for equitable access, and mobilizing investment. It will also demonstrate how African-led innovations can be scaled and sustained to build resilient health systems.

Keynote speaker: Dr. Emily Njuguna, PATH

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Panel Session: Africa’s evolving regulatory ecosystem

4:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m. EAT

Continental and national regulatory leaders will discuss the roadmap for operationalizing the African Medicines Agency (AMA) and other regulatory innovations shaping Africa’s MedTech future.

The panelists for this session include:

Moderator: Dr. Esther Anyango, PATH

• Benjamin Djoudalbaye, AMA Representative
• Lerato Moeti, AUDA-NEPAD
• Dr. Shellan Omondi, Pharmacy and Poisons Board, Kenya
• Dimakatso Mathibe, SAHPRA

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Panel session: De-Risking MedTech investment in Africa: smarter capital, stronger capacity

4:00–5:30 p.m. EAT

This session explores how blended financing can better support Africa’s MedTech startups, which face long research and development (R&D) cycles, strict regulations, and limited patient capital. Participants will look at ways to combine grants, equity, debt, and other tools, while tapping into non-traditional sources like university R&D funding, to reduce risk, align funders, and unlock follow-on investment.

The panelists for this session include:

Moderator: Rob Beyer, Villgro Africa

• Kennedy Opondo, Vayu Global Health Foundation
• Nazir Ismail, University of the Witwatersrand
• Dr. Emily Njuguna, PATH
• Tau Tsibela, Innovative Ortho Medical
• Prof Dinar Kale, Open University