OPEN TO AFRICANS: Apply Now for Hanga SRH Cohort 2 – Funding & Support for Youth-Led Tech Innovations in Sexual and Reproductive Health

Hanga Sexual & Reproductive Health (SRH)

The program was conceived by the Government of Rwanda in 2022 through HangaPitchFest to explore the opportunity that exists for technology enabled startups to solve key issues in SRH to accelerate better outcomes.

In 2023 we scouted, selected, and provided technical and business support to 20 startups based in 11  Sub-Saharan Africa working on innovative tech-enabled solutions that are addressing challenges in ways that break the mold in SRH. With the support of the Hanga SRH program, the 20 ventures were able to maximize their impact at scale by raising over $1.4 million in funding, generate over $55,000 in revenue and  impact over 33,500 people.

We are thrilled to launch Hanga SRH Cohort 2, a bigger, bolder, and catalytic opportunity for 20 entrepreneurs in Sub-Saharan Africa looking to improve and scale their  innovative and tech-driven SRH solutions.

Our target themes

We’re looking for early-stage, tech-enabled innovations:

• Improving maternal health, beyond antenatal care, ensuring safe pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care
• Tackling unsafe abortion by removing barriers to safe abortion services and post-abortion care
• Targeting young people (10-24) with youth-friendly SRH information and services.
• Tackling gender-based violence (GBV) by preventing and responding to sexual and gender-based violence through innovative solutions
• Meeting the need for contraception by increasing access to contraception and comprehensive SRH education

We know that this is not the full extent of themes which constitute improving SRH outcomes, and would love to hear from  innovators with ideas related to the mentioned themes.

What’s in it for you?

If selected to join the Hanga SRH Program, you will have access to the following:

• Funding: Grant funding valued at $10,000 USD with the scope to increase up to $30,000 USD for the top performing start-ups in the program selected to proceed to the acceleration phase.
• Expert-Led Incubation : a 2 months, cohort-based learning curriculum, covering entrepreneurship, evidence and SRH
• Bespoke Support: Gain 6 months of structured coaching from SRH and venture-building experts designed to accelerate your growth and scale your impact.
• Peer Learning & Networking: Connect with like-minded entrepreneurs to share insights, troubleshoot challenges, and explore opportunities for collaboration and growth.
• Investor Readiness – Connect with funders, donors, and ecosystem leaders to accelerate growth
• Exclusive Market Access – Leverage our powerful network of policymakers and healthcare stakeholders
• Pilot & Scale – Tap into strategic partnerships to test and launch your solution in a new market.

Eligibility Criteria

You are eligible to apply for the Hanga Sexual & Reproductive Health (SRH) Program if you meet the following criteria:

Organization:

• Must be operating in any country in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Your solution must focus on one or more of the SRH thematic areas listed above.
• The start-up must present a tech-enabled SRH solution or have the potential to scale through technology.
• Must present a working prototype. This can be in the form of a working product demo in video format, a pitch deck explaining how the product works, a functional website, or anything
• Must be registered by the relevant authorities in the country of operation
• The start-up should NOT have raised any equity funding from venture capital firms. Start-ups that have received grant funding from incubator programs, hackathons, angel investors, family, or friends are eligible to apply

Applicant:

• Must be the Founder / Co-founder and/or hold primary decision-making power in the start-up
• Must be digitally literate with consistent access to a laptop and internet
• Must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application
• Must have basic English proficiency

Timeline

• Applications close: Friday, 18 April 2025

How to Apply

• Application form: ly/HangaSRHCohort2
• Why join? See the perks: hangapitchfest.rw/#/srh

 

Want to learn more before applying? Sign up to our virtual  (English & French) information sessions happening soon  here (https://forms.gle/5wCjxko5zXVwubWG6)

We will also be hosting in-person outreach events in four cities across Africa. Reserve your spot for the Kigali (https://lu.ma/rhzvzz25) and Nairobi (https://lu.ma/8ft70pxl ) events. Sign up here (https://forms.gle/GAUF9mVcQfcPchXL9 ) if you’d like to join us for the Cape Town and Accra events.