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Since 2019, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has backed 7 African startups across 9 disclosed funding rounds totaling $41.5M, most heavily in Kenya and Health Tech.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is a nonprofit private foundation founded by Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates. Based in Seattle, Washington, it focuses on fighting poverty, disease, and inequity worldwide to help people lead healthy, productive lives. Led by CEO Mark Suzman, with co-chairs Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates, and Warren Buffett as a key supporter, the foundation partners globally on health, poverty alleviation, and related challenges. In Africa, the foundation has actively invested $42.4 million across 8 funding rounds from October 2020 to February 2026. It targets primarily other stages (5 rounds), with investments in Series A, Seed, and Series B. Geographic focus centers on Kenya (6 investments) and Nigeria (2), emphasizing Health Tech (6), alongside HR & Talent and Fintech. Companies backed include Axmed (Kenya, Health Tech, multiple rounds totaling $16M), SeamlessHR (Nigeria, HR & Talent, $9M Series A), Pharmarun (Nigeria, Health Tech, $50K), Kaleidofin (Kenya, Fintech, $15M Series B), MYDAWA (Kenya, Health Tech, $1.2M), and ILARA HEALTH (Kenya, Health Tech, $1.1M). Co-investors include Helios Digital Ventures and Michael & Susan Dell Foundation.
Data updated · Jul 29, 2026
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Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has backed 7 African startups across 9 disclosed funding rounds tracked on Liners, totaling $41.5M since 2019.
Mostly Other: 6 of its 9 tracked rounds are at that stage, followed by Series A (1).
Its tracked rounds lean toward Health Tech (6), HR & Talent (1), Fintech (1), and 1 more sector.
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation most often shares rounds with Helios Digital Ventures (1 shared deal), Michael & Susan Dell Foundation (1 shared deal).
The foundation has backed Axmed, SeamlessHR, Pharmarun, Kaleidofin, MYDAWA, and ILARA HEALTH. These investments span Kenya and Nigeria in Health Tech, HR & Talent, and Fintech sectors.
Investments span from October 2020 (ILARA HEALTH) to February 2026 (Axmed), with a total of $42.4M across 8 rounds during this active period.