Discover Products, Get Discovered.
Individuals find the right products. Businesses reach the right audience. One platform, free for both.
Individuals find the right products. Businesses reach the right audience. One platform, free for both.
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 global philanthropic organization that works to reduce disease, poverty, and inequity worldwide. It is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, and focuses its grantmaking on global health, global development, education, and other priority areas, as outlined on its official site. In Africa, the foundation commits significant resources to health, agriculture, financial inclusion, and related development initiatives, including a multiyear commitment of several billion dollars to African countries and programs. Within African innovation ecosystems, the foundation has backed a number of technology enabled companies in the health, fintech, HR, and utilities sectors. Based on available investment records, it has participated in nine funding rounds for African startups between December 2019 and February 2026, across seed, Series A, Series B, and other structured rounds, with a total of 41.5 million dollars invested. These investments show a particular focus on Kenya, Nigeria, and Morocco, and on health technology solutions. The foundation’s African startup portfolio includes companies such as Axmed, MYDAWA, Pharmarun, DeepEcho, PowWater, SeamlessHR, and Kaleidofin, which work on affordable medicines, healthcare delivery, prenatal diagnostics, safe water, inclusive finance, and digital HR infrastructure. More broadly, the foundation has opened an office in Nairobi to deepen its engagement in East Africa and has announced large scale commitments to African health and development, reflecting a long term emphasis on African partners and impact focused collaboration.
Data updated · Aug 26, 2026
Sign in to see all 7 portfolio products
Free account — full portfolios, timelines, and the weekly funding digest
Sign in to see all 9 rounds
Free account — full portfolios, timelines, and the weekly funding digest
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 Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is a global philanthropic organization, not a traditional venture capital firm, and it focuses on grantmaking and program related investments to advance health, development, and education. According to its official materials, it works to reduce disease and poverty and to build a more equal world, with Africa as a major region of focus. Its work in Africa spans health, agriculture, economic empowerment, and inclusive finance.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation frequently works through partnerships with other organizations to scale impact in Africa, including co investing alongside other impact focused investors in specific startup rounds. For example, data shows that it has shared rounds with investors such as the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and Helios Digital Ventures. Separately, public announcements highlight its collaborations with multilateral institutions and research organizations to expand health, sanitation, and drug discovery initiatives on the continent.
Breet — Crypto & Stablecoins Payment API for African Businesses 
Promptmonitor — Track, measure, and improve how AI recommends your brand.