Salient’s i3 Network Says it Brokered $19M in Deals

In Short

Salient Advisory says its i3 value creation network brokered $19 million in commercial deals for African healthtech startups. The initiative is backed by the Gates Foundation.

What Happened: How Salient’s i3 Network Supports Healthtech

Salient Advisory runs i3, which it describes as a value creation network for African healthtech startups. In an exclusive conversation with Launch Base Africa, Somto Chloe Keluo-Udeke, a Senior Consultant, described how the initiative is working to move startups from the pilot stage to sustainable scale.

The focus is on commercial partnerships, which are business agreements that generate revenue, rather than relying only on donor grants. The post frames this as a shift in what it takes for healthtech startups to keep operating and grow.

Why It Matters: Commercial Deals Can Outlast Grant Funding

For healthtech startups, pilots can prove that a product works, but they do not always lead to long term operations. i3’s focus on commercial partnerships is presented as a way to help startups keep going after pilots end.

The $19 million figure is also a signal that structured deal making can bring meaningful money into the sector, beyond grant programmes. If more healthtech support programmes prioritise paid partnerships, startups may have a clearer path to building sustainable businesses.