January 20, 2025

Kenyan Startup Secures $1M From US International DFC To Improve Healthcare

Ilara Health

Ilara Health recently received a $1 million loan from the United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to help improve private outpatient clinics in Kenya, according to TechPoint.

What is Illara health?

The company originally started by renting diagnostic equipment to clinics. Eventually, it expanded to offer health centres the choice to buy pharmaceuticals and items like hospital furniture on credit.

The money will help underserved communities have better healthcare by investing in diagnostic devices, health tech, and pharmaceuticals. Last year, the company raised $4.2 million in debt-equity pre-Series A round to further develop its business in Kenya.

When was the company founded?

The medical solutions company was founded in 2019 by Emilian Popa (CEO), Maximilian Mancini, and Sameer Afzal Farooq to increase healthcare access by giving pharmaceuticals and diagnostic equipment to private clinics.

Another Kenyan venture, Safi Organics, received $237,500 in technical assistance. They’re using the money to examine biochar manufacturing and to launch high-quality, affordable fertilizers for farmers. Additionally, they will create carbon credits from the biochar, meaning more economic power for local farmers.

Ilara Health and Safi Organics are part of DFC’s latest round of funding, which accepted $3 billion across 22 projects worldwide. These investments deal with global priorities like health, energy, food security, infrastructure, and small business development while coinciding with US foreign policy goals.


Image: Ilara Health

Habiba Katsha

Habiba Katsha is a journalist and writer who specializes in writing about race, gender, and the internet. She is currently a tech reporter at POCIT.