H2i Ventures in the News: MedEssist, A-Lite Uganda, Balliscor & Leruo

Congratulations to MedEssist, who recently announced a new partnership with Uber Direct!

MedEssist Deliveries is a part of the MedEssist platform that houses several product lines to help pharmacists turn their practice into a Pharmacy Health Clinic. MedEssist Deliveries integrates reliable, on-demand prescription delivery from Uber Direct into pharmacy operations, ensuring patients have access to medications when and where they need them.  By taking the hassle out of logistics, MedEssist Deliveries ensures that everyone—from busy pharmacists to patients with mobility challenges—can count on a simple and seamless healthcare experience. 

Of the partnership, Co-Founder and CEO Joella Almeida shared that, “This partnership with Uber Direct represents a step forward for the pharmacies we serve. We’ve seen firsthand how delivery logistics can weigh heavily on pharmacy teams, often taking them away from patient care. By solving this, we’re not just improving access for patients – we’re empowering pharmacies to scale their operations and focus on what matters most. For MedEssist, this is just the beginning as we empower pharmacists to play a bigger role in filling healthcare gaps across North America.”

Learn more about the partnership here!

Congratulations to A-Lite Uganda for two recent milestone accomplishments!

The A-Lite Uganda team recently competed in the CAMTech Uganda Open Pitch Competition and Showcase at Mbarara University of Science & Technology. The event explored the subtheme: “From Concept to Implementation: The Journey of a HealthTech Innovator in Africa.” Following their impressive presentation, A-Lite Uganda was selected as the winner of the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) category, highlighting the promise of their innovative medical device. On the heels of this success, A-Lite Uganda was selected as one of forty startups selected to join the UNDP’s Timbuktoo Health Tech Accelerator Program.  

A-Lite Uganda is a healthcare technology startup dedicated to improving the quality of healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa through innovation and applied research. The startup’s flagship product, A-Lite vein locator, offers a solution that significantly reduces cannulation attempts and associated costs for pediatric patients with hard-to-find veins. Of the recent success, Co-Founder and CEO Emmanuel Kamuhire reflected that, “winning the CAMTech Open Pitch Competition for Best Minimum Viable Product and joining the Timbuktoo HealthTech Program represent incredible milestones for our team. With this momentum, we aim to expand our market visibility, bringing our solutions to a wider audience and addressing healthcare challenges on a larger scale.”   

Congratulations to Balliscor team member Sarvnaz Ale Mohammad, who has been awarded a 2024 RBC Award for Diversity and Innovation in Technology!

The annual $15,000 awards are given to Black, Indigenous and/or woman-identifying students who are exploring careers in technology and financial services. Mohammad is studying engineering science, with a focus and passion for machine intelligence, healthcare, data science, entrepreneurship, and software development. In her work at Mount Sinai Cath Lab and with H2i venture Balliscor, she developed signal processing algorithms for a non-invasive heart failure monitoring device. In 2023, Mohammad pitched and won at H2i’s Pitch Perfect competition. 

Of the recent award, Mohammad shared, “I’m incredibly honoured and grateful to have been selected for this award. Being recognized among such talented women is both humbling and motivating, inspiring me to continue driving innovation that fosters inclusivity. This award strengthens my resolve to pursue impactful solutions that address real-world challenges.” 

Congratulations to Leruo, for their recent feature in Food for Mzansi!

The article profiled Leruo’s innovative work helping African smallholder cattle farmers mitigate the risk of livestock theft through their “Face ID for cows” technology, while connecting farmers directly to formal markets where they can make to make up to 2x more revenue per sale. The solution is poised to make a significant impact to the country’s agricultural landscape and economy, as livestock theft costs South Africa $1.4 billion Rand each year. Further, Leruo’s technology facilitates improved livestock management, allowing for real-time tracking and detection of health, growth and behavioral markers.  
 
Leruo is led by Co-Founder and CEO Tumelo Makgaka, a software engineer by training. Of the recent success, Makgaka shared that, “Our recent recognition from South African farming media, along with increased platform adoption among farmers and agricultural advisors, affirms that we’re addressing challenges that truly matter to them. This validation strengthens our commitment to bringing cutting-edge technology to solve the biggest problems impacting rural Africans.” Looking ahead, the Leruo team is focused on improving their facial recognition AI technology, and bridging the gap between farmers in rural communities and commercial buyers.