Grace Ashiru
The Cameroonian health tech startup Waspito recently raised an additional $2.5 million seed funding. This round was led by DP World through Newtown Partners, alongside contributions from Saviu Ventures, AAIC Investment, Axian Ventures, and CFAO’s Health54. This funding is aimed at accelerating Waspito’s expansion in Francophone countries.
Waspito operates as a health-centric social network, offering patients the ability to consult with certified doctors via video calls. The service also includes a home collection of samples and delivery of medications.
Having expanded into Ivory Coast at the beginning of the year, where it is experimenting with a hybrid model, Waspito is now setting its sights on launching in Senegal and Gabon. This move follows a previous seed funding round of $2.7 million last year.
Jean Lobe Lobe formed Waspito at the beginning of 2020, coinciding with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a critical time for the health startup to embark on its mission to make healthcare universally accessible.
Waspito, however, chose a unique approach to telemedicine. Rather than creating a platform requiring pre-registration and scheduled consultation bookings, Lobe envisioned a service where users could immediately connect with doctors.
Lobe explained to TechCrunch, “When someone is seriously ill or in urgent need of a doctor, going online to schedule a future appointment doesn’t make sense. That’s why we offer instant video consultations.”
Upon logging into Waspito, often described as the Facebook of healthcare, users can choose from a roster of currently available doctors. Waspito coordinates with its partner labs to dispatch technicians for sample collection if a doctor advises undergoing medical tests. Additionally, Waspito has established partnerships with local hospitals to facilitate further examination and potential hospitalization of patients.
Lobe explains, “Our partnerships with hospitals are structured so that after a Waspito consultation, patients can continue their care at the nearest hospital without incurring extra fees for consultation or registration. We’ve established these connections to unify the healthcare ecosystem online, aiming to make Waspito a comprehensive hub for all healthcare needs.”
