Nigeria’s PBR Life Sciences Aims to Bridge Africa’s Healthcare Data Gap

PBR Life Sciences, a Nigerian e-health startup, is making significant strides in healthcare innovation after raising a $1 million pre-seed funding round. Founded in 2015 by Ayodeji Alaran, the company is tackling critical gaps in healthcare across emerging markets through big data and artificial intelligence.

The startup’s data-as-a-service and analytics platform is designed to empower life sciences and healthcare sectors with actionable insights. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, PBR Life Sciences is addressing unmet healthcare needs across Africa, starting with Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya.

Strategic Support from Leading Investors

PBR Life Sciences’ journey gained momentum in 2023 as part of the ARM Labs Lagos Techstars Accelerator programme, where it received $120,000 in initial funding. Its current $1 million pre-seed round is backed by prominent investors, including Launch Africa Ventures, Microtraction, Kaleo Ventures, Octerra Capital, Marula Square, XA Africa, ARM Labs, and Techstars.

Founder Ayodeji Alaran described the funding as a validation of the startup’s mission: “Being backed by some of the most reputable venture capital investors and angels in Africa not only inspires us as a team to do more but further validates the vital need to close the gap of inadequate real-world healthcare big data. This will power AI and innovation for the sector whilst unlocking global life sciences growth powered by the region.”

Unlocking Africa’s Healthcare Potential

The funding positions PBR Life Sciences to scale its operations while focusing on profitability. Alaran emphasised the importance of addressing the least understood healthcare challenges in Africa, paving the way for transformative growth in the sector.

Investors are optimistic about the startup’s potential. Ashim Egunjobi, managing partner at Octerra Capital, highlighted PBR’s unique value: “From our first interaction with Ayodeji, it was clear that PBR Sciences has immense potential to unlock access to healthcare data across Africa. With its impressive proprietary technology and big data capabilities, PBR is delivering significant insights and value to a wide array of corporate clients. We are thrilled to support Ayodeji and his team on this promising journey.”

Health tech in Africa continues to gain momentum. Only recently, South Africa’s Gauteng province launched the Integrated Patient Queue Management System (IPQMS), a system designed to streamline patient flow, reduce waiting times, and improve the overall experience for those accessing public healthcare facilities.