Rwanda-based e-commerce platform Kasha has secured an equity investment from Sanofi Global Health Unit's Impact Investment Fund. The funding aims to support Kasha’s expansion into new African markets while enhancing its technological capabilities to provide equitable access to essential healthcare products, particularly for underserved communities.

A Strategic Partnership to Address Health Challenges

Kasha, founded in 2016 by Joanna and Christoph Bichsel, has been making significant strides in women’s healthcare by offering a variety of essential products, including contraceptives and hygiene items. Through its discreet and reliable platform, Kasha enables women in Africa to access personal care products with ease and confidentiality. The platform's focus on women’s health has garnered the attention of major health organizations, and the partnership with Sanofi marks a pivotal moment in its growth trajectory.

Joanna Bichsel, Kasha’s founder and CEO, emphasized the significance of this partnership, stating that Sanofi's support will accelerate Kasha's mission of improving access to healthcare products, especially for rural and low-income populations. With a growing demand for treatment and management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes and hypertension, this investment will help raise awareness about these conditions and make essential medications more accessible across the continent.

Sanofi’s Vision for Impact Investment

Sanofi Global Health Unit’s Head, Jon Fairest, expressed the company's enthusiasm for playing a role in Kasha’s scale-up. He highlighted Kasha’s unique physical and tech infrastructure, which facilitates healthcare access in even the most remote areas. Sanofi sees the investment as a strategic move to support local entrepreneurial ventures that align with its mission of improving access to sustainable healthcare solutions for vulnerable populations.

Fairest noted that Kasha’s innovative last-mile distribution, combined with a broad network of agents and an adjusted supply chain, makes it a key player in delivering critical health products across Africa. Sanofi’s investment reflects its commitment to fostering partnerships that improve healthcare delivery and outcomes, especially in regions where the need is greatest.

Kasha’s Growth and Vision for the Future

Since its inception, Kasha has steadily built a reputation for empowering women and improving healthcare access in Africa. The company’s previous funding, including a USD 1 million round from DFC, Swedfund, and Finnfund in 2021, laid the foundation for its continued growth. With the new infusion of funds from Sanofi’s Impact Investment Fund, Kasha is set to enhance its technological platform further, allowing for increased scalability and more efficient delivery of healthcare products.

Kasha’s long-term vision is to become the go-to platform for healthcare access across Africa. By leveraging technology and strategic partnerships, the company aims to bridge the gap in healthcare services, offering a scalable solution to address the continent’s diverse health needs.

Kasha’s partnership with Sanofi’s Global Health Unit represents a significant milestone in the company’s mission to provide equitable access to healthcare across Africa. With the new funding, Kasha is poised to accelerate its expansion into new markets and continue innovating its platform to meet the growing demand for healthcare solutions. This investment marks a key step in the journey toward transforming healthcare delivery for underserved populations in Africa.