Eye Health Accelerator – Call for Applications

Background

Avoidable vision impairment affects 1.1 billion people globally, with the burden expected to rise to 1.8 billion by 2050. Most cases occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where limited diagnostic capacity, workforce shortages, weak data systems, and costly care models restrict access to timely eye-health services.

While digital innovation, artificial intelligence (AI), and technology-enabled care models offer transformative potential, very few eye-health ventures in LMICs reach scale. Barriers such as limited access to early-stage capital, high investor risk perception, and fragmented health systems continue to slow progress.

Villgro Africa and The Fred Hollows Foundation (FHF) have designed the Eye Health Innovation Accelerator to close these gaps by strengthening, investing in, and scaling high-impact eye-health technologies across Africa.

About the Eye Health Innovation Accelerator

The Eye Health Innovation Accelerator is a Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) program aimed at supporting companies that are developing scalable, affordable, and high-impact innovations in the eye health space. The Accelerator provides technical assistance, catalytic capital, and deep market access to help startups validate solutions, strengthen business models, and scale across LMICs.

Implemented by Villgro Africa and in partnership with The Fred Hollows Foundation, this accelerator focuses on identifying promising ventures with strong potential for market fit, sustainable growth, and health impact, strengthening investment readiness for long-term growth.

Program Focus

The Eye Health Innovation Accelerator will support high-impact ventures delivering technology-enabled solutions that expand access to screening, diagnosis, treatment, and management of all eye conditions across LMICs.

Focus areas include:

1. AI-driven solutions and tools for eye health
2. Community-level screening devices and portable diagnostics
3. Digital eye-care platforms, teleophthalmology, and remote screening
4. Data management, EHR systems, and workflow tools for eye care
5. Affordable or tech-enabled assistive technologies
6. Tech-enabled brick-and-click models for primary and specialized eye care

Who Should Apply?

The Accelerator seeks African startups with validated solutions and demonstrated traction. Applicants should:

1. Be legally registered in a Sub-Saharan African country
2. Have a founder or senior leader who is a resident of an African country
3. Offer a proven, tech-enabled eye-health solution addressing major vision challenges
4. Demonstrate adoption, partnerships, and early revenue
5. Shows clear potential for scale across LMIC markets
6. Align with responsible innovation principles, data protection requirements, and public health priorities

Selection Criteria

1. Impact and outcomes: Demonstrated evidence of improved access, quality, or affordability
2. Technical quality: Strong innovation aligned with eye-health needs
3. Traction: Demonstrated adoption, revenue, or active pilots
4. Scalability: Clear potential to replicate in LMIC markets
5. Team capacity: Strong leadership and operational readiness
6. Investment readiness: Ability to absorb catalytic capital and grow sustainably
7. Health system alignment: Fit with national eye-health priorities

What We Offer

• Participation in the program focused on growth, market access, and investment readiness
• Technical assistance from leading eye-health and digital health experts
• Eligibility for catalytic seed investment of between $100k to $250k, with the possibility of follow-on funding
• Access to partner and co-investor networks for potential investment
• In-person bootcamp and peer-learning sessions
• Mentorship from clinicians, technologists, and health system experts
• Support to navigate government engagement and public health pathways
• Connections to hospitals, NGOs, research institutions, and referral networks

Expected Outcomes

By the end of the program:

• Refined business models and investment-ready strategies
• Secured seed funding and potential co-investments
• Strengthened market access pathways

Application Process

Applicants must submit:

• A company pitch deck
• A 2-minute video demo or founder pitch (optional)
• Completed online application form
• Additional documents upon request during screening

Non-Eligible

Biotech R&D, pre-revenue concepts, academic prototypes with no market use, purely donor-dependent models, or solutions unrelated to eye care.

Kindly note:

1. Information Session: 17th December 2025 (Link to registration)
2. Application Deadline: 14th  January 2026 (extension to 23rd January 2026)