Ghanaian e-health startup Rivia acquires local SaaS company Waffle
TLDR
- Rivia, a Ghana-based e-health startup, acquires Waffle, a Ghanaian SaaS company specializing in software for small and medium-sized businesses.
- Rivia enhances healthcare service quality by offering partner clinics a comprehensive hospital management system and loans for infrastructure upgrades.
- Waffle's software merged with RiviaOS aims to bolster Rivia's offerings, with Victor Nara joining as the chief technology officer.
Ghana-based e-health startup Rivia, known for its collaborations with clinics to enhance healthcare service quality, has made a significant move by acquiring Waffle, a Ghanaian SaaS company specializing in software for small and medium-sized businesses.
Rivia operates in Ghana and has expansion plans for West and East Africa. It offers partner clinics a comprehensive hospital management system for patient appointments, records, payment collection, and administrative tasks. Rivia also provides loans for upgrading infrastructure and inventory.
With the acquisition of Waffle, known for its hospital and inventory management software, Rivia aims to strengthen its offerings. Waffle's software will be further developed under the Rivia umbrella, now rebranded as RiviaOS. Victor Nara, founder of Waffle, has joined Rivia as its chief technology officer, marking an important step in the company's growth journey.
Key Takeaways
Africa's healthcare system undoubtedly encounters multiple challenges, encompassing inadequate modern and well-equipped medical facilities, shortages of medical professionals such as doctors and nurses, and insufficient funding for healthcare services. Despite these obstacles, the healthcare sector in Africa offers various investment opportunities. Private healthcare spending has experienced substantial growth, increasing from $20 billion in 2016 to $45 billion in 2023 when considering figures from Ghana, Nigeria, and Kenya. This remarkable 125% growth over seven years underscores the increasing significance of private investment in healthcare across the continent. On average, each user spends $400, with approximately 113 million people annually paying for private healthcare in the three mentioned countries. This trend highlights the potential for investors to contribute to addressing healthcare challenges in Africa while simultaneously tapping into a sector with considerable growth and impact potential.
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