PBR Life Sciences, a healthtech startup specialising in anonymised healthcare big data, has secured $1 million in pre-seed funding. Investors include Launch Africa, Microtraction, Kaleo Ventures, Octerra Capital, and ARM Labs. The capital injection would enable the startup to expand its operations across Africa.
“This investment strengthens our ability to focus on profitability while extending our reach in Africa and beyond,” CEO Ayodeji Alaran said.
Founded in 2015 by pharmacist Ayodeji Alaran, an MBA holder, PBR initially focused on Nigeria’s healthcare data. Alaran, who previously held roles at GSK, Pfizer, and AstraZeneca, noticed gaps in data accessibility, leading PBR to shift to big data for Sub-Saharan Africa in 2021.
The company claims to be the first in the region to introduce a multi-variate, multi-channel healthcare data platform, a leap forward for Africa’s growing life sciences industry. Its flagship platform, “Versus,” gathers data from retail pharmacies to give pharmaceutical companies insights into product performance, market share, and competitor activity. Using AI and machine learning, PBR helps these healthcare organisations optimise care, resource allocation, and decision-making across systems.
PBR Life Sciences’ platform also helps promote inclusion in clinical trials by ensuring underrepresented patient populations are considered. This approach further paves the way for more inclusive healthcare solutions.
The company gained significant momentum last year when it joined the Techstars Lagos accelerator, a program that supports high-growth startups across Africa. Backed by ARM Labs, PBR Life Sciences also received $120,000 in funding as part of Techstars’ cohort of 12 startups. This experience has allowed the company to build a stronger network and expand its reach.
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Today, the company processes millions of data points across Africa. The new investment will allow PBR to replicate its successful model across markets like Ghana and Kenya. This expansion comes at a time when the demand for data-driven solutions in healthcare is growing as health challenges become increasingly complex across the continent.
Launch Africa’s Head of Investments, Uwem Uwemakpan, commended PBR’s fresh perspective on tackling Africa’s healthcare challenges, noting the company’s strong founding team and the significant market opportunity it’s tapping into. “PBR is set to be a key player in transforming healthcare delivery across the continent,” he said.
Ashim Egunjobi, Managing Partner at Octerra Capital, shared similar enthusiasm, and confidence in PBR’s proprietary technology.” We believe in PBR’s tremendous potential to reshape access to health data across Africa, and we’re excited to support them on this promising journey,” he added.
