Lafiya Innovators is a startup program to support and accelerate early to mid-stage startups in emerging economies – focused on public health, healthcare solutions, and wellbeing. As part of the 3rd edition of the program, 17 innovative startups from Cambodia, Colombia, Ghana and Senegal visited Basel last week as part of the Lafiya Innovators Immersion Week 2022. Let us give you an overview of the intense program the startups went through during this “Immersion Week”.
After arriving in Basel on Thursday the 17th November and settling in, they had their first pitching session on Friday morning. Friday afternoon they had a quick tour through Downtown Basel to get a feeling of the City. Of course a visit to the Münster, a stroll along the Rhine promenade, catching a glimpse of the gold on top of Rathaus and an exciting ride with the Fähri (type of gondola) over the Rhine were a must.
In a more glamorous fashion, the program commenced in the evening at the Basel Entrepreneurship Gala 2022. Here the startups could mingle with investors, market players, industry experts, and representatives from private & public institutions.
The weekend program was more focused on the international group getting to know each other better, visiting other parts of Switzerland, going to the top of a mountain, eating Chocolate at Cailler and having a fondue in Gruyère which was very well received.
The rest of the week featured a series of workshops on subjects like Business Model Canvas, fundraising, pitching and the Inner Development Goals. Visits to EY and the Novartis Pavillon were also on the list, where they pitched their businesses and connected with people in the local ecosystem.
Thursday evening, the startups pitched again to the public and potential investors.
The closing event on Friday evening turned out to be quite emotional because the group had become very close. In Swiss style, we said goodbye with a bonfire and raclette.
Here you will find more information on the Lafiya program in general.
