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Tag: Kasha

  • Rwanda’s Kasha secures $21 million for women’s Health in Africa

    Rwanda’s Kasha secures $21 million for women’s Health in Africa

    In a Series B funding round led by Knife Capital, Rwandan e-commerce business Kasha raised $21 million to change how African women get access to health products. Because of this unique digital retail site, East Africa’s IT scene is changing.

    Joanna Bichsel, the founder and CEO of Kasha, has been encouraging African women for seven years to take care of their health and live life to the fullest. They help women get things safely and cheaply, even if they don’t have a smartphone or internet connection. Kasha is a way to bring people together.

    This additional cash makes Kasha a tech powerhouse. After expanding into Kenya in 2020, Finnfund, Swedfund, DFC, and Mastercard Corporate led a game-changing $3.6 million Series A financing for Kasha.

    This business excites Knife Capital co-founder Keet van Zyl. He appreciates Kasha’s business concept and commitment to women clients in a market where women-led enterprises are routinely disregarded. Since its Series A closed, Kasha’s annual recurring income has surged 50-fold. The company has succeeded in this field.

    Kasha has always had a goal in mind. Bichsel said that they want to grow quickly and become a major force around the world. As they work to improve the health and well-being of women, they may start an IPO.

    Read also: Rwanda’s Kasha raises $21 million for African women’s healthcare

    Kasha is Pioneering Women-Led startups

    Kasha’s success gives African women-led businesses hope in an area where it has been hard for them to get money. The company has shown how women’s businesses can reach their full potential and break stereotypes and glass ceilings. Last year, only 3% of Africa’s $6 billion venture capital market went to companies led by women. Kasha’s growth is a big step towards gender equality in the digital field.

    Kasha’s growth is a testament to perseverance, ingenuity, and never giving up on a worthy objective. Because they aim to provide high-quality health products to urban and rural residents, the firm has a dedicated following. Kasha’s business concept has succeeded because consumers demand economic health solutions.

    Knife Capital is leading Kasha’s Series B and expanding across Africa. Kasha learns a lot from this. They can develop faster, reach more of Africa, and help millions of women by investing smartly.

    Kasha shows that businesses run by women can do well by getting into Africa’s huge market. Their idea improves people’s lives and shows how tech-driven Africa can be.

    Kasha’s path shows the strength of vision, tenacity, and unwavering determination in a world that values the opinions of women. They let people with different ideas into the ICT business in Africa. Kasha will give women in the future more power.

  • Rwanda’s Kasha raises $21 million for African women’s healthcare

    Rwanda’s Kasha raises $21 million for African women’s healthcare

    Kasha is a Rwandan online store and last-mile delivery tool for women’s health needs. In a Series B funding round, the company raised $21 million. The new money will be used to help the business grow its platform for getting health care in Africa.

    Knife Capital, a South African venture capital company, led the round of funding. Finnfund, Development Finance Corporation (DFC), Tim Koogle, the former CEO of Yahoo, Beyond Capital Ventures, Altree Capital, Bamboo Capital’s BLOC Smart Africa Fund, and Five35 Ventures were among the other companies that took part in the round.

    In the current economic situation, it is refreshing to find a high-growth, capital-efficient firm that is female-led and geared to service Africa’s vast mass market segment, particularly women clients. This purpose-driven workforce will help us expand into Africa.

    Female healthcare that broadly addresses women’s menstrual and reproductive health has been a subcategory in the African startup ecosystem that has been subtly neglected. This is despite the huge attention investors have given to the African startup ecosystem and private healthcare startups.

    Kasha’s investment shows Africa’s growing interest in women’s health. Only 55% of sub-Saharan African women have contemporary contraception, according to research. Kasha’s platform could close this gap and benefit the health of millions of African women.

    Kasha Founder and CEO Joanna Bichsel stated: We have always known that women are the most influential health customers since they have the highest health requirements and are household health decision-makers, unlocking the rest of the population. Kasha offers a wide range of products, including soap, contraception, and rice, to avoid stigmatizing women’s health products.

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    African women’s support system Kasha

    In 2018, Joanna Bichsel began Kasha. With its direct-to-consumer model, the company sent health products to Rwandan women and babies. But small stores soon started getting the same things.

    After getting permission to sell drugs to pharmacies, hospitals, and clinics, Klasha went into the wholesale market. Kasha has products that help with the health of newborns, mothers, menstrual cleanliness, family planning, sexual and reproductive health, and diseases that aren’t spread from person to person.

    Kasha is now a digital retail and last-mile distribution tool for pharmaceuticals and FMCGs, with a focus on women’s health and home needs.

    Customers include consumers, small dealers, hospitals, pharmacies, and clinics. This group of people can use Kasha’s website or USSD service to buy sanitary pads, birth control, diapers, and cleaning supplies.

    Telehealth and credit are two important parts of B2B e-commerce that Kasha has. Kasha connects people who don’t have prescriptions to doctors to show how much they care about proper drug use and health care. The company also gives pharmacies, clinics, and hospitals store credit, which helps them sell more FMCG.

    Joanna Bichsel, the founder who was also a former technology adviser to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, stated that their core strategic focus lies in the health sector, where they aim to excel.

    Rwanda approves Smart Africa Alliance for 2030 Digital Single Market

    Expansion plans

    After closing our Series B, we’re more determined to become Kasha Africa’s leading digital platform for last-mile health access. Joanna Bichsel said East Africa’s mass market need for excellent, affordable health and household products validated our company concept and team.

    Kasha has raised $5 million in startup capital since its founding. After entering Kenya, it was raised in late 2020. After expanding, Kasha received a $3.6 million Series A from Finnfund, Swedfund, DFC, and Mastercard Corporate.

    Rwanda, South Africa, and Kenya have Kasha. The company will expand into other African countries later this year with the fresh capital. Kasha wants to use the cash to develop new goods and services and strengthen existing telemedicine and financial services for women.