‎A platform focused on innovation and venture building to scale technology-driven solutions for key challenges, Evon Labs, has completed the first edition of HealthX Catalyst. The 12-week health-tech incubation program concluded with a successful Demo Day, attracting founders, investors, healthcare leaders, development partners, and innovation stakeholders to showcase practical healthcare solutions created for Africa.
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The event featured 12 early-stage founders developing solutions to major healthcare issues, including access to care, service delivery, health system efficiency, and technology-supported patient care.
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Delivering a keynote on Nigeria’s evolving healthcare ecosystem, Fola Laoye, Co-Founder and CEO of Iwosan Investments Limited, emphasised the growing role of innovation, collaboration, and private-sector involvement in improving healthcare nationwide. She highlighted the sector’s opportunities and the importance of ongoing support systems to help healthcare entrepreneurs develop impactful, sustainable solutions.
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Also speaking, Anuoluwa Ife-Olatunji, Group Chief People Officer, EHA Group, urged the startups to ensure that the products they build offer the right long-term solutions for building a robust healthcare system in Nigeria.
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Founder of Evon Labs, Isioma Udeozo,  noted that HealthX Catalyst was designed to support founders developing practical solutions for real healthcare issues.
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“Over the past 12 weeks, we’ve observed impressive growth, innovation, and resilience among the participating founders. Demo Day was more than just the program’s conclusion; it was a platform to highlight the strength of local innovation and the healthcare solutions that emerge when founders receive proper support, guidance, and access to an ecosystem. As the program wraps up, my message to the founders is that this marks the start, not the end.
‎“I urge them to stay dedicated to the problems they’ve chosen, continue refining their solutions, remain open to learning, and build with the discipline, resilience, and clarity needed to develop sustainable healthcare businesses. The real work begins after this Demo Day, and we’re optimistic about what they will achieve next,” she said.
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At the end of the event, three founders were chosen from the 12 startups to receive a combined grant of US$10,000. This funding aims to support their next growth phase by accelerating product development, piloting, market validation, and early scaling, bringing them closer to commercial success and greater healthcare impact.
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HealthX Catalyst is an incubation program within Evon Labs, created to fill a gap in Africa’s health-tech scene. While more entrepreneurs across the continent are developing solutions to healthcare issues, many struggle to move beyond the idea phase due to a lack of mentorship, startup support systems, industry connections, and funding options. Through HealthX Africa, Evon Labs offers a structured program to support founders and their ventures.
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The first edition was supported by Washington University in St. Louis, with some funding to further the research aspects of the startup innovations, represented by Dr Juliet Iwelunmor, a professor of medicine, who spoke to the startups, commended them on their innovative healthcare solutions, and encouraged them to continue building for Africa.
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The key partners include the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Odu’a Investment Company Limited (OICL), the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), The EHA Group, Brooks Insights and NOVVA Media & Communications. Their support helped connect founders to essential expertise, visibility, and opportunities to strengthen their ventures