Team AKA Digital kicked off the Summer Startup Program in June 2023 to explore the healthcare digitalization ecosystem regarding the prevention and treatment of obesity and diabetes in Saudi Arabia, to understand the startups’ position in the ecosystem, and how they contributed to preventing and treating these diseases.
As we navigate this dynamic ecosystem, we’ve had the privilege of engaging with various stakeholders who play pivotal roles in shaping the landscape. Join us as we introduce some of these stakeholders and highlight their invaluable insights into healthcare digitalization. After having a glimpse of the key stakeholders to understand their insights into healthcare digitalization to prevent and treat obesity and diabetes, we will delve into the overall dynamics of the Saudi Arabia ecosystem in our next post.
Government: Navigating Robust Strategies
Ministry of Health Saudi Arabia: The ministry overseeing the health care and health policy of Saudi Arabia is tasked with formulating strategies to ensure public health in the country, while also managing crucial health infrastructure. Our discussion shed light on Saudi Arabia’s robust and proactive approach to addressing diabetes, a health challenge that requires sustained efforts and collective action. The Saudi government’s dedication to this issue is evident in its aggressive stance and innovative programs.
VC Firms: Fueling Innovation and Growth
STV: The largest technology VC fund in the Middle East. With over $800 million in capital, STV backs and scales the region’s most exciting and disruptive technology companies. We enjoyed the conversation on the high growth potential and government support in Saudi Arabia, which is experiencing an incredible surge in growth and opportunities in the startup space. The Saudi government is deeply committed to supporting startups and investing significant resources in building a thriving ecosystem.
Pharma: Pioneering Healthcare Advancements
Roche Pharmaceuticals: Founded in 1896, Roche has been making important contributions to global health for more than a century. Twenty-four medicines developed by Roche are included in the World Health Organization Model Lists of Essential Medicines, among them life-saving antibiotics, antimalarials & chemotherapy. We delve into diabetes management applications through our conversation. The success of B2B apps and emerging B2C apps. Additionally, as Roche is composed of Roche Pharmaceuticals and Roche Diagnostics, we talked about how pharma and medical device companies are approaching healthcare digitalization differently.
Eli Lily: Founded in 1876 by Colonel Eli Lilly, a man committed to creating high-quality medicines that met real needs in an era of unreliable elixirs peddled by questionable characters. His charge to the generations of employees who have followed was this: “Take what you find here and make it better and better. We dig into the connection between obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, which highlighted the urgency of redefining obesity and prioritizing preventive measures for these conditions.
Diabetes Treatment Center: Focusing on Holistic Care
Diabeter: The specialized treatment center for type 1 diabetes in children and adults (all ages). Not only do they want to provide good diabetes care, but they also want to make diabetes care better. They are working on a future without diabetes complications for all their patients. During our interviews, we gained valuable insights into how healthcare digitalization has effectively transcended the capacity limitations of traditional clinics. This transformation has paved the way for synergistic collaboration between the public and private sectors, ultimately benefiting patients in profound ways.
Startups: Innovating Healthcare Solutions
Nabta Health: Its mission is to reimagine women’s health in emerging markets. By combining the best of digital and traditional healthcare, Nabta Health empowers women to detect, diagnose, and treat chronic diseases from home, by using specific health goals, and offering services which are both affordable and accessible. Our conversation focused more on the prevention and treatment of diabetes and obesity for females, and we see the pressing need for tailored healthcare solutions and the incredible potential of innovative approaches in assuring females’ access to healthcare resources.
Almouneer: A digital transformation platform offering practice management and networking solutions serving both patients and doctors in every step of the patient’s journey. The conversation shed light on the strong support for startups exhibited by the government, the current challenge in generating easily monetizable ideas, and the potential for future growth and collaboration within the healthcare digitalization industry.
Through our encounters with diverse stakeholders, we’ve pieced together a tapestry that encapsulates Saudi Arabia’s healthcare digitization. Each stakeholder contributes a unique hue and shape to this intricate puzzle. However, when these elements unite, they form a panoramic view of a burgeoning healthcare digitization landscape. In our upcoming post, we will paint this landscape with vivid strokes, using key terms to portray the vibrancy we’ve witnessed.
INSEAD SUMMER STARTUP TOUR 
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