Celebrating Women Shaping Africa’s Startup Ecosystem

📅 Issue #1 – Saving Lives, One Blood Unit at a Time

Discover how Temie Giwa-Tubosun is transforming healthcare in Africa with LifeBank

In 2014, a harrowing experience changed Temie Giwa-Tubosun’s life forever. While working on maternal health programs in Nigeria, she witnessed firsthand how delays in accessing blood transfusions were costing lives. She knew something had to change.

That’s when she founded LifeBank, a medical distribution company that uses technology and logistics to deliver essential blood and medical supplies to hospitals across Nigeria. The goal? End preventable deaths due to shortages of blood and oxygen.

How It Works:

• Hospitals request blood, oxygen, or other medical supplies via LifeBank’s digital platform.

• LifeBank’s AI-powered dispatch system connects them with the nearest suppliers.

• A fleet of motorbikes, boats, and even drones ensures fast delivery—even to remote areas.

The Impact So Far

✔ 80,000+ blood units delivered to hospitals.
✔ Over 35,000 lives saved (and counting).
✔ Expansion into Kenya and Ethiopia.
✔ Featured in CNN, BBC, and Time Magazine as one of Africa’s most impactful startups.

💬 Temie’s Take:
"A mother should never have to watch her child die because the hospital ran out of blood. At LifeBank, we exist to make sure that never happens."

Know a female founder making an impact? Hit reply and nominate them for our next feature!

LifeBank’s “AirBank”

Did you know that a lack of medical oxygen is a silent killer in hospitals? In 2020, LifeBank launched AirBank, a service that delivers life-saving oxygen to critical-care units, especially during the COVID-19 crisis.

✅ Why It Matters:

• One in five deaths worldwide is linked to oxygen shortages.

• AirBank now supplies oxygen to over 200 hospitals in Nigeria and Kenya.

• Partnerships with UNICEF and WHO are helping expand access.

Are you solving a big problem like LifeBank? Tell us about your startup!

📖 The Playbook: Lessons from Temie

🎯 1. Build for Impact: Solve a real problem that saves or changes lives.
🎯 2. Leverage Tech & Logistics: Efficiency is key, especially in critical industries like healthcare.
🎯 3. Start Small, Think Big: LifeBank began with just a few hospitals and now operates across multiple countries.
🎯 4. Collaborate Smartly: Temie partnered with hospitals, governments, and global health organizations to scale quickly.

Which of these lessons resonates with you? Reply and let us know!

📰 Hot Off the Press: What’s New in Female-Founded Startups?

🔹 Nigeria: Helium Health, a digital healthcare startup led by Dami Alabi, just raised $30M to expand in Africa.
🔹 South Africa: Zoie Health, co-founded by Thandeka Xaba, launches Africa’s first women’s digital health clinic.
🔹 Kenya: Pezesha, led by Hilda Moraa, secures funding to provide loans to small businesses.

Stay ahead—subscribe for your weekly dose of Africa’s most inspiring startup news!

Power Moves: Funding, Grants, & Opportunities

💸 Google for Startups Women Founders Fund – Applications are open for African female entrepreneurs!
📌 She Leads Africa Accelerator – A chance to get mentorship and investment.
🚀 VC4A Pitch Program – Connect with top investors looking for female-led startups.

Need funding? Check out these opportunities and apply!

Unfiltered: Founder Confessions

"The hardest part of building LifeBank wasn’t the tech. It was convincing people that a Nigerian startup could solve a global healthcare problem." – Temie Giwa-Tubosun

What’s the hardest challenge you’ve faced as a founder? Share your story!

Affiliates Corner

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📢 Want to be featured as an affiliate partner in our next issue? Reply to this email, and let’s connect!

📢 Final Words:

Temie’s story proves that African women founders are solving some of the continent’s biggest problems—and winning while doing it. If LifeBank’s journey inspired you, imagine what your startup can do.

Until next time, keep building and keep winning!

💌 ANBS
🚀 Supporting Women Entrepreneurs Across Africa