Tishanya Naidoo, principal of the 27four Nebula fund
27four Nebula Fund proudly announces their R10 million investment ($513 000) into Kena Health, a healthtech start-up.
The Johannesburg-based startup, launched in March 2022, has quickly gained market traction and investor attention for its unique healthcare offering. The Kena Health app allows customers to consult with a doctor, nurse, or mental health professional from their smartphone for only R185 ($9.50) per consultation, less than a third of what it costs to visit a family doctor in most South African suburbs.
Since its launch, the startup has had strong market adoption, with over 320,000 downloads and 35,000 consultations. The app is the leading medical app in South Africa, with a 4.8/5-star review on the Google Play Store and a 4.9/5-star review on the Apple App Store. It has also gone on to win several awards, including the prestigious title of MTN Business App of the Year 2023.
Saul Kornik, founder and CEO of Kena Health, states, “Cost is, for most South Africans, the most significant barrier to access to private healthcare services. In fact, 84% of South Africans rely on an overburdened public healthcare system. At Kena Health, we lower the cost of quality healthcare by developing full-stack solutions, where expert clinical teams and technology work seamlessly together to open up access to millions of people.”
Tishanya Naidoo, the principal of the 27four Nebula fund, stated, “27four is proud to be backing Kena Health and supporting the team through their stages of growth. Kena Health strongly aligns with the 27four Nebula fund’s vision of backing disruptive solutions to social challenges. We are excited to be part of the investor stable supporting the Kena team in improving the delivery of quality healthcare to all South African’s.”
Saul Kornik says, “We are honoured to have 27four as an investor and partner with a shared vision of cracking society’s toughest challenges in disruptive ways. This investment comes at an essential phase of our growth. Today, Kena Health offers affordable, quality basic care on demand, 7 days a week. As we grow, we aim to become an entry point into the healthcare system for our customers, partnering with specialist clinicians, pathology labs, insurers, and more to better meet patients’ overall healthcare needs. We also see an opportunity to help businesses provide better healthcare solutions to their employees, who increasingly ask for their employers’ assistance. Workplace absenteeism and productivity loss due to illness presents a significant challenge for employers and employees. We recently launched a B2B product where employers can offer employees much-needed healthcare benefits for a fraction of the cost. This product is gaining solid traction from startups and large corporations alike.”
27four’s investment bolsters Kena Health’s seed extension round, which NEXT176 has led and has included investors such as Tofino Capital and Jaza Rift Capital.
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