ImpactAlpha, April 8 – Entrepreneurs and investors are throwing resources at the pandemic (see, “World War II produced antibiotics, computers and nukes. What COVID may leave behind”).
Fifty Years VC, which staked portfolio companies to $25,000 notes to pursue COVID solutions, already is seeing progress. One portfolio company, BilliontoOne, said it has validated its high-throughput COVID-19 test, which could provide capacity for a million tests a day. Another 50 Years company, Octant Bio, also reported a testing breakthrough.
Food, electric mobility and healthcare next up in ‘sustainability revolution’
Meanwhile, SJF Ventures investee mPulse Mobile is helping more than 20 healthcare organizations communicate with patients about COVID-19.
Techstars Impact cohort member MDaaS Global, a network of diagnostic clinics, is building testing capacity in Nigeria and across Africa with its COVID-19 mass testing guide.
And in Kenya, Eneza Education, a FINCA Ventures investee, has partnered with telecom giant Safaricom to ensure free access to its digital learning platform and is acting as a COVID-19 health information channel as well.