South African Founder Wins Health Award at Davos Summit

A healthcare entrepreneur from South Africa just proved that African innovation belongs on the world's biggest stage.

Zanele Matome, CEO of Welo Health, won the Innovator Award in the health category at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week. She was the only female founder from Africa to receive the honor at the prestigious gathering of global leaders.

Matome's company was handpicked as one of just 22 startups worldwide to participate in Davos Innovation Week. Only two African startups made the cut.

Welo Health tackles a problem facing employers everywhere: keeping workers healthy and productive. The digital platform connects companies, health insurers, and healthcare providers through one flexible system that makes managing employee health simple and data-driven.

The results speak for themselves. Companies using Welo Health see reduced absenteeism, better management of chronic diseases, and improved productivity across their workforce.

Growing up in Rustenburg in South Africa's North West province taught Matome resilience. She credits that background for giving her an edge as an entrepreneur.

"If you are an entrepreneur coming from Africa, you have a higher chance of making it because we know struggle, we know working with limited resources," Matome says. "So when we go in, we go all in because we have nothing to lose."

Since launching in 2020, Welo Health has expanded operations across six African countries. Now Matome is raising Series A funding to bring the platform to rural communities in the United States, building on the company's existing Silicon Valley presence.

The Ripple Effect

Matome's presence at Davos represents more than one success story. Her voice at the table where presidents, ministers, and Fortune 500 CEOs make global decisions opens doors for other African entrepreneurs.

She's not just seeking investors with deep pockets. Matome wants partners who bring expertise, market access, and a shared belief that quality healthcare should be accessible to everyone.

"We are here to fundraise, but fundraise with a purpose," she says.

Her message to policymakers is clear: entrepreneurs who work on the front lines of innovation deserve a seat at decision-making tables. They understand the challenges and opportunities that statistics alone can't capture.

Matome's journey from Rustenburg to Davos shows how homegrown African solutions can reshape global industries when given the platform and resources to scale.