Adeola Ayoola, the founder of Nigeria’s healthtech platform Famasi, has been named one of the top 10 finalists for the 2026 Aurora Tech Award. Selected from a record 3,400 applications across 127 countries, Ayoola will pitch for funding and access to a global venture capital network, highlighting the growing influence of women-led startups in emerging markets.
The Aurora Tech Award, powered by inDrive, recognises female founders creating scalable solutions in high-growth sectors. Famasi, Ayoola’s brainchild, is transforming how pharmacies manage operations and stock, bringing efficiency to Nigeria’s healthcare ecosystem.
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Famasi: A Game-Changer in Healthtech
Famasi addresses a persistent problem in Nigeria’s healthcare system: fragmented medicine supply chains. With the platform, pharmacies can monitor stock in real time across a connected network, ensuring that prescriptions are routed to the nearest pharmacy where medicines are available.
This system not only improves access to essential drugs but also reduces waste and enhances revenue for small and medium-sized pharmacies. By bridging the gap between pharmacies and patients, Famasi is streamlining healthcare delivery while empowering local businesses to thrive.
“The platform gives pharmacies visibility they’ve never had before and ensures patients get timely access to medications,” Ayoola said in a statement. “It’s about efficiency, impact, and building a stronger healthcare ecosystem.”
A Global Cohort of Innovators
The 2026 Aurora Tech Award’s Top 10 finalists reflect diverse sectors and regions. Alongside Ayoola, the finalists include Penny Musengi of Pesira Technologies in Kenya, Mariana Zuliani of OncoAI in Brazil, and others from Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
The cohort spans healthtech, agritech, fintech, sustainability, HRtech, and enterprise software. Each startup is in the pre-seed or seed stage, demonstrating early traction and significant growth potential. Aurora’s selection process, driven by investor conviction, ensures that founders with the most promise are elevated onto the global stage.
This recognition underscores a larger economic reality: women-led startups generate outsized returns yet remain underfunded. Aurora provides not only funding, but also mentorship and network access to help these founders scale sustainably.
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What This Means for African Innovation
Ayoola’s nomination signals more than personal achievement; it highlights Africa’s rising footprint in global innovation. Healthtech, agritech, and fintech are becoming engines for local impact, demonstrating that solutions originating in emerging markets can be world-class.
For Nigeria, Famasi exemplifies how tech can create tangible change in everyday lives while fostering entrepreneurship. As these startups gain visibility and investment, the continent’s innovation ecosystem grows stronger, attracting more talent and capital to address critical social and economic challenges.
Adeola Ayoola’s journey with Famasi is a story of ingenuity, resilience, and forward-thinking solutions that uplift communities. For more stories that celebrate African innovators and explore their impact, follow RefinedNG and stay connected to the latest breakthroughs shaping the continent.