My Journey Through the Founders Factory Africa Academy (Now 54 Collective): From Aspiration to Achievement

The Beginning of an Exciting Journey

The journey through the Explore Program by the Founders Factory Africa Academy was transformative, testing our resilience, creativity, and determination. It began with identifying our entrepreneurial sweet spot, where we introspected to understand our strengths, passions, and market opportunities. This foundational step aligned our personal values with our business goals, ensuring a purpose-driven approach. We then moved on to customer discovery, conducting extensive research through surveys, interviews, and focus groups to understand our target audience’s needs and refine our business ideas.

With a clear understanding of our customers, we crafted a precise problem statement, articulating the specific issues our target audience faced and how our solution could address these challenges. Armed with this, we proceeded to craft our solutions, brainstorming, prototyping, and refining our offerings to ensure feasibility and effectiveness.

The feasibility experiment tested our ability to deliver the offering through small-scale trials, evaluating resources, processes, and capabilities. Parallel to this, the desirability experiment gauged market interest by testing whether people were willing to pay for our solutions through pre-sales, pilot programs, and market tests.

As we progressed, we documented our findings and insights in comprehensive reports, essential for tracking our progress and communicating our journey to stakeholders. The program culminated in a pitch to a panel of judges, where all our hard work and learning came together. This rigorous process ultimately led to Afyalytics being among the few ideas funded to further develop our platform.

What is Afyalytics?

Afyalytics is a digital platform designed to assess an individual’s exposure to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer and diabetes. By answering questions about lifestyle choices—like physical activity, alcohol and tobacco use, mental health, nutrition, and air pollution—users receive a comprehensive NCD risk report. This report includes personalized recommendations to help them reduce their exposure to these lifestyle diseases. The platform leverages data and technology to provide insights that can empower individuals to make healthier choices and prevent the onset of NCDs.

Inspiration from Personal Tragedy

My inspiration to focus on NCDs is deeply personal. In 2008, I lost my mother to pre-eclampsia, a condition caused by high blood pressure during pregnancy. Eight years later, in 2016, my father succumbed to carcinoma cancer. These tragic experiences ignited a passion within me to find innovative ways to prevent others from experiencing similar heart-breaking losses. I realized that early detection and lifestyle modifications could have a significant impact on preventing such diseases.

Targeting the Most Vulnerable: Young People

Our target demographic for Afyalytics is young people aged 18-34. This age group is at high risk for NCDs due to their lifestyle choices. According to UNICEF, many NCDs that manifest in adulthood begin during adolescence and youth. By focusing on this age group, Afyalytics aims to address and mitigate NCD risk factors early, promoting healthier lifestyles and long-term well-being. Young people are often at a critical juncture where they form lifelong habits and guiding them towards healthier choices can significantly reduce their risk of developing NCDs later in life.

The Alarming Statistics on NCDs

The statistics on NCDs are alarming. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 74% of all global deaths are attributable to lifestyle diseases.  In Kenya, about 50% of hospital admissions and 55% of hospital deaths are due to NCDs . These figures underscore the urgent need for innovative solutions like Afyalytics. The rising burden of NCDs not only affects individuals and families but also places a significant strain on the healthcare system and the economy.

Afyalytics: The Perfect Antidote

The weak link in tackling non-communicable diseases (NCDs) has been the over-obsession with treatment at the expense of prevention. While medical advancements have improved treatment outcomes, this approach often overlooks the crucial aspect of preventing NCDs in the first place. Afyalytics aims to bridge this gap by offering a preventive approach. By providing individuals with a digital platform to assess their exposure to NCDs through lifestyle questions, Afyalytics empowers users with personalized risk reports and actionable recommendations. This proactive strategy not only helps in early detection but also encourages healthier lifestyle choices, reducing the likelihood of developing NCDs. Afyalytics is shifting the focus from reactive treatment to proactive prevention, ensuring that more lives are saved and the burden of NCDs on healthcare systems is alleviated.

A Heartfelt Gratitude

I am profoundly grateful to Founders Factory Africa for their unwavering support. Special thanks to Coach Mitchel Ngure for his invaluable guidance, and to all the amazing fellow entrepreneurs who provided feedback that helped us refine our product offering. Together, we are making a significant impact in the fight against NCDs.

Join us in the fight against non-communicable diseases by leveraging the power of prevention with Afyalytics. Our platform empowers you to assess your risk factors, adapt your lifestyle, and achieve a healthier future. Don’t wait for illness to strike—take charge of your health today. Visit Afyalytics, complete your risk assessment, and start your journey towards a healthier, more vibrant life. Assess, adapt, achieve a healthier future with Afyalytics!