Women's health innovation, Botswana
Botswana
Botswana's femtech scene is thin and largely research and public-health led rather than startup driven. Its real strength is women's public health: a strong HPV and cervical cancer program, a gold-tier record on eliminating mother-to-child HIV transmission, universal free sanitary pads in schools since 2017, and active PrEP research for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Emerging maternal and telemedicine ventures exist but early-stage founder activity is mostly channeled through the Standard Chartered Women in Tech accelerator in Gaborone.
Maternal mortality ratio (2023) macrotrends.net
Path to eliminating mother-to-child HIV transmission (2025) who.int
Cervical cancer, leading cause of cancer death in women obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Women reporting partner or non-partner violence botswana.unfpa.org
Latest major news
Recent milestones concentrate on HIV, maternal health and women-led enterprise support.
Policy & strategy
Government action centers on menstrual dignity, digital health and HIV prevention.
Latest ecosystem moves
Activity clusters around accelerators, telemedicine pilots and university research outreach.
Notable funding rounds
Femtech-specific funding is scarce; grants flow mainly through the women-in-tech accelerator.
Key players & hubs
The landscape is dominated by research institutions, public-health bodies and one accelerator, with a few early startups.
Active investors
Capital is grant and development-partner driven rather than venture; no dedicated gender-lens VC identified locally.
White papers & reports
Reference material is public-health and gender oriented.
Latest major news
Policy & strategy
Latest ecosystem moves
Notable funding rounds
Disclosed round size (USD)
Rounds by type
Key players & hubs
Ecosystem by organisation type
Research programme on contraception, STIs, maternal health, women's cancers and HIV; established 2014 bsrhi.org
Hosts BSRHI and maternal health / pregnancy outcome research bhp.org.bw
Leads eHealth strategy, EMR rollout, HPV vaccination and PrEP programs moh.gov.bw
Accelerator funding women-led tech and health ventures en.wikipedia.org
Early maternal health startup co-founded by Thabang Olebogeng techinafrica.com
Advances reproductive health, midwifery and gender-based-violence prevention botswana.unfpa.org
Active investors
Active investors by headquarters
White papers & reports
Sources and references
Every figure and claim above links back to a public source. 14 references, updated 2026-08.