Cameroon’s Waspito Becomes First African Startup to Win US$250,000 at LEAP 2026

Cameroonian healthtech startup Waspito has taken the top prize at LEAP 2026 in Riyadh, securing US$250,000 after emerging as the winner of the event’s Rocket Fuel startup competition.

The award makes Waspito the first African startup to take the Grand LEAP Award since the competition began five editions ago. The Rocket Fuel competition offered US$1 million in equity-free prizes across seven categories, with Waspito receiving the largest individual award.

Founded by Jean Lobe Lobe in 2020, Waspito operates a digital healthcare platform that connects patients with doctors through instant video consultations. The startup also provides mobile laboratory services, allowing patients to have samples collected at home before receiving their results digitally.

Waspito reaches 1.1 million patients

Waspito has expanded its services beyond teleconsultations as it builds a network connecting patients, doctors and healthcare providers. The platform currently connects about 1.1 million patients with 2,100 doctors and more than 500 healthcare providers across Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire.

That represents significant growth from 2023, when Waspito said it had served more than 100,000 patients across the two markets.

The startup has also developed services for organisations that finance healthcare, including employers and insurers. Its platform has been used to manage healthcare spending while giving users access to medical services.

US$5.2m raised before LEAP award

The LEAP prize follows several rounds of venture funding for Waspito.

In November 2023, the startup raised US$2.5 million in a seed extension round, bringing its total seed funding to US$5.2 million.

The round included Newtown Partners, Saviu Ventures, AAIC Investment, Axian Ventures and Health54. Waspito said at the time that the funding would support growth in its existing markets, expansion into new countries and the development of additional services.

The company had previously raised US$2.7 million in seed funding in 2022.

Following the 2023 raise, Waspito planned to expand into markets including Senegal and Gabon. Its current operations are in Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire.

The US$250,000 LEAP award is equity-free, giving Waspito additional capital without requiring it to give up a stake in the business.

With its patient base now at about 1.1 million, the prize gives the startup more funding to continue developing its platform and expanding its healthcare services.