What Mydawa does

Mydawa (legal entity ION Kenya Ltd) operates Kenya's first fully licensed and regulated e-pharmacy, headquartered in Nairobi. The platform sells prescription medicines, OTC medications, health and wellness products, beauty and personal care items, and medical devices through its web storefront (mydawa.com) and native iOS/Android applications, with tiered last-mile delivery (4 hours in Nairobi, 6 hours in Greater Nairobi, 24 hours nationwide) and cold-chain capability for temperature-sensitive products. Each order is sealed with a tamper-proof authentication sticker combining a scratch-off SMS-verifiable code and a QR code that returns a personalized authenticity response, directly addressing counterfeit medicines in the Kenyan market.

The business has expanded beyond a pure e-commerce model into a broader digital-health platform. Adjacent offerings include the Mzima chronic-care program for hypertension, diabetes, sickle cell, lupus, and arthritis; telehealth consultations; prescription management with mandatory pharmacist review; HIV PrEP/PEP services; IV therapy; fixed-fee bundled treatment (Pata Tiba na Thao); the Femvive women's health sub-brand; and family-planning services. Revenue is generated primarily through pharmacy product sales, supplemented by telehealth subscription-style programs and insurance claim processing across 17+ partnered carriers. The 2023 acquisition of Uganda-based Guardian Health extended operations into a second East African market, with new physical retail stores launched alongside the e-commerce model.

Mydawa is venture-backed, with cumulative disclosed funding of approximately $30.8 million across rounds led by Africa Venture Labs, AAIC Investment, Alta Semper Capital, and a $1.2 million Gates Foundation grant in 2021. The company has also been selected for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-backed i3 (Investing in Innovation Africa) program and entered a cervical cancer elimination partnership with MSD in late 2025.

Name

Mydawa

Legal name

ION Kenya Ltd

Website

https://mydawa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Mydawa is a Nairobi-based, Kenya-licensed e-pharmacy and digital-health platform selling medicines, wellness products, and telehealth services directly to consumers via web and mobile app, with 4-hour Nairobi delivery, cold-chain logistics, and expansion into Uganda through the Guardian Health acquisition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Pharmacy

NAICS

Pharmacies and Drug Retailers (456110), Health and Personal Care Retailers (456)

SIC

Retail-Drug Stores And Proprietary Stores (5912)

akta.pro primary industry

DTC Telehealth with Integrated Online Pharmacy (Cash-Pay/Subscription) (HLALAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Telepharmacy & Prescription Fulfillment Marketplaces (HLALALAF), Prescription-Based Digital Clinics (Condition-Specific Rx Programs) (HLALAAAD), Pharmacy & Health Essentials Delivery (CRAFAFAI)

Keywords

• Online pharmacy
• E-pharmacy platform
• Prescription delivery
• Telehealth services
• Chronic disease management

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Pharmacy Product Sales: Sale of prescription medicines, OTC medications, health products, wellness items, beauty and personal care products through the e-commerce platform with delivery fees.
2. Telehealth Consultations: Online doctor consultations and health centre services including chronic disease management programs.
3. Insurance Processing: Processing insurance claims from partnered health insurance providers for prescription medications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Mydawa operates a licensed e-pharmacy platform selling prescription medicines, over-the-counter medications, health and wellness products, medical devices, beauty and personal care items, and family planning products directly to individual consumers via web and mobile apps. The platform adds licensed pharmacist prescription review, telehealth doctor consultations, IV therapy services, and structured chronic disease management programs (e.g., Mzima) plus fixed-fee treatment bundles (Pata Tiba na Thao). Cold-chain logistics support temperature-sensitive medications with 4-hour delivery in Nairobi and nationwide coverage.

Product overview

MYDAWA is a Kenya-based online healthcare platform operating as a unified e-pharmacy ecosystem. The core platform (MYDAWA E-Pharmacy Platform) serves as the primary channel for ordering medicines, health, and wellness products. Supporting this core are specialized sub-products including the Mzima Chronic Care Program for managing long-term conditions (hypertension, diabetes, sickle cell, lupus, arthritis), Telehealth Services for remote doctor consultations, IV Therapy for home-based treatments, and Pata Tiba na Thao for fixed-fee condition management. The platform also offers prescription management with licensed pharmacist review, PrEP/PEP HIV prevention services, and a personalized Supplement Quiz. MYDAWA operates a mobile app on iOS and Android, and has expanded regionally through the acquisition of Guardian Health in Uganda. The platform integrates with multiple payment providers including M-PESA, insurance companies, and loyalty points systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mzima Chronic Care Program: Personalised chronic care program for long-term health conditions including hypertension, diabetes, sickle cell, lupus, and arthritis
• Pata Tiba na Thao
• Femvive

Products and services

• MYDAWA E-Pharmacy Platform Core e-commerce platform for ordering prescription medicines, OTC medications, health, wellness, beauty, personal care, family planning products, and medical devices with home delivery in Kenya. Licensed pharmacist reviews every prescription.
• Mzima Chronic Care Program Personalized chronic disease management program for hypertension, diabetes, sickle cell, lupus, and arthritis with ongoing medication support and remote consultations.
• Telehealth Services Online doctor consultations and health centre services enabling patients to receive diagnoses, prescriptions, and medical advice remotely via digital channels.
• IV Therapy Home or location-based intravenous therapy services including hangover therapy, hydration therapy, immunity therapy, iron therapy, and vitamin D therapy.
• Pata Tiba na Thao Fixed-fee treatment bundles covering bladder and urinary tract health, cold and flu, gastrointestinal conditions, and sexual wellness at standardized pricing.
• Family Planning Services Family planning offerings including condoms, injectables (DMPA-IM, DMPA-SC), IUDs, patches, and emergency contraceptives with professional consultation.
• PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) HIV prevention service providing pre-exposure prophylaxis medication and counseling for individuals at risk of HIV infection.
• PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) Emergency HIV prevention treatment administered after potential exposure to HIV, requiring immediate medical consultation.
• MYDAWA Mobile App Native mobile application available on iOS and Android enabling customers to browse products, upload prescriptions, book appointments, consult with doctors online, and access health tips.
• Femvive Women's Health Brand Women's health product line addressing dermatitis, eczema, fertility aid, fungal infections, intimate hygiene, menopause, menstrual health, pregnancy care, probiotics, and sexual wellness.
• Prescription Management Service Service allowing patients to upload valid prescriptions for review and transcription by licensed pharmacists before dispensing prescription-only medications.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4-hour delivery within Nairobi for orders placed 8am-8pm
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration27 records

AI capability1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• MSDflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Collaboration announced at I3 Access to Markets event for cervical cancer elimination efforts in Kenya. Partnership part of Investing in Innovation Africa (i3) initiative funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
• Investing in Innovation Africa (i3)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Selected as one of 7 healthtech startups backed by i3 initiative to scale pharmacy innovations and improve healthcare access in Africa. Initiative supported by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and multiple sponsors.
• Guardian Health (Uganda)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023Acquired pharmacy chain Guardian Health in Uganda as part of expansion beyond East Africa. Launched new stores in Uganda as part of regional growth strategy.
• Insurance Partners (AAR, First Assurance, Heritage, Sanlam, Britam, KCB, Madison, PACIS, Minet, CIC, MUA, KU, Fidelity, Star Discovery, Jubilee, Liaison, APA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor17 partnered health insurance providers enabling customers to pay using health insurance coverage. Requires original prescription and claim form for processing. Includes AAR Insurance, First Assurance, Heritage Insurance, Sanlam Insurance, Britam Insurance, KCB, Madison Insurance, PACIS Insurance, Minet Insurance, CIC Insurance, MUA, KU, Fidelity Insurance, Star Discovery, Jubilee, Liaison Insurance, and APA Insurance.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Zuri Health: Kenya- and Africa-focused digital health startup offering telehealth, pharmacy, and lab services via mobile. Overlaps with MYDAWA in East Africa DTC healthcare and could be a regional competitive threat.
• RxAll: Nigeria- and US-based e-pharmacy platform with proprietary medicine authentication and quality verification technology. Directly comparable in combining e-pharmacy with counterfeit-detection technology.
• Medsaf: Nigeria-based pharmaceutical supply chain and e-pharmacy platform connecting pharmacies and consumers to verified medicines. Comparable model in regulated African pharmacy commerce, though primarily B2B-enabled.

Direct peers

• Kasha: Kenya- and Rwanda-based digital health platform offering e-commerce for medicines, personal care, and household essentials with last-mile delivery. Highly comparable DTC pharmacy model in East Africa targeting similar consumer and chronic-care segments.

Broad incumbents

• Netmeds: India-based e-pharmacy platform owned by Reliance, offering prescription and OTC medicines, telehealth, and chronic care. Closely comparable product breadth and integrated digital health model at much larger scale.
• 1mg (Tata 1mg): India's largest e-pharmacy platform offering medicines, lab tests, telehealth, and chronic care. Comparable e-pharmacy + telehealth business model at much greater scale, signaling potential cross-border entrant competition.
• Truepill: US-based digital health pharmacy infrastructure platform powering telehealth and DTC pharmacy for others. Comparable in combining licensed pharmacy operations, telehealth integration, and chronic care; represents the 'pharmacy-as-a-platform' model MYDAWA could pursue.
• PharmEasy: Major India-based e-pharmacy and diagnostics aggregator. Comparable in DTC online pharmacy + chronic disease + diagnostics, representing the kind of scaled player MYDAWA may eventually compete with in Africa.

Regional players

• Goodlife Pharmacy: East Africa brick-and-mortar pharmacy chain with growing digital presence. Same core pharmacy product category serving Kenyan consumers, but operates via physical retail rather than e-commerce-first model.
• Haltons Pharmacy: Leading retail pharmacy chain in Kenya with prescription dispensing and OTC retail. Comparable in Kenya pharmacy retail but lacks MYDAWA's e-commerce-first positioning and same-day delivery model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mydawaapp
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC8RHvv3z-gQ67_iBJ38kJ_g
• Facebookfacebook.com/mydawa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ion-kenya
• Instagraminstagram.com/mydawa

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors9 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mydawa