Health Innovation Exchange - HIEx

What Health Innovation Exchange - HIEx does

Health Innovation Exchange (HIEx) is a Geneva-headquartered nonprofit platform founded in 2018 that connects health innovators, impact investors, and government policymakers to accelerate the adoption of healthcare solutions, particularly in the Global South. It operates on three explicit pillars — Convening (high-level forums at the World Health Assembly and UN General Assembly), Ecosystem Building (linking startups with governments, academia, and markets), and Investment Acceleration (managing accelerator programs and catalytic capital). Its product portfolio includes the Women in Innovation Fund (WiNFUND), Fight for Access Accelerator, Go-to-Market Accelerator, the five-year Reckitt Catalyst program (launched 2025 with a target of 200 innovators and 5 million people reached by 2030), the Climate Health Innovation Equity Fund (CHIEF, $500M target), Digital Transformation Offices embedded in six national ministries, the Innovation Discovery Center in Geneva, and the Global Center for AI in Mental Health established with the University at Albany.

HIEx does not sell a product or charge customers in the conventional sense. Revenue is derived from institutional grants, corporate sponsorships (notably Reckitt, Kofi Annan Foundation, IKEA Foundation, International Solar Alliance), program management arrangements, and a tiered individual donation scheme ($50–$500+). It reports reach across 4 continents and 12+ countries, 1 million+ people reached with improved healthcare access, 150+ innovations developed through ecosystem support, 50+ women entrepreneurs supported, 100+ public-private partnerships facilitated, and 10+ policy changes influenced. The organization has 501–1,000 employees including in-country staff in markets such as Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, India, and Indonesia, and is led by CEO and Founder Pradeep Kakkattil with a C-suite comprising Paula Navajas (CSOO) and Biju Jacob (CTO). Strategically, HIEx positions itself as a neutral convener that addresses two structural gaps: the financing gap facing women-led and underrepresented founders (women receive ~2% of global venture funding; female-founded African startups received 18% of equity deals but only 7% of total funding in 2024) and the adoption problem — the failure of proven innovations to move beyond pilots due to procurement, regulatory, and financing system constraints.

Name

Health Innovation Exchange - HIEx

Legal name

Health Innovation and Investment Exchange

Website

https://hiex.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Health Innovation Exchange (HIEx) is a Geneva-based nonprofit platform that connects health innovators, investors, and government policymakers through convening, ecosystem building, and investment acceleration programs targeting healthcare access in the Global South.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Global Health Innovation Platform

akta.pro primary industry

Health Systems Strengthening & Global Health Technical Assistance (BPADAEAH)

Keywords

• Health innovation platform
• Global health convening
• Innovation ecosystem building
• Investment acceleration programs
• Public health partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Geneva

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Platform Services and Ecosystem Facilitation: HIEx functions as a non-profit platform facilitating connections between innovators, investors, and policymakers. Revenue appears to come from partnerships, donor funding, and service fees for program management rather than direct product sales.
2. Catalytic Funding Programs: Management of accelerator programs (Reckitt Catalyst, WiNFUND, Fight for Access Accelerator) with funding from partners like Reckitt, Kofi Annan Foundation, and others to support women-led health innovations.
3. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Accepts donations for specific purposes: $50 for business mentorship, $100 for investor network access, $250 for climate-resilient programs, $500+ for digital health expansion beyond 12 countries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

HIEx is a Geneva-based international platform that supports innovation ecosystems for healthcare access and climate resilience by convening policymakers, investors, and innovators, building cross-sector partnerships, and accelerating investment into early-stage health solutions from the Global South. It runs accelerator programs (WiNFUND, FFA, GTM, Reckitt Catalyst), investment vehicles (CHIEF), and operates facilities such as the Innovation Discovery Center in Geneva and the Digital Transformation Office working with ministries of health.

Product overview

HIEx is a multilayered international platform based in Geneva that supports innovation ecosystems for climate resilience and improved access to healthcare. The organization operates on three pillars (Convening, Ecosystem Building, and Investment Acceleration) and offers a portfolio of distinct products and programs including: the core HIEx Platform and Innovation Marketplace for showcasing innovators; specialized accelerator programs (Fight for Access Accelerator, Go-to-Market Accelerator, Reckitt Catalyst); funding initiatives (Women in Innovation Fund WiNFUND, Climate Health Innovation Equity Fund CHIEF); service offerings (Digital Transformation Office, Innovation Discovery Center Geneva, Global Center for AI in Mental Health); and convening events at WHA and UNGA. The platform connects over 38 innovators across Africa, Asia, Europe and USA with investors, policymakers, and market opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HIEx Platform International platform supporting innovation ecosystems for climate resilience and improved access to healthcare, operating on three pillars: Convening, Ecosystem Building, and Investment Acceleration. Connects innovators, investors, and policymakers to bring innovative health solutions to life.
• Women in Innovation Fund (WiNFUND) Accelerator platform co-founded with Reckitt and the Kofi Annan Foundation, providing training, catalytic investment, and growth support for women-led health startups in Africa (Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda).
• Fight for Access Accelerator (FFA) Acceleration program in Indonesia partnering with Reckitt to support women-led health startups through tailored mentorship and cross-industry collaborations over a one-year program.
• Go-to-Market Accelerator (GTM) Accelerator initiative addressing market access challenges for startups from the Global South by partnering them with larger companies in the HIEx portfolio. Inaugural 2023 cohort focused on point-of-care diagnosis.
• Reckitt Catalyst Five-year global social impact investment initiative (2025-2030) in partnership with Reckitt, Acumen America, and Yunus Social Innovation, providing catalytic funding, mentorship, technical expertise, and market access to health and hygiene innovators.
• Climate Health Innovation Equity Fund (CHIEF) Collaborative initiative addressing the intersection of climate, health, and equity, targeting a $500 million pool of blended catalytic finance instruments for climate change health resiliency through targeted investments and technical assistance.
• Digital Transformation Office (DTO) Social enterprise service that works with ministries of health to establish and manage digital transformation in national health systems across priority countries in Africa and Asia.
• Innovation Discovery Center Geneva Geneva-based experience center where ministers and health leaders from low- and middle-income countries can experience, experiment with, and rapidly adopt potential health solutions, supported by policy engagement and investment arms.
• Global Center for AI in Mental Health Research center established with University at Albany that employs AI and deep tech innovations to identify social determinants of health and risk factors, and to develop strategies for mental health disorders across the life course in Africa and Asia.
• ISA Cares Partnership program with the International Solar Alliance to power health systems through solar energy solutions, targeting least developed countries and small island developing states.
• HIEx Investor Coalition Invitation-only coalition with the Global Health Security Fund bringing together 50+ investors focused on growth-stage health technology startups and demonstrating public-private partnership returns.
• HIEx Innovation Marketplace Annual showcase event bringing together innovators from Africa, Asia, Europe and the USA, facilitating bilateral discussions with ministers, investors, and global health leaders.
• Building Investment Models for Solarising Health (BIMSH) Initiative addressing electricity challenges in healthcare facilities through solar energy solutions, bringing together ministers and investors to explore investment models for scaling electricity access in healthcare settings.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1 million+ people reached with improved healthcare access
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability17 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and notable.

• WHO GTMCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partner in WHA79 sessions on breakthrough financing for scalable health solutions, bridging innovation and investment.
• UNICEFcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partner in WHA79 Reverse Pitch session where governments present real health system challenges in demand-driven dialogue with innovators.
• Stop TB PartnershipnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partner in WHA79 session on safeguarding future of access to TB medicines and balancing sovereignty and solidarity.
• City Cancer ChallengenotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partner in WHA79 session 'Engineering the Future of Health' on reshaping prevention, diagnosis, and advanced gene therapy.
• Geneva CantonnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partner in WHA79 'Catalysts on the Rise' session backing bold entrepreneurs and building inclusive systems.
• ReckittcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Reckitt is a key strategic partner in multiple initiatives including Reckitt Catalyst (five-year global initiative to support 200 innovators and reach 5 million people by 2030, launched at Cannes Lions 2025), Women in Innovation Fund (WiNFUND) co-founded with Kofi Annan Foundation, and Fight for Access Accelerator in Indonesia. Reckitt provides catalytic funding, technical expertise, and market access support.
• Acumen AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner in Reckitt Catalyst program, contributing experience in long-term and patient capital approaches for scaling health innovations in emerging markets.
• Yunus Social Innovation (YSI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner in Reckitt Catalyst program enabling business integration and private sector pathways for social innovators.
• HarvardnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner in CxH Hack Café at UNGA80, hosting Climate & Health Resilience Innovation Pitch Session.
• AWS (Amazon Web Services)notableTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Partner in Cloud Infrastructure session at UNGA80 on enabling equitable, scalable health systems in emerging markets through digital infrastructure.
• Council of Governors (Kenya)notableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner in cloud and digital infrastructure session exploring policies needed to unlock digital health and AI potential in Kenya.
• Caring CrossnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner in Innovative Financing for Advanced Therapeutics session addressing $30-40B financing gap in advanced therapeutics.
• ARCH Impact LabnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner in Building Investable Pipelines for Climate-Health Impact session creating structured ecosystem for scalable solutions with investment readiness.
• Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of IndianotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in WHA78 session on childhood onset NCDs including Type 1 Diabetes and Obesity policy changes.
• WHO FoundationnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in WHA78 sessions on innovation in financing and new technologies to end TB.
• Medtronic LABSnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in WHA78 Climate & Health Lighthouse Fund High Tea exchange session.
• AVPNnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in WHA78 session on systems level approach to strengthening NCD care delivery.
• Kofi Annan FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Co-founder of WiNFUND (Women in Innovation Fund) - a pioneering accelerator platform combining training, catalytic investment, and growth support for female founders across Africa.
• Global Health Security Fund (GHSF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner in Investor Coalition bringing together 50+ investors focused on growth-stage innovative solutions for SDG 3 through systems-based healthcare lens.
• International Solar Alliance (ISA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISA Cares initiative solarizes healthcare facilities in regions where power is scarce. ISA has 116 signatory countries and aims to mobilize $1 trillion in solar investments by 2030, reaching 1 billion people with 1,000 GW solar capacity.
• University at Albany (UAlbany)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished Global Center for AI in Mental Health leveraging UAlbany's collaborations with New York State Department of Health and SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University for mental health research and deployment in Africa and Asia.
• Dure TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished Digital Transformation Offices working with ministries of health in Côte d'Ivoire, Central African Republic, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Indonesia for health digitization.
• Serena WilliamsnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoined Reckitt Catalyst in June 2025 as Entrepreneur-in-Residence, lending experience as founder and investor to mentor health and hygiene entrepreneurs.
• Ministry of Health, EthiopianotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Abas Hassen from Ethiopian Ministry of Health contributed insights on system-level barriers to innovation adoption and Ethiopia's approach to embedding innovation in health system design.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• PATH: Global health nonprofit that develops, adapts, and scales health innovations across low- and middle-income countries. Comparable to HIEx as a Geneva-adjacent platform that convenes partners and advances adoption of health technologies in emerging markets.
• Grand Challenges Canada: Canadian-funded global health innovation platform that funds and accelerates bold ideas. Closely mirrors HIEx's model of catalytic funding, accelerator programs, and Global South innovator support for health and development outcomes.
• Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI): Multi-stakeholder coalition that funds and coordinates vaccine development for emerging infectious threats. Operates a similar convener-plus-catalytic-finance model to HIEx, mobilizing public and private capital around shared global health priorities.
• Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI): Global health organization that partners with governments and industry to improve access to health products and services in low-income countries. Comparable to HIEx in working alongside ministries of health to drive adoption of innovations at scale.
• FasterCures (Milken Institute): Center that accelerates medical research and innovation by connecting stakeholders across the healthcare ecosystem. Comparable to HIEx as a neutral convener focused on removing systemic barriers to scaling health innovations.
• Acumen: Impact investment fund that uses patient capital to scale businesses addressing poverty, including health. Comparable to HIEx as a partner in Reckitt Catalyst and as a deployer of catalytic capital into health innovators in emerging markets.

Broad incumbents

• Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance: Long-established global health alliance that uses pooled financing and country partnerships to scale immunization. Shares HIEx's public-private convening approach but operates at much greater scale in a single, well-defined health vertical.
• The Global Fund: Multilateral financing mechanism that mobilizes and deploys large pools of capital against HIV, TB, and malaria. Comparable as a Geneva-based global health convener and financier that channels donor funds to country-level health programs.
• Unitaid: Geneva-hosted global health organization that invests in innovations to address HIV, TB, and malaria. Comparable to HIEx in using Geneva-based convening to channel catalytic capital into health innovations in LMICs.

Others

• Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN): Asia-based network of social investors and philanthropists that channels capital to health and other social-impact ventures. Listed as a HIEx partner at WHA78, with overlapping focus on building investable pipelines for impact in Asia.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/healthinnovationexchange

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Health Innovation Exchange - HIEx