Hayah Bloom is a Kenyan healthtech company that wants to make motherhood more manageable by offering personalized support and resources to empower moms and enhance their well-being.
Founded by Jael Walukwe, a People & Culture Manager and Talent Acquisition Expert together with her cofounder Christine Nyakerio, Haya Cradle to Bloom is an AI-powered platform that Provides 24/7 support that is tailored to the African mother’s needs. Providing real-time almost diagnostic-level information throughout the pregnancy period.
The healthtech which won the 2024 Women In Tech Incubator Program cohort 7, alongside Moma Renewable Energy, Zidallie- Nelly Alili, Gwiji for Women, Zaoshinani, AerialGIS, and PsychCare Clinic, Haya Bloom provides practical reliable specialist-led maternity care support that is enjoyable and geared towards reigniting confidence as a checklist throughout the maternal journey. These startups were collectively awarded KES 8.75 Million as part of the competition.
Women In Tech Incubator Program is an initiative of Standard Chartered in partnership with @iBizAfrica Centre, Strathmore University which aims to back female founders. The program combines world-class startup support with local and international experience to provide a holistic startup incubation program focusing on immersive learning, mentorship & coaching, seed financing, and business-to-business linkages for high-potential startups tackling the continent’s most relevant challenges.
Themed “Empowering Women for a Sustainable Future, The 7th cohort focused on startups that showcase technological innovation, sustainable solutions, a commitment to ESG practices, and a dedication to the triple bottom line of profit, planet, and people.
Jael spoke to TechMoran about her company, plans, and more. Below is what she shared.
Tell us more about your company and what inspired you to start it?
Hayah Bloom is a Fem Health Tech company that focuses on educating women and their support system on how to have a safe and enjoyable maternal experience. This focus was birthed from conversations we had with women and the glaring need for more information access since most of the women we spoke to outside information shared by their doctors, did not have any other reliable source of medically verified information.
What prompted you to join the seventh cohort of the women in Tech program and What key lessons have you learnt from it ?
What inspired us to join the seventh cohort of the Women in Tech program was the statement “Because she can.” This resonated with us in the same way the stories of the women we interviewed during our research did. Women in Tech stands for empowering women in business, which aligns with our mission to support women in the maternal and infant health space. The program has provided valuable opportunities for growth, empowerment, and the foundation for building both a sustainable business and a positive maternal journey for the women we serve.
What technologies are you using to build your platform?
We are focused on making maternal health education more accessible, and to achieve this, we are leveraging two key products. First, our ongoing in-person workshops, and second, our AI-enabled maternal tracking application, which will be launching soon. These initial offerings are just the beginning, as we aim to harness technology further in the future to expand our reach and impact.
Who is your competition locally and how are you unique from them ?
Rather than viewing others as competition, we see them as valuable support and potential collaborators. With Kenya’s maternal mortality rate still alarmingly high, currently around 342 deaths per 100,000 live births, it is clear there is much work to be done. Our focus is on working together to save mothers’ lives, rather than competing. We believe collaboration is essential to making a real impact in maternal health, and we welcome any efforts that contribute to this shared goal.
Is this your first business?
As co-founders, both of us have worked on various ventures throughout our careers. While this is not our first business individually, it is our first time working together as co-founders on a shared vision.
This years cohort focused on the theme “Empowering Women for a Sustainable Future,”with a particular emphasis on ESG-driven entrepreneurship or sustainable business models that benefit both society and the planet,do you think Kenya and Africa are ready for such innovations?
Absolutely, Kenya and Africa are more than ready for innovations that align with ESG-driven entrepreneurship and sustainable business models. The continent is already experiencing a growing focus on solutions that address pressing societal and environmental challenges. By prioritizing innovations that are tailored to our unique context, we are actively driving impactful change in areas like youth employment, improving healthcare access, and promoting sustainable practices. Africa’s rich potential and growing entrepreneurial ecosystem makes it the perfect environment to foster these innovations, and the opportunity to continue growing Hayah Cradle to Bloom in a way that we positively benefit society.
What is the significance of tech-hubs and accelerators in supporting early-stage startups in Africa?
Tech hubs and accelerators play a crucial role in supporting early-stage startups in Africa by providing access to vital resources, mentorship, and networks that are essential for growth. Having managed businesses individually before joining the Women in Tech program, we realized that there are foundational skills necessary to build sustainable business skills we needed to refine. Through the guidance and support of these accelerators and tech hubs, we are now on the right path toward building a sustainable, impactful business that will benefit future generations. Their support has been instrumental in helping us shape a long-term vision for success.
Women entrepreneurs make a substantial contribution to national economies through their participation in start-ups and SMEs but they also encounter lots of challenges in comparison to their male counterparts, is it true and what are some of the challenges you have encountered as a female founder?
Yes, women entrepreneurs face more challenges compared to their male counterparts, but it’s an exciting time to be a woman in business. This brings to mind a Forbes article titled “Why Women Entrepreneurs Outperform Men”, the article describes how companies founded or co-founded by women do better. This is an encouragement to women entrepreneurs which highlights the resilience and potential of women entrepreneurs.
One significant challenge we face is access to funding, in an another article by Forbes entitled “The Funding Gap: Highlighting Women Entrepreneurs Are Still Facing Major Challenges,” where only 2.3% of venture capital funding goes to women-led businesses, compared to 97.7% for male-led businesses, according to a report cited by Forbes. This disparity underscores the systemic barriers that women encounter.
That’s why we were thrilled to be part of the Women in Tech accelerator, and we look forward to engaging in more programs and initiatives that support women-led businesses and creating a more equitable landscape for female entrepreneurs.
What motivates you everyday to do this?
What motivates us every day is knowing that there are mothers and women out there who may face preventable trauma and pain due to a lack of proper information. The thought that we can make a difference by filling that gap, being advocates, and ensuring maternal and infant health education is accessible drives us to continue our work. Our mission is to empower women with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions and have safe, positive maternal experiences. This vision keeps us committed to creating a better future for mothers and their families.
What are your expansion plans?
We have an exciting array of product lines we aim to explore in the future. Our immediate focus is on continuously running and improving our workshops, with the goal of further developing and enhancing them and soon launching our AI-enabled Maternal Tracking Application. By prioritizing these key offerings, we can establish a strong foundation and gather valuable feedback from our users. This will allow us to refine our products and better understand the needs of our community before expanding further.
What advice would you give to women who want to venture into entrepreneurship?
Our advice to women aspiring to venture into entrepreneurship is encapsulated perfectly by the phrase from Women in Tech: “Because she can.” It serves as a powerful reminder that if you have a dream of starting a business, don’t hesitate to take that leap of faith. For those already in the entrepreneurial space, remember that there is ample room for collaboration. By supporting one another, we can create a thriving ecosystem of successful women-led businesses. Together, we can uplift each other and drive meaningful change in the entrepreneurial landscape.
