AFRICA – Global healthcare company Organon has partnered seed and early-stage venture capital firm Flat6Labs to launch the Femtech Accelerator Programme to support female-led startups operating in the digital healthcare space in MENA.

Marking the launch of Organon in the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey, the partnership is the kickoff of the company’s vision to work closely with partners in the region to empower innovative women’s healthcare programmes.  

Selected startups will be female-founded and demonstrate that they can address unmet women’s needs in line with Organon’s mission to advance women’s health.

Ten startups will be invited to join the two-month intensive accelerator programme following a selection process and receive support in turning their idea into a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and securing venture funding.

Flat6labs will provide business and technical training and access to their local and regional partner networks. Participating startups will be connected to businesses, local and international experts, and access big data and new opportunities.

Organon, meanwhile, will mentor participants, connect them with global industry experts, and provide access to their entire business network, including internal teams and external partners.

We know that investing in women has far-reaching benefits, reaping dividends for families, local and national communities, and economies. We will continue to listen to women’s needs to better understand the gaps and identify the right solutions for a better and healthier every day for her,” said Susanne Fiedler, chief commercial officer of Organon.

Organon is a global healthcare company formed through a spinoff from Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, to focus on improving the health of women throughout their lives.

Here for her health, the company has a portfolio of more than 60 medicines and products across a range of therapeutic areas.

Led by the reproductive health portfolio coupled with an expanding biosimilars business and stable franchise of established medicines, Organon’s products produce strong cash flows that will support investments in future growth opportunities in women’s health, including business development like recently acquired Alydia Health, a medical device company focused on postpartum hemorrhage.

In addition, Organon is pursuing opportunities to collaborate with biopharmaceutical innovators looking to commercialize their products by leveraging Organon’s scale and presence in fast growing international markets.

Organon has a global footprint with significant scale and geographic reach, world-class commercial capabilities, and approximately 9,000 employees with its headquarters located in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Last month, the company announced the launch of a new website – Fertility Journey – as part of ongoing commitment to help address the needs of women.

The site helps inform and empower people with resources and information needed to navigate the process of fertility care. The website aims to meet people wherever they are on their fertility journey and equip them with knowledge and questions for consideration to feel prepared and empowered throughout their journey.

“Infertility is a significant public health issue in the U.S. While the issue affects both men and women, the burden of treatment typically falls on women, with 7.3 million women reporting the use of infertility services in the U.S. from 2006-2010,” said Dr. Barbara Stegmann, clinical lead of women’s health for Organon.

We want to provide support to anyone looking to start a family and for those accompanying them. I am proud to work at Organon where we are truly devoted to understanding the journey,” Dr Barbara said during the launch.

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