Startup Story
Zanele Matome is the founder of Welo health, a Healthtech startup based in South Africa and launched in 2020. Prior to starting this business, she has been involved in different industries as an entrepreneur ranging from construction to mining. Now she is solving the problem of access to healthcare by merging technology with the human touch. Welo has close to 500 gig nurses nationwide and doctors working with them to deliver access to healthcare. Zanele's other passion is paying it forward to communities with her NGO Innov8 which provides maths lessons to rural schools in South Africa and Tanzania.
LoA spoke to Zanele Matome about her passion for solving access to healthcare and her drive to make technology part of this solution.
What does your company do?
We provide access to health in the workplace and at home by merging Technology and Human Touch. We assist Health Insurers to save on paying high premiums for hospital stays with our hospital at home offering for their members. We assist Corporates to combat loss of productivity caused by sickness absenteeism by offering an array of workplace digital and on-site health solutions for their employees.
We are currently servicing B2B with the intent of expanding our offering to B2C Clients in the future.
“We are special because we understand that Health is a personal thing that you can't just digitize without merging with the human part. You have to merge the human touch with the Technology and use the Technology only as an enabler for growth and efficiency.”
“Entrepreneurship has always been a calling for me. I see it as a space where one can create, build and rally the troops towards one vision. Entrepreneurship has always been a space where I could learn and grow from both wins and failures.”
What inspired you to start your company?
The passion of solving access to healthcare globally. Access to healthcare is a pain point and an expensive journey globally. Technology enables solutions, such as our digital healthcare solutions, to scale that access far and wide, whilst our on-site solutions help bring the human touch element into the fold.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
We are special because we understand that Health is a personal thing that you can't just digitize without merging with the human part. You have to merge the human touch with the Technology and use the Technology only as an enabler for growth and efficiency. The future expansion into B2C will ensure that everyone has access to healthcare at their fingertips, promoting access to healthcare to those who need it the most. Corporates, Health Insurers should reach out to us for our at home and digital health offerings. Looking forward to expanding our offerings to B2C clients in future.
Tell us a little about your team:
Dr Du Toit, our in-house Clinician with experience of starting hospitals on 3 continents.
Claire Shuttleworth, our CIO, has her own Healthtech exit and more than 20 years’ experience in the health industry.
Moeketsi Molefe our COO with extensive corporate experience and former entrepreneur in logistics. He ensures that Operations runs seamlessly on the ground.
Derek Crosson: Our Engineering Lead with extensive experience in software development.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I dropped out of university in my 20's to pursue entrepreneurship and have never looked back. I never studied for it, and learned everything from the wins and failures I experienced in the trenches. Entrepreneurship has always been a calling for me. I see it as a space where one can create, build and rally the troops towards one vision. I started in construction, then mining, and am now in HealthTech. Entrepreneurship has always been a space where I could learn and grow from both wins and failures.
“Access to healthcare is a pain point and an expensive journey globally. Technology enables solutions, such as our digital healthcare solutions, to scale that access far and wide, whilst our on-site solutions help bring the human touch element into the fold.”
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
Expand to neighboring countries and the rest of the continent.
Expand our services to B2C Clients.
Fundraise and grow our reach.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
When I see recipients of our product get their healing, when you get feedback from happy clients. When we see that what started as a dream has far reaching impact and that we are the catalyst that brings health to people at a convenience.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Start small, start scrappy, validate your idea by acquiring paying customers and just build!
Find out more:
Email: zanele@welo.health
Website: http://welo.health
Why LoA loves it…
Access to quality and affordable healthcare in Africa has long been a challenge, and that’s why many women entrepreneurs are passionate about finding solutions through their businesses. Zanele Matome is one such entrepreneur, understanding that life-enhancing solutions can be found by harnessing the power of technology combined with a human touch. Her business, Welo Health, is showing just what healthtech can achieve when you combine the best of healthcare practitioners with the underlying technology to create better access and management of services. Definitely an impact-focused business to watch over the coming years. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa