Havas SO – the ‘big six’ agency’s purpose-built healthcare communications agency – has partnered with Reckitt on its ‘Women in Innovation Fund’ (WiNFUND).
WiNFUND is a 100% not-for-profit project and community-built initiative that intends to advance women-led innovations.
In partnership with the Kofi Annan Foundation and the Eco Bank Foundation, WiNFUND will invest in women entrepreneurs who lead healthcare companies, help to create economic resilience in communities and improve access to healthcare. The scheme will raise capital through donors, corporate partners and HNIs, as well as the sale of WiNFUND NFTs.
Havas agency Conran Design Group created the WiNFUND brand, while Havas SO was tasked with launching the initiative, including the WinFUND NFT Africa collection. The digital artworks were designed by Rwandan artist Christella Bijou in a bid to champion the next generation of African women tackling some of the continent’s biggest health challenges.
Since its launch in September last year, WiNFUND has received more than 300 applications from women entrepreneurs in seven African countries – Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda. Today (8 March) on International Women’s Day, 16 finalists will be announced at a live event at Africa Health Agenda International Conference in Kigali, Rwanda.
Subscribe to Marketing Beat for free
Sign up here to get the latest marketing news sent straight to your inbox each morning
“Women-led companies are already achieving amazing things: improving access to healthcare and saving lives,” Reckitt global head of external affairs and co-founder of WiNFUND, Patricia O’Hayer, said.
“WiNFUND is an innovative model that will help entrepreneurs grow by building an engaged, global community that will provide business support and financing through the sale of unique NFTs. These entrepreneurs are addressing some of the world’s biggest challenges, and through them, we believe WiNFUND can transform access to healthcare for the people who need it most.”
Havas SO CEO Stephanie Bunten added: “As an entrepreneurial inspired agency and with many women in our leadership team, we are proud to be Reckitt’s communications partner for the WiNFUND launch. By supporting African women entrepreneurs who are developing solutions to a wide variety of healthcare challenges, WiNFUND takes a new and exciting approach and has the potential to be a game-changer in improving access to healthcare.”
