PBR Life Sciences, a healthcare data analytics company backed by Techstars, has secured $1 million in pre-seed funding. The funding round included contributions from Launch Africa, Microtraction, Kaleo Ventures, Octerra Capital, Marula Square, XA Africa, ARM Labs, and Techstars. With these funds, the company plans to enhance its AI infrastructure and expand operations into Ghana and Kenya.
Founded in 2015 by Ayodeji Alaran, PBR pivoted in 2021 to focus on big data and analytics. The company helps pharmaceutical giants like Sanofi with insights on product pricing, demand forecasting, and new product development in Africa. By collecting anonymized data—such as drug quantities, prices, and purchase frequency—PBR tackles the issue of mismatched production and market demand, which often leads to waste.
PBR’s analytics dashboards offer powerful tools for clients, including multinational pharmaceutical companies, NGOs, and consulting firms. These dashboards reveal market shares, consumption patterns, and other critical insights for Nigeria and Ghana. A generative AI feature lets users ask questions and get instant analytics, making data interpretation simpler and faster.
Alaran sees PBR’s work as essential to closing the gap in healthcare data. “Being backed by some of the most reputable venture capital investors and angels in Africa…validates the vital need to close the gap of inadequate real-world, healthcare big data,” he said.
Beyond analytics, PBR aims to address global inequalities in drug discovery. Traditional methods often exclude African patients due to a lack of local data. PBR collects unique data points and plans to work directly with patients in clinical trials. The company is also exploring blockchain technology to improve the anonymization and randomization of healthcare data.
Since 2023, PBR claims to have grown its revenue by 200%. While exact numbers remain undisclosed, the company’s client list includes names like Sanofi, Emzor, Roche, and the International Finance Corporation. Competing with global firms like IQVIA and Sanisphere, PBR generates revenue through subscriptions, independent reports, and consulting services.
With plans to expand into 10 more African countries, PBR is setting the stage for a transformative role in healthcare innovation across the continent.
