Eye Health Innovation Accelerator for African Startups

Three Kenyan startups have been selected for the world’s first accelerator focused solely on eye health innovation. A groundbreaking continental accelerator aimed at tackling the region’s escalating vision crisis.

Among eight organisations, three are Kenyan: Dot Glasses, Zuri Health and Mamy Eyewear. The Africa Eye Health Accelerator initiative brings together forward-thinking businesses looking to transform access to affordable and high-quality eye care services across the continent.

The Fred Hollows Foundation launched the programme in collaboration with Villgro Africa, and it is intended to support scalable technologies and business models that address long-standing sector gaps.

 

The selection signals growing recognition of Kenya’s role as a hub for health innovation. It positions the startup at the forefront of efforts to solve one of Africa’s largest and most overlooked public health and economic challenges.

 

The company has developed a simple yet transformative model that allows for instant assembly of low-cost spectacles that custom fit each user. By reducing reliance on complex supply chains and expensive imports, the company is helping bring affordable vision correction within reach for millions who would otherwise go without.

Its approach aligns closely with the accelerator’s focus on practical, scalable solutions that can be deployed in low-resource settings. Across Africa, where access to trained eye care professionals remains limited, innovations that decentralise services are increasingly seen as critical.

The accelerator is specifically targeting solutions that address workforce shortages and service delivery gaps—two of the biggest barriers preventing people from accessing eye care.

Organisers are supporting technologies such as artificial intelligence-assisted screening tools, portable diagnostic kits, and community-based screening models that bring services closer to where people live.

Dot Glasses’ emphasis on affordability and localised production places it in a strong position to scale within this framework, particularly in rural and peri-urban communities where access to eye care remains severely constrained.

The urgency of such innovations is underscored by stark statistics. In sub-Saharan Africa alone, According to the IABP at least 1 Billion people worldwide are living with vision impairment that could have been prevented or treated. Without decisive intervention, The WHO projects that half of the world population will be Myopic by 2050.

These figures highlight a widening gap between need and access, one that the startups in the accelerator, like Dot Glasses, are working to close.

According to Ross Piper, CEO of Fred Hollows Foundation, the accelerator represents a critical step toward reshaping the future of eye care on the continent. He notes that traditional systems alone are unlikely to meet growing demand, making innovation essential to expanding reach and improving outcomes.

Research conducted by The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, Seva Foundation and The Fred Hollows Foundation shows that investments in eye health deliver at least 28 times the economic return by improving productivity, education outcomes, and overall quality of life.

Three Kenyan startups being selected for the inaugural cohort, reinforces the country’s position as a leader in health-tech innovation in Africa. Kenya’s vibrant startup ecosystem, supported by incubators, investors, and policy frameworks, has increasingly become a breeding ground for solutions addressing critical social challenges.

Adam Boxer, Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Dot Glasses highlighted :
“The accelerator gives Dot Glasses an amazing opportunity to learn from and collaborate with Fred Hollows Foundation and a range of incredible startups in the eyeglasses space. Fred Hollows Foundation’s experience within the sector on the continent is invaluable to Dot Glasses and others in EHA.”

Participation in the accelerator offers startups not only funding, but also technical support, mentorship, and access to networks that can accelerate growth and scale impact. For Dot Glasses, this could translate into expanded production capacity, broader distribution networks, and deeper penetration into underserved markets across Africa.

The broader cohort of eight companies reflects a diverse mix of approaches—from mobile screening services and digital health platforms to AI-powered diagnostics and local manufacturing models. What unites them is a shared goal: to make eye care more accessible, affordable, and effective.

For millions across Africa, poor vision remains an invisible barrier—affecting education, limiting employment opportunities, and reducing overall quality of life. Yet many of these challenges can be addressed with simple, cost-effective interventions such as a basic pair of glasses.
This is where companies like Dot Glasses are making a profound difference. By rethinking how eyeglasses are produced and distributed, the startup is not only improving access but also challenging traditional models that have long excluded low-income populations.

As the Africa Eye Health Accelerator gains momentum, the spotlight is increasingly turning to innovators who can deliver real-world impact at scale. Dot Glasses’ and the other organisation in the accelerator inclusion in the programme signals both its potential and the growing importance of homegrown solutions in addressing the unmet need for eyeglasses.

With the continent facing a looming eye health crisis, the success of such initiatives could redefine how care is delivered—and ensure that millions more people gain access to the simple, life-changing power of clear vision.

Other startups are Zuri Health, Dot Glasses and Mamy Eyewear from Kenya; Techsight from Liberia; Wazi Vision and Sante Initiative from Uganda; ZimSmart Villages from Zimbabwe; and New Online Optics from Ethiopia.