Axmed, a Switzerland-headquartered health technology company with regional operations in Nairobi, has secured $6 million in non-dilutive grant funding from the Gates Foundation to expand access to affordable, quality-assured medicines across low- and middle-income countries, reinforcing earlier support from the foundation and bringing the company’s total capital raised to $13 million, including backing from Founderful Ventures, as it scales its technology-driven procurement and logistics infrastructure across underserved healthcare markets.
Scaling Procurement and Logistics Infrastructure
Axmed operates a geo-agnostic B2B marketplace designed to aggregate demand and streamline procurement for healthcare providers across emerging markets. Its integrated platform connects buyers with manufacturers and distributors while coordinating regulatory compliance and international logistics. By centralizing sourcing and transport, the company aims to reduce inefficiencies that often limit timely access to essential treatments.
The newly secured capital will accelerate Axmed’s expansion across Africa and broaden procurement programs across multiple therapeutic categories. These include family planning and malaria interventions that primarily serve mothers, children, and vulnerable populations. Over the next 12 to 18 months, the company plans to deepen its presence in existing markets while entering new countries to widen patient reach.
Rapid Growth and Measurable Impact
Axmed reports strong operational growth since its launch, reflecting increasing adoption among institutional buyers. In 2025 alone, the platform facilitated the delivery of more than 1,800 metric tonnes of healthcare products, reaching over 4.2 million patients. This represents a sharp increase from approximately 750,000 patients served in 2024, highlighting the platform’s expanding footprint.
The company also recorded twelvefold year-on-year revenue growth during the same period and maintained a repeat purchase rate of around 70 percent. These figures indicate sustained trust among procurement partners and recurring engagement across health systems. By leveraging pooled demand and transparent pricing mechanisms, Axmed consistently generates cost savings of between 30 and 35 percent for customers.
These efficiencies are particularly significant in resource-constrained settings where budget optimization directly translates into broader patient access. Reduced procurement costs allow healthcare providers to extend treatment coverage while maintaining quality standards. At the same time, coordinated logistics shorten delivery timelines and enhance supply reliability in complex regulatory environments.
Endorsements and Strategic Vision
Healthcare sector stakeholders have highlighted the importance of Axmed’s approach in addressing structural supply chain challenges. Denise Tuiime Mutambi, Director of Planning and Procurement at Joint Medical Stores, noted that the company’s technology-enabled marketplace provides an innovative and necessary solution for emerging markets. She emphasized Axmed’s ability to navigate global supply chain complexities and convert strategy into measurable outcomes.
Looking ahead, Axmed plans to operate in more than 20 countries by the end of 2026. The company has set ambitious targets of reaching 50 million patients within three years and over 100 million within five years. These goals position the platform as a foundational layer of procurement infrastructure for essential medicines in underserved regions.
Founder and CEO Emmanuel Akpakwu stated that the new funding will enable disciplined scaling of systems that have already demonstrated effectiveness. He underscored the company’s commitment to strengthening procurement frameworks, improving affordability, and ensuring reliable delivery of high-quality medicines. With continued philanthropic backing and plans to attract long-term aligned capital, Axmed aims to solidify its role in transforming healthcare access across low- and middle-income countries.
Axmed’s latest grant represents more than a financial boost, reflecting broader momentum behind technology-enabled healthcare distribution models. By combining pooled procurement, data-driven sourcing, and integrated logistics, the company seeks to tackle longstanding inefficiencies in global medicine supply chains. As it expands into new markets and scales operations, Axmed is positioning itself as a critical enabler of equitable access to essential healthcare products worldwide.