Ivorian healthtech startup Ades, founded by a group of young doctors, has secured CFA 350m ($620,500) in equity funding from CDC-CI Capital, the investment arm of Côte d’Ivoire’s state-owned Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations.
The deal, announced on October 14, 2025, is aimed at accelerating the company’s expansion and strengthening its capacity to deliver healthcare services across the country. The fresh capital will be used to upgrade its digital platform, UMED, modernise its biomedical and imaging equipment, and expand its fleet of medical vehicles, including ambulances and motorbikes for urban home visits.
“This investment builds on Ades’ pioneering role in telemedicine in Côte d’Ivoire, especially through its remote consultation and connected imaging services,” said Arthur Coulibaly, CEO of CDC-CI Capital.
A Hybrid Approach to Healthcare
Founded in 2019, Ades has developed an integrated healthcare model that blends digital services with outpatient care. Its UMED platform is the central hub for a range of services, including:
- Online consultations with specialists.
- Booking home visits and nursing care.
- Medical imaging and biomedical testing.
- Remote monitoring for patients with chronic conditions.
This hybrid approach tackles a key challenge in many African markets: bridging the gap between digital convenience and the need for physical medical attention. By the end of 2024, Ades reported it had delivered over 6,000 home-care treatments and partnered with more than 50 companies to provide corporate health monitoring services. The startup covers specialties from general nursing and occupational medicine to pediatrics and cardiology.
State-Backed Ecosystem Building
For CDC-CI Capital, the investment in Ades is part of a wider strategy to finance high-potential Ivorian businesses tackling fundamental economic and social needs. The fund’s entry into Ades’ capital highlights a growing trend of using public funds to nurture a local startup ecosystem.
This move follows a similar investment made by the fund in February this year, when it injected CFA 800m ($1.3m) into the Abidjan-based fintech Djamo. That investment was aimed at helping Djamo expand its financial inclusion services for the country’s underbanked population.
By backing both a leading fintech and a promising healthtech, CDC-CI Capital is positioning itself as a key local investor for Ivorian startups. This government-led support is crucial in a region where early-stage funding remains a significant hurdle. The investment in Ades not only provides essential growth capital but also signals government confidence in using technology to modernise critical sectors like healthcare.