Founded by two tech entrepreneurs, the solutions aims to make it healthcare access easier for people. It integrates an AI-based chatbot to make the process even smoother. 

La Ruche Health, an Ivorian startup, has developed an e-health platform that allows users to book appointments online through an AI-powered instant messaging chatbot. The Abidjan-based startup was launched in 2023 by Benjamin Sasu and Rory Assandey.

The platform has a mobile app accessible on both iOS and Android, which has already been downloaded more than 500 times from the PlayStore. Users can register to access various services, such as teleconsultation and home medical exams. After booking an appointment, users can discuss their symptoms with a qualified specialist within 60 minutes, and they will receive their prescriptions instantly through the mobile app.

In addition to the web and mobile platforms, La Ruche Health has Kiko, an AI-based chatbot with which users can chat on WhatsApp. This conversational agent is capable of conducting medical discussions and answering simple or complex technical questions. It understands messages via voice note, text, and images. The startup claims more than 150,000 "patient encounters" led by the chatbot, with only 2.33% converted into appointments with doctors.

Prior to its official launch in 2023, the startup was selected in 2022, along with 14 other African startups, for the "Google for Startups Accelerator" program. In 2024, it was among the startups chosen by the Ivorian authorities to participate in the VivaTech technology fair held in Paris from May 22 to 25.

Adoni Conrad Quenum