Streamlining the challenging pursuit of exceptional women's healthcare, as led by Thato Schermer's Zoie Health.
In the world of health technology, few names resonate as strongly as Thato Schermer, co-founder of Zoie Health. Her journey began with a keen interest in mobile money, witnessing the early rise of M-Pesa and a deep-seated desire to use technology for social good.
Schermer's epiphany came in the form of an online order for contraception from her fledgling company, Zoie Health. This moment solidified her belief in the potential of her venture to revolutionise healthcare, particularly women's health, in South Africa.
Zoie Health made waves in 2022 with the launch of MyContraceptive, a service that allows women to consult doctors virtually, receive prescriptions digitally, and have contraception delivered monthly to their doorstep. This innovation was a significant step towards making healthcare more accessible and convenient for women.
The following year, Zoie Health secured a pharmacy license, and its supplement line was stocked nationally in Clicks and Dis-Chem stores. This milestone marked a significant leap in the company's growth and acceptance within the healthcare industry.
Schermer's path in healthtech is deeply personal, often vulnerable, and aimed at prioritising women's health in South Africa. However, her journey has not been without challenges. Raising capital as a woman founder remains a formidable task, with pivots that did not work and moments of doubt along the way.
One such innovation born out of necessity was EasyDoc, a WhatsApp-based healthcare service designed for workers without medical aid. Schermer realised that fancy app-based solutions do not work for normal people on the ground, so EasyDoc was built on a platform where 95% of South Africans already are—WhatsApp.
EasyDoc launched in 2024 and has since expanded rapidly, providing primary care via phones to employees in sectors like retail and hospitality for as little as R50 a month. Today, EasyDoc cooperates with companies such as MedTech Solutions and HealthSync, and it is now expanding its services beyond South Africa's borders.
Schermer's advice for the next generation is to be obsessed with the problem, not the product. This approach has helped her maintain agility and adaptability in the ever-changing landscape of tech and healthcare.
In her personal life, Schermer's support systems, including her husband, parents, friends, and faith, have been crucial in her entrepreneurial journey. Her journey into tech was not straightforward; she grew up in a family of healers but went into management consulting and worked for healthcare giants in South Africa before founding Zoie Health.
Looking ahead, Schermer continues to learn and adapt, now prioritising user feedback and needs over instinctive launches. She is also set to join Africa's top founders, creatives, and tech leaders at Moonshot, returning to Lagos on October 15-16, for 2 days of keynotes, mixers, and future-forward ideas.
For those interested in joining Schermer and other tech pioneers, early bird tickets for Moonshot are currently 20% off. Don't miss out on this opportunity to be part of the future of tech and healthcare in Africa.
