Cimas Unveils Healthathon 3.0 with US$7,000 Prize Pool
Cimas Health Group has launched the third edition of its flagship Healthathon programme, inviting Zimbabwe’s innovators, startups and university technology teams to develop solutions aimed at transforming healthcare delivery across the country.
The Cimas Healthathon 3.0 was officially unveiled in Harare on Tuesday, with organisers describing the initiative as a growing national movement that seeks to harness technology to tackle some of Zimbabwe’s most pressing healthcare challenges.
Running under the theme “Reimagining Healthcare Through Disruptive Innovation”, the competition will open for registration on June 22 and close on July 12, with the grand finale scheduled for August 28.
Speaking at the launch, Cimas Health Group Chief Executive Officer Vuli Ndlovu said the annual innovation challenge had become an important platform for identifying practical, home-grown digital solutions capable of improving healthcare access, affordability and patient outcomes.
“As the healthcare industry undergoes rapid technological transformation, Cimas Health Group acknowledges that innovation remains a critical pillar in shaping the future of healthcare,” said Mr Ndlovu.
He said the organisation remained committed to positioning itself as a leading player in digital health innovation in Zimbabwe.
Addressing healthcare challenges through technology
Zimbabwe’s healthcare sector, like many across Africa, faces a range of challenges including rising healthcare costs, uneven access to services, fragmented health information systems and growing demand for preventive healthcare.
Mr Ndlovu said Healthathon 3.0 was designed to address these issues by bringing together some of the country’s brightest innovators.
“Through the Healthathon challenge, we are demonstrating our commitment to addressing some of the complex and evolving challenges facing our country’s healthcare sector, including affordability constraints, limited access to healthcare services, fragmented data systems, delayed service delivery, low preventive healthcare engagement, operational inefficiencies and rising healthcare costs,” he said.
Unlike previous editions, this year’s competition will not be divided into specific categories. Instead, participants will be given a broad challenge framework, allowing them to propose solutions from any area of healthcare.
Organisers say the approach is intended to encourage greater creativity, diversity of ideas and deeper problem-solving.
Participants are expected to develop solutions that demonstrate technical depth, scalability, practical application and long-term sustainability while responding to local healthcare realities.
Who can participate?
According to Cimas Health Group Chief Information Officer Foster Akaketwa, participation is open to Zimbabwean innovation hubs, startups, university technology teams and independent product teams focused on improving healthcare through technology.
Teams should consist of between three and five members and are encouraged to include individuals with diverse skills and expertise to foster multidisciplinary collaboration.
Applicants will submit entries through an online platform before a rigorous screening process narrows the field.
Mr Akaketwa said the top 20 teams would initially be shortlisted, before a further selection process identifies six finalists who will compete for the top prizes.
“Teams are allowed to choose their own problem area, but must show why the problem is material, who it affects, and why their solution is viable,” he said.
The shortlisted teams will undergo orientation sessions covering participation rules, judging criteria, intellectual property considerations, data protection requirements and Demo Day presentation guidelines.
To qualify, proposed innovations must directly address challenges within Zimbabwe’s healthcare ecosystem and demonstrate relevance to local healthcare needs. Teams must also prove their ability to develop a functional prototype within the programme’s timeline.
US$7,000 in prizes on offer
The competition offers a total prize pool of US$7,000.
The winning team will receive US$3,500, while second and third place teams will receive US$2,000 and US$1,500 respectively.
However, organisers believe the biggest reward could be the opportunity to pilot successful innovations within the Cimas ecosystem.
“Beyond the monetary prizes, participants stand to gain something even more valuable, the opportunity to pilot their innovations with Cimas Health Group and contribute to shaping the future of healthcare in Zimbabwe,” Mr Ndlovu said.
The finalists will present their solutions before a panel comprising Cimas executives, innovation experts, healthcare specialists and industry stakeholders during the final Demo Day in August.
Growing digital health ecosystem
The launch comes at a time when digital health solutions are increasingly becoming central to healthcare delivery worldwide.
Across Africa, healthcare providers are embracing technologies such as telemedicine, artificial intelligence, electronic medical records, predictive analytics and mobile health applications to improve service delivery and patient outcomes.
Zimbabwe has also seen a growing number of technology-driven healthcare initiatives in recent years, supported by universities, startups and innovation hubs seeking to bridge healthcare access gaps, particularly in underserved communities.
Cimas says Healthathon has evolved beyond a competition into a structured innovation platform designed to identify, nurture and potentially incubate solutions that can be adopted across the healthcare sector.
“The Cimas Healthathon has now grown into more than just an event. It has become a national movement for digital health innovation,” said Mr Ndlovu.
“Our vision is not simply to host a competition, but to build a structured innovation funnel that produces pilot-ready solutions for potential adoption, strategic partnership and further incubation within the healthcare ecosystem.”
A call to innovators
As registrations prepare to open later this month, Cimas is encouraging innovators, entrepreneurs and technology teams from across Zimbabwe to participate.
Mr Ndlovu described the challenge as an opportunity for innovators to demonstrate creativity, technical excellence and bold thinking while contributing to a more inclusive and efficient healthcare system.
“So today, I call upon all innovators, dreamers and disruptors: this is your moment. Register for the Cimas Healthathon 3.0 and become part of redefining healthcare in Zimbabwe.”
With healthcare systems globally under pressure to become more efficient, accessible and patient-centred, organisers hope this year’s competition will generate solutions capable of making a lasting impact on Zimbabwe’s healthcare landscape.
