Moroccan healthtech startup DeepEcho recently received the Young Entrepreneur Trophy at the 7th International Africa Development Forum (FIAD), which supports youth innovation and south-south cooperation.
DeepEcho’s CEO, Youssef Bouyakhf, won the Silver Trophy in the category, which is accompanied by a monetary prize of MAD 200,000 (USD 20,000).
The awards are held annually sponsored by Moroccan banking group Attijariwafa Bank with the support of the Al Mada investment fund.
DeepEcho’s flagship product is an AI-powered machine learning (ML) algorithm designed to analyze ultrasound images of fetuses for the purpose of diagnosing health risks such as premature births and low birth weight.
The startup plans to make its technology available through telemedicine platforms, cloud-based AI app stores, and collaborations with portable ultrasound machine manufacturers.
The company anticipates that its technology will help reduce infant and maternal mortality by minimizing errors in ultrasound diagnostics and broadening pregnant African women’s access to fetal ultrasound.
DeepEcho’s technology also is expected to mitigate the shortage of trained medical professionals capable of conducting ultrasound scans — a significant issue even in developed countries.
While fetal ultrasound can decrease child and maternal mortality by up to 20%, the lack of trained professionals, particularly in the Global South, has made it a pressing health concern.
“We are honored to announce that Deepecho has been recognized as one of the winners of the Young Entrepreneur Trophy at the Forum International Afrique Développement 2024,” DeepEcho’s CEO wrote in a post on LinkedIn.