Our Story & Impact
Africa trains more scientists every year than almost anywhere on earth, and loses most of them to systems that were never built for them.
Fewer than 2% of the world’s published research comes out of the continent, even though it carries roughly a quarter of the world’s disease burden. The Future African Scientist Foundation exists to close that gap: one scientist, one venture, one mentor at a time.
2020
Where it began
500+
Scientists trained
16
African countries
18
Ventures in formation
Africa’s scientists are ready. The systems are not.
By 2050, Africa will be home to one of the world’s largest workforces, including millions of young scientists with the potential to solve the challenges facing their own communities and beyond. Yet too many promising ideas never become real solutions, not because the science is weak, but because the systems to support scientists beyond training are missing.
Young scientists often lack mentorship, functional laboratories, and clear pathways into advanced training or innovation. Strategic, patient investment in translational science, the work of turning a lab discovery into a real-world solution, can build these pathways and turn scientific potential into real-world impact, whatever field that potential is found in.
Weak pathways from research to translation
Limited access to research infrastructure and prototyping spaces for early-stage scientific innovation
Lack of structured mentorship for science entrepreneurship and translational research skills
Limited connectivity among African scientists and global science networks
Six beliefs about how change actually happens in African science, shaping every dollar we raise and every scientist we back.
01
Talent is Africa's largest untapped resource
By 2050, Africa's youth alone will account for a quarter of the world's working-age population, yet fewer than 2% of global scientific output comes from the continent. That gap was never about ability. It's about which systems get built, and where.
A self-sustaining Africa where locally-led science companies solve the problems closest to them, where innovation becomes production instead of stalling in a lab, and the value of African research stays in Africa, reinvested rather than exported.
We identify, train, and connect Africa’s most talented young scientists, equipping them to build the companies and solutions their communities need most, and to do it from home.
Nurturing Talent
Identifying and supporting Africa's brightest scientists through technical skill development and mentorship.
100,000+ scientists sit inside the wider community this funding reaches.
Enabling Infrastructure & Capital
Enabling learning and innovation through access to modern research infrastructure and capital.
Every fellow works on a real venture, not a hypothetical case study.
Fostering Collaboration
Connecting African scientists with global networks and industry partners to accelerate scientific impact.
18 ventures are currently in formation from a single recent cohort.
Six years of funding has built a growing, pan-African network of scientist-founders.
Scientists trained since 2020
African countries with an active fellow
Universities represented by our fellows
Ventures in formation from a recent cohort
2026
Where we are now
A dedicated multi-month fellowship now moves each new cohort of fellows from research idea to registered company, backed by mentors from some of the world's leading science and industry institutions.
Funded scientists are already building
A sample of the ventures founded by the scientists our funding trains and mentors: real companies, not case studies.
Founded by scientists, governed by builders
The Foundation was started by a group of scientists from Africa and around the world, and is guided today by a board and advisory network of physician-scientists, biotechnology founders, and nonprofit leaders who volunteer their time and expertise.
Meet the full board
Bruce Walker, MD
Board Chair · Ragon Institute
Harvey Lodish, PhD
Director · MIT, Whitehead Institute
Elizabeth Marincola
Director · Science for Africa Foundation
Help Build the Future of African Science
Every dollar expands scientific capacity, opens access to essential research infrastructure, and keeps Africa’s scientific talent building on the continent, not leaving it.