South Africa - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Mia provides mobile dental clinics and innovative orthodontic solutions, including affordable Mia Aligners, to all communities in South Africa. Our model empowers young female dentists, enhances access to quality dental care, and promotes good oral healt

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Mia revolutionises dental care by bringing affordable, high-quality services directly through our mobile dental clinics at home, work and school. Our services include routine dental care and Mia Clear Aligners, an innovative and cost-effective orthodontic solution. We aim to address the 89% prevalence of malocclusion in Africa by making orthodontic care accessible at a fraction of traditional costs. Our model empowers young female dentists by providing them with the resources, training, and support needed to establish their practices in areas traditional dominated by older males. We partner with schools, corporates, and local communities to offer convenient, on-site dental care. Our proprietary dental software enhances practice management and patient engagement, ensuring efficient operations and superior care. By bridging the gap in dental care access, Mia Healthcare improves oral health outcomes, creates job opportunities, and promotes gender and racial equality in the dental field.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

Fundamentally, Mia is increasing access to dental and orthodontic care for patients. However, we can't do this with out an important stakeholder: the dentist. Due to RSA's history of racial segregation and inequality, the majority of dentists with established practices are white males over the age of 50. Significant progress has been made, with 60 of new dental graduates now being women of colour, but starting a dental practice re- mains challenging. Unlike MD's, who only need a desk, pen, stethoscope, and BP cuff to begin seeing patients, dentists require o- ver $100k USD in equipment and setup costs. Furthermore, their journey is complicated by the fact that the government employs only 14% of all dentists. Urban areas that can support a fixed practice are dominated by older, established dentists. As a result, many young dentists lack the family financial support, credit history, and profitable locations needed to start their own practices without facing significant competition.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your startup provides (at least 3).

Accessibility and Convenience: Mia Healthcare’s mobile dental clinics bring high-quality dental care directly to schools, workplaces, and communities, eliminating the need for patients to travel and reducing barriers to accessing essential dental services where only 14% of people use medical aid dental care benefits. Affordability: Our services, including Mia Clear Aligners, are priced significantly lower than traditional orthodontic treatments, making dental care affordable for a larger segment of the population. By charging medical aid rates, we ensure that preventive care is within reach for many who previously could not afford it. Empowerment and Support for Young Dentists: Mia Healthcare provides young, female, and minority dentists with the necessary resources, training, and support to start and grow their own practices. This not only promotes diversity and inclusion within the dental profession but also helps to address the shortage of dental care providers in underserved areas.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your startup’s product/service is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

Patients in Urban and Rural Areas: We target individuals and families in both urban and rural regions who have limited access to dental care due to geographic, financial, or time constraints. This includes the 80% of patients that dont utilise their preventative care benefits and patients that benefit from our philanthropic efforts. School Children and Corporate Employees: Our mobile clinics visit schools and workplaces to offer convenient dental services, ensuring that children and employees receive regular preventive care without the need to miss school or work. Young, Female Dentists: We empower recent dental graduates, particularly women, by providing them with the resources, training, and support needed to establish and grow their own practices. This helps to diversify the dental profession and address the inequalities of the past. This helps to keep young professionals in the country in business models that are profitable.

01.05 When was your company established?

2021-08-08

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

2

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

1

01.09 Please describe the profile of the other owners within your startup (skills, experience, etc.)

Karishma, a dentist, co-founded with a vision to address significant dental health challenges in Africa. She leads the clinical aspects of Mia, ensuring the highest standards of dental care. Zane brings a robust background in medicine and public health. Join this with expertise in business management and raising capital to drive the strategic vision and operational execution. Marius, at first an angel investor joined the team shortly after his investment. His s- kills in marketing, business and film making have enabled him to build a very successful business and now he is doing it again with Mia. Petra is an experienced orthodontist who has treated over 10,000 orthodontic cases. Her expertise in or- thodontics, particularly in the use of aligners, is pivotal to the development and success of Mia Aligners. Joshua is an experienced developer who started as an early adopter of the Mia aligners and joined the team. With extensive experience in developing and implementing healthcare tech.

01.10 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link(s) here:

https://www.miahealthcare.co.za

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

f) Healthcare (healthcare equipment and services)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

3

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

02.03.01 My startup contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification for my startup

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: We provide affordable, high-quality dental and orthodontic services to ensuring comprehensive oral health care, which is crucial for overall health. Our mobile clinics bring dental care directly to schools and workplaces, increasing preventive care and reducing the prevalence of untreated dental conditions.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

SDG 5: Gender Equality: We empower young, female dentists by providing them with resources, training, and support to establish their practices. This promotes gender equality within the dental profession and creates opportunities for women in healthcare. traditionally (pre '94) the majority of graduates from dental school where white males, now these established dentists monopolise the urban areas and make it very difficult for 60% of young female graduates today who dont have family support for significant CapX or ability to match other dental marketing efforts.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: By creating job opportunities at HO level and supporting new dental practices who employ more people, we contribute to economic growth and development. Our model enables young dentists to start and grow profitable practices, stimulating local economies.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: Mia Healthcare innovates by designing and building mobile dental clinics and utilizing advanced technology to 3D print clear aligners locally. This not only improves the efficiency and accessibility of dental care but also fosters local manufacturing capabilities and technological advancement.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: Mia Healthcare reduces health disparities by offering dental services in urban and rural areas, ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their socioeconomic status, have access to essential dental care.

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

2

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

5

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: We use plant-based resins to manufacture our aligners, promoting sustainable and environmentally friendly production practices. This commitment reduces our environmental footprint and supports the global shift towards sustainable consumption and production.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

5

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

SDG 13: Climate Action: By bringing dental services directly to schools and workplaces, we minimize the need for thousands of trips to and from dental offices. This reduces carbon emissions and helps combat climate change, aligning with global efforts to reduce environmental impacts.

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

02.16.01 My startup contributes to the Peace Justice and Strong Institutions goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

3

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

06.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

2

06.02 The product/service represents an entirely new type of product/service.

5

06.03 The product/service could be described as a new technology.

6

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.05 The product/service could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.06 The product/service responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.07 The product/service is a new version of an old product/service.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.08 Justification for my startup

Mia Healthcare is uniquely innovative in several ways. Our mobile dental clinics bring high-quality, affordable dental care directly to schools and workplaces, eliminating the barriers of travel and time constraints that often prevent people from accessing dental services. This approach not only increases accessibility but also promotes preventive care, reducing long-term health issues. Additionally, our use of advanced technology, such as 3D printing for Mia Clear Aligners, allows us to offer orthodontic treatments at a fraction of the traditional cost. By manufacturing aligners locally with plant-based resins, we ensure sustainability and affordability. Our startup also empowers young, female, and minority dentists by providing them with the resources, training, and support needed to establish and grow their practices. This not only addresses the gender and racial imbalances in the dental profession but also expands dental care into underserved urban and rural areas.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Mobile Clinics: Unlike traditional fixed-location clinics, our mobile units bring dental care directly to schools and workplaces, eliminating the need for patients to travel and reducing barriers to care. Affordability: We offer high-quality dental services, including Mia Clear Aligners, at significantly lower prices compared to competitors. This makes dental care accessible to a broader segment of the population. Technological Innovation: Our use of advanced 3D printing technology for aligners and proprietary dental software enhances patient care and operational efficiency. Empowerment of Young Dentists: We support young, female, and minority dentists in establishing their practices, promoting diversity and addressing workforce imbalances in the dental profession.

11.05 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

Female Co-Founder: Dr. Karishma Soni, our co-founder, plays a pivotal role in leading and inspiring our team. Supporting Female Dental Entrepreneurs: The majority of the dental entrepreneurs we support are women, providing them with resources, training, and opportunities to establish and grow their practices. Leadership Roles for Women: Many key positions within Mia Healthcare are held by women, including roles in dental product development, aligner design, aligner manufacturing, orthodontic product development, and user interface development. By championing female leadership and entrepreneurship, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment that empowers women in the dental and healthcare sectors.