Making the pregnancy journey safe and affordable for millions
Location:
Nairobi, Kenya
Sector:
HEALTH CARE
The Challenge
Gabs in maternal care.
Maternal mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa remains one of the highest globally — up to 100 times higher than in Europe. Every day, women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.
The reasons are widespread: overburdened health systems, long travel distances to clinics, and high out-of-pocket costs. Care is often fragmented and reactive, with many women receiving only occasional treatment rather than consistent, preventive care throughout their pregnancy. Especially in rural areas, access to timely and reliable support is limited — and education around early warning signs is often lacking.
And yet, many of these deaths could be avoided — with early check-ups, coordinated emergency care, and ongoing affordable medical and emotional support. Making the reduction of maternal mortality a key focus of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3.1).
FRAGMENTED CARE
HYBRID SOLUTION
The innovation
Personalized maternity care, backed by experts.
Founded by a passionate team of healthcare and tech experts, Malaica combines medical expertise with digital innovation and is herby making every step of the pregnancy journey safer, more supported, and affordable.
Its hybrid model combines expert in-person and online medical care, digital innovation, and community support. Each mother is paired with a trained midwife who supports her from the first scan through to postpartum recovery. Because this midwife knows the woman’s medical history as well as her personal situation, she can respond quickly in case of complications — a critical factor in reducing maternal mortality.
Designed for scale, Malaica uses automation and AI to personalise care and keep costs low, enabling midwives to support more women without compromising quality. The hybrid setup ensures access for mothers in both urban and rural areas.
THE STANDOUT
Every mum deserves a village.
Malaica is not just improving healthcare — it’s rebuilding trust, empowering women, and creating qualified jobs in the health sector.
What truly sets Malaica apart is its community-driven approach. The platform connects mothers to Kenya’s largest online pregnancy community. Expectant mothers aren’t left to navigate pregnancy alone — they’re part of a digital network where they can exchange experiences, get 24/7 emergency access to a Nurse midwife, can attend birth preparation classes and mental wellness check-ins. This creates a sense of support and trust that’s often missing in fragmented healthcare systems.
The results speak for themselves: Malaica has already supported nearly 200,000 women with pregnancy counselling, reduced the average cost of care by up to 30%, and helped ensure that more mothers receive informed, continuous care from a reliable and trusted source.
BUILD AROUND COMMUNITY
Key Facts
Venture impact
Economics
- Can reduce maternal care costs by up to 30%
- Affordable care increases access, reduces financial strain, and supports scalable, sustainable growth
- Creates qualified jobs for women in underserved communities
Social
- Empowers women through informed, continuous care from pregnancy to postpartum
- Connects over 200,000 moms to Kenya’s largest pregnancy community, reducing isolation and building peer support
- Hybrid care model extends access to rural areas, where support is often limited
Health
- Improves maternal and neonatal health outcomes
- Provides timely interventions through tech-enabled monitoring
Venture
Meet the Founder
Dr Lorraine Muluka
CEO and Co-Founder
Lorraine has spent over a decade driving innovation in health-tech, with a focus on maternal and reproductive health. Her passion for transforming care systems is backed by deep clinical expertise in Obstetrics and Gynecology. At Malaica, she leads with purpose, shaping a future where expert care and smart technology come together to support every woman through pregnancy and beyond.
Pascal Koenig
CFO and Co-Founder
Pascal is a seasoned builder in the digital health space, having helped launch and scale three startups one of them being Ava, a women’s health company that supported couples on their fertility journey. With a strong foundation in economics and deep financial expertise, he brings sharp strategic insight to the healthcare industry. At Malaica, Pascal is instrumental in shaping systems that make personalised, high quality care accessible to mums across Kenya.
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