Best Life Sciences Companies in South Africa
The 82 best Life Sciences companies in South Africa in 2026, ranked by funding and momentum. Funding, investors, founders, valuation, tech stack and live signals. Top: Matinas BioPharma.
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Our analysis of 576 Life Sciences companies
$91.7b in tracked funding; 70% of the stack-profiled cohort runs cloud-native; funding activity peaked in 2025.
Ranked: Best Life Sciences companies in South Africa
| # | Company | Disclosed funding | Last round | Stage | Founder | Founded | Tech stack | Patents & IP focus | Recent signals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matinas BioPharma Developer of therapeutic solutions for the treatment of serious & life-threatening infections | $16M | 16 mo ago | Public | Jerry Jabbour Chief Executive Officer | 2011 | Vue.jsApache HTTP ServerjQuery+12 | — | — |
| 2 | Vitls Developer of a wearable device for remote patient monitoring | $6M | 43 mo ago | Series A | — | 2015 | — | — | — |
| 3 | AI Diagnostics Manufacturer of digital stethoscopes for detecting pulmonary tuberculosis lung patterns | $5M | 2 mo ago | Seed | Mark van Breda Co-Founder | 2020 | WebflowCloudflare TurnstileHSTS+9 | — | — |
| 4 | AzarGen Biotechnologies Developing human therapeutic proteins using advanced genetic engineering and synthetic biology techniques in… | $3M | 125 mo ago | Series B | Mauritz Venter Co-Founder & CEO | 2003 | — | 17 patents Synthetic promoters and plant-based expression of therapeutic human surfactant protein B | — |
| 5 | 3X4 Genetics Developer of genetic tests for diagnosing general health | $2M | 78 mo ago | Series A | Jason Haddock CEO | 2018 | Cart FunctionalityShopifyApple iCloud Mail+31 | — | — |
| 6 | BioCertica Offers personalized DNA and health tests for individuals | $2M | 50 mo ago | Seed | Gert Wyk Founder and CEO | 2019 | Cart FunctionalityShopifySentry+27 | — | 1 launch |
| 7 | LIQID Medical Developer of glaucoma treatment devices | $2M | 42 mo ago | Seed | Daemon McClunan Founder & CEO | 2017 | — | 43 patents Implantable ocular shunt systems for glaucoma pressure reduction | — |
| 8 | SyncroPhi Wireless vital signs monitoring system and paperless observation records | $1M | 123 mo ago | Seed | David Toohey CEO | 2007 | — | — | — |
| 9 | Immobazyme Developer of enzyme immobilisation technology | $1M | 6 mo ago | Series A | Dominic Nicholas Co-Founder & CEO | 2019 | — | — | 1 partnership |
| 10 | Kiara Developer of light-based sterilization for healthcare-associated infections | $492K | 30 mo ago | Funding Raised | Skhumbuzo Ngozwana President & CEO | 2016 | WordPressMySQLPHP+26 | — | — |
| 11 | BioCODE Technologies Developer of smart sensing solutions for the detection of cancer, cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases | $466K | 56 mo ago | Seed | Este Burger CEO | 2020 | — | — | — |
| 12 | SmartBlade Provider of laryngoscopy based biomedical device | $117K | 120 mo ago | Seed | Caroline Corbett Co-Founder | 2016 | — | — | — |
Top 12 Life Sciences companies in South Africa
#1
Seed · Cape Town, Western Cape · founded 2020$5.2Mraised▾
Manufacturer of digital stethoscopes for detecting pulmonary tuberculosis lung patterns. This hardware captures respiratory sounds to identify specific acoustic signatures associated with the disease. The system utilizes automated analysis to process lung recordings and provide screening results. This technology functions as a diagnostic tool for identifying pulmonary conditions. The equipment is designed for portability and use by trained personnel to facilitate screening processes.
- Apr 2026Seed$5.2M
#2
Public · Springs, Gauteng · founded 2011 · 34 employees$16.4Mraised▾
Developer of therapeutic solutions for the treatment of serious & life-threatening infections. The company's lead drug candidate is MAT2203, an orally-administered, encochleated formulation of amphotericin B. It has developed MAT2501, which is an orally-administered, encochleated formulation of amikacin that is a broad-spectrum aminoglycoside antibiotic agent for gram-negative and intracellular bacterial infections. In addition, the Company is exploring development and partnership options for MAT9001, a prescription-only omega-3 fatty acid-based composition under development for hypertriglyceridemia, which has shown superiority versus Vascepa in reducing serum triglycerides, Total- and Non-HDL-Cholesterol, apolipoproteins, and PCSK9 levels.
- Feb 2025Post IPO$1.6M
- Nov 2020Grant (prize money)$3.8M
- Jan 2017Post IPO$15.5M
- Sep 2016Post IPO$8M
#3
Series A · Stellenbosch, Western Cape · founded 2019 · 8 employees$1.3Mraised▾
Developer of enzyme immobilisation technology. The company's proprietary technology includes PepTrap that is a synthetic cellulose-based matrix using which a range of enzymes having biocatalytic function can be immobilized. The company's products include DexTrap (dextranase immobilised PepTrap), GlucTrap (B glucosidase immobilised PepTrap), and LacTrap (laccase immobilised PepTrap).
- Dec 2025Series A$1.5M
- Jun 2024Series A$1.3M
- Jun 2021Seed—
#4
Series A · Durban, KwaZulu Natal · founded 2015 · 5 employees$5.9Mraised▾
Developer of a wearable device for remote patient monitoring. It offers a cloud-connected vital signs monitoring platform that tracks body temperature, pulse rate, and others in real-time. Its features include an integrable mobile app, water-resistant devices, and periodical reports.
- Nov 2022Series A$1.3M
- Nov 2021Series A$4.5M
- Dec 2018Seed$385K
- Jul 2018Seed$1.1M
#5
Seed · Cape Town, Western Cape · founded 2017 · 10 employees$1.7Mraised▾
Developer of glaucoma treatment devices. The company offers OptiShunt an implantable device that prevents blindness in glaucoma patients by draining excess fluid from the eye.
- Nov 2022Seed$1.7M
- Nov 2022Grant (prize money)$549.5K
- 2019Grant (prize money)$92.6K
#6
Seed · Paarl, Western Cape · founded 2019 · 30 employees$2.2Mraised▾
Offers personalized DNA and health tests for individuals. The company provides personalized DNA and health tests to help individuals understand what they should eat and how to live healthier lives. The company combines advanced genetic testing with encryption to provide a tailored wellness experience.
- Apr 2022Seed$1.6M
- 2019Seed$650K
#7
Funding Raised · Johannesburg, Gauteng · founded 2016 · 182 employees$492Kraised▾
Kiara Healths has developed light-based sterilization for healthcare-associated infections. Pulsed UV Disinfection Robot disinfects the healtcare environment.
- Dec 2023Grant (prize money)$158.4K
- Nov 2020Grant (prize money)$333.6K
#8
Series A · Cape Town, Western Cape · founded 2018 · 27 employees$2.5Mraised▾
3x4 Genetics offers DNA genetic tests on how to manage health with DNA testing. The home-based diagnostic kit can be used to test the genetic biomarkers from the sample. The app can be used to scan the QR code of the test to obtain the test results. The report provides data on the identified gene pathways and health analytics which can be shared with the health care provider.
- Dec 2019Series A$2.5M
- Jan 2018Angel—
#9
Series B · Cape Town, Western Cape · founded 2003 · 4 employees$3.1Mraised▾
Developer of human therapeutic proteins designed to increase the survivability of premature-born infants. The company's therapeutic proteins are made using advanced plant-based genetic engineering and synthetic biology techniques and it also offers a plant-based expression technology that comprises optimal combinations of novel synthetic promoters, combined with enhancer and purification components, enabling medical professionals to offer drugs with superior clinical efficacy at low cost to improve the health status of citizens and address unmet medical needs.
#10
Seed · Sandton, Gauteng · founded 2007 · 7 employees$1.4Mraised▾
Wireless vital signs monitoring system and paperless observation records. Its offerings include KEWS 100, small lightweight sensor modules worn in a disposable pouch that gives the patient freedom to move and give the staff the ability to provide continuous monitoring of body vitals, and KEWS 200, a wireless ambulatory patient vital-signs monitoring with paperless observation records and instant patient review at the point of care, KEWS 300 a CE-marked software suite which supports paperless patient observation rounds and clinical reviews at the point-of-care. When combined with the KEWSpod it provides real-time updates of patient records and instant recall of patient history.
- Mar 2016Grant (prize money)$493.3K
- Aug 2013Seed$1.4M
#11
Seed · Stellenbosch, Western Cape · founded 2020 · 2 employees$466.4Kraised▾
Developer of smart sensing solutions for the detection of cancer, cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases. The company's technology platform has developed point-of-care smart sensing solutions that detect novel circulating inflammatory molecules in the blood.
- Oct 2021Seed$466.4K
#12
Seed · Cape Town, Western Cape · founded 2016 · 2 employees$116.7Kraised▾
SmartBlade provides a laryngoscopy based biomedical device. The device helps to manage patients’ airways. It is a video laryngoscope‚ which is used to intubate difficult airways and it harnesses the smartphone technology. The device can be connected to a smartphone‚ which shows a video feed of what is happening in the airway.
- 2016Seed$116.7K
Funding & investor landscape
Notable founders
Market landscape — 10 sub-themes by coverage
Share of Life Sciences coverage by sub-theme.
Regulatory-risk over time rising
Funding & growth over time
funding rising · growth rising
How research on Biotechnology is moving in South Africa
A read on the academic research around Biotechnology — which themes are gaining ground, the institutions and researchers driving them, and how the tone is shifting. Based on 309 South Africa-affiliated papers.
- North-West University31
- University of South Africa30
- University of Pretoria24
- University of KwaZulu-Natal23
- Council for Scientific and Industrial Research22
- Gene6
- Genome4
- Antigen3
- Metagenomics2
- Frontotemporal lobar degeneration2
- Agriculture1→8
- Fermentation1→5
- Sustainability1→4
- Agriculture1→9
Where biotechnology is researched across South Africa
Location clusters by institution affiliation — each city's volume, stance tone, and a quick read on its hot topic, what's advancing, the opening opportunity, and the main concern.
Common questions
Rohit lives in the feed. He covers what's moving right now — the funding rounds, launches and shifts breaking across the trade press — and ties them back to where the sector is heading.