Pehtrah Strengthens Commitment to Social Impact with Strategic Stake in AI Startups

Fadekemi Ajakaiye 

Pehtrah Foundation, a not-for-profit organization with operations in Nigeria and the United States, has made headlines by announcing its strategic decision to acquire substantial stakes in two enterprises utilizing artificial intelligence to tackle critical social issues. With a strong and experienced board charting its path, Pehtrah has become known for its innovative approach to solving societal challenges through commercial means.

Since 2020, the organization has provided early-stage grants to support emerging businesses in their developmental phases. These grants laid the foundation for meaningful relationships with various organizations. However, following a recent restructuring, Pehtrah is taking its involvement a step further by directly investing in these enterprises to influence their product and market strategies.

“This is a very significant move for us as it aligns with our approach to ensure we are technically and financially involved in creating solutions that solve the most pressing needs for the people who seriously need it,” said Ayowole Delegan, President and CEO of Pehtrah. “That level of control is essential to be able to influence product strategy as well as go-to-market efforts of the social enterprises.”

One beneficiary of this new investment approach is Argon Financials, a company that provides financial services to underserved communities across Africa. Argon delivers uncollateralized microcredits bundled with other financial services such as payments and insurance, for farmers and traders to local fashion designers. The company’s mission is clear: to fight poverty, address food insecurity, and create meaningful employment for marginalized groups.

“This is a good opportunity for us to leverage the technical and data analytics expertise of the chief promoter of Pehtrah in our product development efforts,” said Argon Financials’ Chief Financial Officer, John Ashaolu. “It puts us in a strong position as we seek to raise additional capital for expansion. It’s been great to see our impact so far, and we’re excited about what this collaboration will bring to those we serve.”

Another beneficiary, Measured Health, is breaking new ground in the healthcare sector with its AI-based system that uses electronic medical records from hospitals to predict and diagnose the conditions of at-risk patients. It does this by integrating its system into existing infrastructure within the health facility.  The system not only streamlines clinic workflows but also aims to reduce wait times and healthcare costs, benefiting both patients and providers.

“Pehtrah is not new to us,” said Adaobi Ossai, Chief Operating Officer of Measured Health. “Since they joined, they have been instrumental in helping us with our product designs, leveraging advanced data analytics to co-create our MVP. They are also guiding us as we navigate the regulatory frameworks, particularly around data privacy and governance, which are crucial to our success.”

Pehtrah’s Vice President of Operations, Folayemi Delegan, shared her excitement about the organization’s new direction. “This deal has been in the works for a while, and I’m thrilled to see it come to fruition. My background in healthcare and social work is now finding expression in a capitalist world. I’m eager to see the real impact we can achieve through these investments,” she said.

Pehtrah’s transition from donor to investor reflects its growing commitment to addressing societal challenges with sustainable solutions. 

By focusing on enterprises like Argon Financials and Measured Health, the organization is taking bold steps to foster financial inclusion and revolutionize healthcare, setting an example for what socially conscious investments can achieve in Nigeria and beyond.