Hulu Cares is a digital health company on a mission to transform lives by providing inclusive and innovative healthcare financing solutions in Ethiopia and beyond. The company’s journey began with a powerful personal story and a keen observation of a major systemic problem. Witnessing a patient, Sarah, and her children suffer due to the high cost of medical care and a lack of insurance, Hulu Cares’ founder, Dr. Tamara Sultan, was inspired to create a solution.
This journey is rooted in the recognition that Ethiopia’s healthcare system is in crisis, with more than 66% of medical expenses paid out-of-pocket, resulting in low insurance penetration (less than 1%) and significant delays in seeking treatment.
A Solution with Community at its Heart
Hulu Cares tackles this challenge by transforming traditional, informal risk-pooling mechanisms, known as “Iddir,” into modern, tech-enabled healthcare solutions. The company offers multiple platforms that enable communities to save, access loans, and purchase micro-insurance. One of its key products, Ana Sabi, operates in partnership with ETO Telecom, a major mobile network operator, enabling families to save for health with contributions as low as $4. The company’s business model is simple, based on a subscription fee and commission from premium services.
Milestones and Impact
Since its inception, Hulu Cares has achieved notable milestones, validating its community-based approach.
- It is providing service for more than 814 informal risk-pooling groups
- It has incorporated 58 healthcare networks and is in the final stages of incorporating an additional 418 healthcare systems.
- The company has a serviceable and obtainable market of up to 6.2 million people.
- Hulu Cares was also a winner of the Timbuktoo FinTech Has Taken BMI Lab.
- They have four insurance partnerships and two financial institution partnerships.
Hulu Cares’ founder has a clear ask for stakeholders, particularly the Ministry of Health: the establishment of a regulatory “sandbox.” This would create a safe environment for innovative solutions like theirs to be tested and refined, paving the way for future regulations that support HealthTech innovation in Ethiopia. The company believes that its community-based, affordable, and tech-enabled solutions provide a significant competitive advantage and are set to redefine healthcare financing in Africa.
