Published on 24/01/2025
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Christian Nwachukwu
Christian Nwachukwu
  • Christian Nwachukwu is an MSc Entrepreneurship and Innovation graduate
  • He’s a former participant of the University’s BSEEN start-up support programme
  • He received the Financial Times Responsible Business Education Award for his pioneering work in addressing critical challenges in healthcare financing.

Christian Nwachukwu, an Aston University MSc Entrepreneurship and Innovation alumnus (2022) and former participant of the BSEEN (Birmingham Skills for Enterprise and Employability Network) start-up support programme, has received a prestigious Financial Times award.

He has been awarded the Financial Times Responsible Business Education Award for his pioneering work in addressing critical challenges in healthcare financing.

Christian is the founder of 10mg, an innovative AI-powered platform that provides quick, collateral-free loans to healthcare providers in emerging markets. His solution addresses major barriers such as high interest rates and lengthy approval processes, enabling healthcare providers to deliver better care to patients across Africa.

Speaking to the Financial Times about his success, Christian highlighted how his previous experience working for a pharmaceutical company played a part in shaping his entrepreneurial journey:

“I experienced first-hand the lengthy loan approval processes that often take months, high interest rates exceeding 30 per cent, and collateral requirements that made financing inaccessible.

“More than 90 per cent of Africa’s population lacks adequate health insurance, and the lack of financing options for healthcare providers has led to a loss of over 6 per cent of GDP annually. To address these issues, 10mg has developed cloud-based SaaS APIs to facilitate seamless communication between applications and partnered with UK lenders such as Fintech Farm, Plend and Blend to promote sustainable lending practices for healthcare providers in Africa.

“Today, nearly 5,000 healthcare providers in Nigeria and Senegal are using 10mg, enabling over $1.25 million in loans and positively impacting 173,000 patients monthly, particularly in underserved communities. One of our key achievements has been partnering with Senegal’s national pharmacy, SEN-PNA, to provide $40,000 in funding, helping supply medications to 745 hospitals.”

Carolyn Keenan, head of Aston Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, said:

“It was clear to the selection panel from his very first pitch that Christian was one to watch, an incredibly innovative and driven entrepreneur.

“He had exceptional digital talent, combined with a desire to lead a purpose-led business that could solve one of the biggest pain points in his home continent of Africa.” 

“Christian’s success serves as an inspiration to students and alumni, demonstrating how entrepreneurial thinking can help solve pressing global issues and highlights Aston University’s commitment to supporting innovation and entrepreneurship that makes a real difference to society.”

For more information about Aston University’s MSc Entrepreneurship and Innovation programme and the BSEEN programme, visit our website.

Notes to Editors

About Aston University

For over a century, Aston University’s enduring purpose has been to make our world a better place through education, research and innovation, by enabling our students to succeed in work and life, and by supporting our communities to thrive economically, socially and culturally.

Aston University’s history has been intertwined with the history of Birmingham, a remarkable city that once was the heartland of the Industrial Revolution and the manufacturing powerhouse of the world.

Born out of the First Industrial Revolution, Aston University has a proud and distinct heritage dating back to our formation as the School of Metallurgy in 1875, the first UK College of Technology in 1951, gaining university status by Royal Charter in 1966, and becoming The Guardian University of the Year in 2020.

Building on our outstanding past, we are now defining our place and role in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (and beyond) within a rapidly changing world.

For media inquiries in relation to this release, contact Sam Cook, Press and Communications Manager, on (+44) 7446 910063 or email: s.cook2@aston.ac.uk

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