As a child, Emmanuel Obasuyi nearly lost his little brother to illness, but a blood transfusion saved his life. That experience inspired Obasuyi to improve healthcare in underserved areas. His startup Onye helps doctors access accurate data by streamlining communication between healthcare systems.
From neurosurgery to technology
Obasuyi aspired to become a neurosurgeon. His decision to pursue a different path came during an internship in Botswana, where he supported digitization efforts in healthcare.
As part of the Botswana Harvard Partnership, Obasuyi worked with two healthcare facilities, assisting with the transition from paper-based documentation to digital records.
“What I saw in Botswana was eye-opening,” he recalled. “The healthcare system was fractured, and digital solutions were still in their infancy. It made me think, how can I help create a solution that supports providers?”
Addressing healthcare’s digital divide
Obasuyi’s journey took him to Boston, where he worked in neurological research at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Still, he yearned for a greater impact.
He moved to New York, working with Global Health Corps to support healthcare leaders optimizing processes in emerging markets. Then, tragedy struck — Obasuyi’s two aunts died of breast cancer in Nigeria.
“It was after losing them that I realized: we need solutions that help providers care for their patients better,” Obasuyi said.
He founded Onye to tackle two of the most pressing issues for healthcare providers in emerging markets: digitization and data interoperability.
In many parts of Africa, healthcare providers still rely on pen and paper for patient records. Onye is offering a digital platform that streamlines administrative tasks and improves overall efficiency.
The interoperability solution will help transfer information between different health systems as patients move from one hospital to another. The goal is to ensure that hospitals can share patient data efficiently, enabling primary physicians to continue care without disruption.
Onye is currently testing its digitization solution in Nigeria and Ethiopia, with the interoperability feature set to launch later this year.
Africa as a clean slate
According to Obasuyi, many healthcare systems in Africa don’t have the “grandfather” legacy systems found in developed markets, which means there’s a chance to build solutions from the ground up.
“When we look at the U.S., the systems are often old, complex, and difficult to navigate,” he said. “In Africa, we have a clean slate. We can build solutions that are simple, effective, and tailored to the local context.”
Beyond his work with Onye, Obasuyi hosts the AfricaTech meetup in New York City. The community brings together founders, investors, and innovators.
“With all the corruption, very few governments in Africa seem truly invested in pushing for progress,” Obasuyi said. “But when you talk to founders, you can feel their optimism — they’re just focused on moving the needle and getting things done.”
With his monthly informal meetings, Obasuyi aims to support innovators developing scalable solutions for the continent.
“When I started my journey in tech, I didn’t have the network or support I needed,” Obasuyi said. “I wanted to help others by building a community where people can share, learn, and grow together.”
According to Obasuyi, many African founders are grappling with fundraising challenges in the current macroeconomic climate. Attracting the right talent is another challenge.
“Startups are hard,” he said. “You need people who are not only talented but also mentally strong and willing to go through the fire with you.”
Obasuyi’s meetup has evolved into a space for African tech enthusiasts in New York to share challenges and find the inspiration they need to keep moving forward.
