WhatsApp Incubator Program launched, to onboard 10 health organisations

WhatsApp to launch the WhatsApp Incubator Program in India that seeks to onboard select, chosen organisations to enable digitisation of their businesses. The Program will use the WhatsApp for Business platform to enable digitisation of services for the businesses that are selected to be a part, which the company claims will “facilitate positive and measurable health outcomes at scale.” 

Applications for registering on the programme are now live, and will be accepted until 24 December. The company stated that applications will be accepted from non-government organisations (NGOs), startups and entrepreneurs working in the healthcare sector in India. The organisations that focus on “general immunisation, mental health, maternal health and equitable access to healthcare” will be given priority as part of the Incubator Program’s first round of access for 10 participants. 

“Technology has been the most critical instrument in India's fight against Covid-19. During the pandemic, we have seen several innovative use cases of the WhatsApp Business Platform by the government organisations, civic actors, city administrations, and many more NGOs, both large and small, across sectors and locations. We have worked alongside some of these organisations to help drive effectiveness and impact during the pandemic for various communities in India,” said Abhijit Bose, head of WhatsApp India. 

As part of the Program, WhatsApp will provide mentorship, sessions with industry experts, facilitate access to ground services, and provide funding network access to the applicants, to help build their digitised services at scale. 

The move is a part of WhatsApp’s parent company, the Meta Group (erstwhile Facebook)’s efforts in the Indian startup industry. WhatsApp has been increasingly pushing for adoption of its Business API in various sectors, with one of its latest partnerships being announced with ride-hailing service, Uber.