Edge Growth backs South African dental platform
Mia Healthcare Technologies seeks to improve access to affordable dental and orthodontic care.
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South Africa-based Mia Healthcare Technologies, founded in 2021 by Dr Zane Stennings and Dr Karishma Soni, has secured R15 million (about $910,000) in funding from the Vumela Fund, managed by Edge Growth, to improve access to affordable dental and orthodontic care across Southern Africa.
In South Africa, socio-economic pressures often result in dental care being deprioritised, with many individuals focusing on more immediate or visible health concerns. Barriers such as cost, location, and access to facilities further limit uptake. However, untreated dental conditions can lead to significant long-term health complications, impacting overall wellbeing, productivity, and quality of life.
Mia Healthcare addresses these challenges through its network of mobile and fixed dental practices, as well as positioning itself to compete in a market historically dominated by global players by offering high-quality, locally produced clear aligners at a more accessible price point. To support distribution and patient access, Mia is building a network of mobile dental clinics and fixed practises. Mobile clinics operate across diverse locations including schools, workplaces, and communities and are designed to bring expert dental care closer to the patients.
“Edge Growth and FNB’s Vumela Fund investment in Mia comes at an exciting stage in our journey. This funding not only reflects confidence in Mia and enables our next phase of growth but also underscores that the dental market is one worth watching, with significant potential for innovation, scale, and impact. In an environment where growth capital is not easy to secure, we are deeply grateful for Edge’s belief in our vision and for the trust they have placed in us. For Mia, this investment is a strong validation of the mission we are pursuing alongside our partnered dentists: bringing high-quality, accessible dental products and care models to market that improve patient outcomes while creating meaningful growth opportunities for practitioners. We are delighted to be partnering with Edge as we continue building a platform that can help transform dental care in South Africa and beyond,” said Stenning, CEO of Mia.
“Mia Healthcare is an exciting business with a relevant and novel service offering. They have an impressive management team with deep industry knowledge and an innovative approach to dentistry that is supported by a stable and robust market,” commented associate principal at Edge Growth, Sally Kitley. “The team showed exceptional dedication and were professional to work with, showing resilience and rigour throughout the investment process. We are confident that they will lead a successful business and we are excited about the growth that our funding unlocks.”
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