PBR Life Sciences, a leading life sciences and healthcare, big data aggregator has raised $1M in pre-seed funding from Launch Africa, Microtraction, Kaleo Ventures, Octerra Capital, Marula Square, XA Africa, ARM Labs and Techstars, underscoring the global significance of its innovative approach to healthcare big data and analytics.
Founded by Ayodeji Alaran, a University of Lagos-trained pharmacist, London Business School MBA alumnus and a former executive at GSK, Pfizer, and AstraZeneca, the company pivoted into big data and analytics in 2021 after identifying significant gaps in the industry.
The startup has grown significantly within the past year; revenue has grown by 200% and its proprietary big database now includes data points on more than 50 million pharmaceutical products, over 10,000 brands and insights on the market performance of more than 1,500 companies. Its AI infrastructure now transforms millions of data in minutes as opposed to months.
Today, PBR offers pharmaceutical, medical device and consumer healthcare companies, health tech startups, consulting firms, multilateral agencies, and research institutions in Africa, Europe, America, and Asia fast and easy access to high-quality, real-world healthcare data and market insights.
Its data-as-a-service platform helps its users and clients including pharmaceutical companies, consulting firms, international NGOs, multilateral agencies, and research organizations in Africa, Europe, America, and Asia make data-backed decisions.
It was one of the twelve (12) startups that participated in the second cohort of the ARM Labs Lagos Techstars Accelerator programme. Its real-world data-as-a-service platforms help its users and clients make data-backed decisions on product pricing, forecasting, new product development, disease and treatment interventions, healthcare financing and company strategy.

Before now, PBR Life Sciences only offered data and insights about the Nigerian healthcare market. It has spent the past two years laying the foundation for its pioneering AI infrastructure powered by its proprietary real-world, anonymized, healthcare data in Africa, whilst consolidating its business model.
The investment will help the company scale its data-as-a-service platforms in Nigeria. It will also aid its expansion into Ghana and Kenya to replicate its already proven business model. The company is looking to deepen its offering as a multivariate, multichannel healthcare real-world big data analytics, technology, and consulting provider in Africa and other emerging markets, supporting the life sciences industry.
The pharmaceutical and life sciences industry in emerging markets, such as Asia, Africa, and Latin America worth $281billion, is expected to see higher growth rates, often exceeding 8-10% annually, compared to 3-5% in developed markets and yet, these are the regions with the least amount of real-world big data to aid effective commercial planning and clinical research.
PBR Life Sciences is working to close this gap by being a leading provider of real-world, healthcare big data and analytics in emerging markets by the year 2030.


Speaking of the funding, Ayodeji Alaran, CEO and Founder said, “Being backed by some of the most reputable venture capital investors and angels in Africa not only inspires us as a team to do more but further validates the vital need to close the gap of inadequate real-world, healthcare big data that will power AI and innovation for the sector whilst unlocking global life sciences growth that will be powered by the region.”
“This will unlock value for the least understood healthcare and unmet needs in Africa and the rest of emerging markets,” he added. “With this fresh capital, we are now well positioned to achieve our ambitious growth plan, with a laser focus on profitability,” he concluded.
“PBR’s innovative approach to addressing a critical healthcare challenge in Africa, combined with its strong founding team and substantial market opportunity, establishes it as a key player in enhancing healthcare delivery on the continent. We are excited to be part of this journey”, Uwem Uwemakpan, Head of Investments, at Launch Africa added.