Spindle Health AI Builder Lab
From Model to Care - A 10-week research, design and validation programme for teams building AI-enabled health solutions in Africa.
Why this lab
The lab exists to help AI‑enabled health solutions survive contact with real patients, providers, and systems, not just pitch meetings and pilots. AI can make a health solution technically possible without making it useful, safe, trusted or adoptable. Many teams need help answering questions such as:
• Are we solving a sufficiently important health problem?
• Does the solution fit how patients, providers or health systems actually work?
• What assumptions need to be tested before we build further?
• Where could the solution create confusion, exclusion or harm?
• What evidence will we need before a partner, funder or health system takes it seriously?
From Model to Care is designed to help teams investigate those questions systematically.
Who it’s for
This lab is designed for teams who are already building, not just thinking. The pilot is open to teams working on AI-enabled health products, services or programme innovations in Africa. You’re a good fit if:
• You are working on an AI‑enabled product or service in health (for example, in SRH, maternal and child health, or health financing).
• You have at least a rough product, prototype, or service concept - not just a research idea.
• You are already in conversation with clinics, programmes, or health system actors, or want to be.
• You care about trust, safety, and workflow as much as model performance.
This may include:
• Startups and early-stage ventures;
• Innovation teams within NGOs or health organisations;
• Health professionals developing new tools;
• Technical or research teams moving towards implementation;
• Organisations adapting an existing solution to a new health context.
Teams may be at concept, prototype, early-pilot or product-refinement stage.
What selected teams would receive
Teams will work on a four-stage journey: Clarify → Understand → Test and refine → Prepare
Selected teams will receive support to:
• Sharpen their problem definition and use case.
• Test critical assumptions in real-world contexts.
• Understand workflow, trust, safety, and adoption dynamics around their solution.
• Refine their product or service so it fits how care actually happens.
• Prepare for piloting and real‑world implementation.
• Technical support
Programme format
• Duration: 10 weeks
• Location: Open to teams working in African health contexts
• Dates: October 2026
• Cohort size: 5 teams
• Format: Virtual, with focused team and cohort sessions
About Spindle Design
Spindle Design is a research, design and innovation practice. We work with organisations across Africa to design and improve products, services and programmes around the realities of the people and systems they are intended to serve. Our health work spans women’s health, maternal and reproductive health, digital health, user research, service design and the responsible adoption of emerging technologies.
Interested in joining the pilot cohort, supporting the programme or referring a team? Complete the expression of interest form here.
If you’re interested in supporting or partnering with us, get in touch via hello@spindledesign.co