Charles Faul, founder of Akili Labs incubated at BioPark@Gauteng and a winner of the 2017 Gauteng Accelerator Programme Awards in the Biosciences have developed a biomedical device focused on medical diagnostic technology. They aim to improve quality of life in the field of medical technology and they are working on developing rapid diagnostic systems to improve healthcare globally.

Akili Labs has lead the way to low cost point of care based rapid diagnostic systems that are capable of testing for viruses, bacterial and fungal infections. This system also allows for certain types of gene screening to be performed.

Akili Labs believes that anyone should be able to perform accurate, rapid biological tests regardless of the infrastructure available, with affordable equipment. In line with this, the company has developed a modular, diagnostic laboratory for DNA tests, compressed into a small sturdy form factor, which enables portability and reliability in any scenario, be it rural or urban.

The BioPark@Gauteng Business Incubator provides business development support to start-ups in the health (bio-pharmaceuticals, medical devices and diagnostics, indigenous knowledge-based neutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, cosmetics), agriculture (agro-/food-processing, bio processing, smart agriculture) in industrial biotechnology sectors. The support is provided in collaboration with Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) and eGoliBio Life Sciences Incubator