Monthly contributions. Immediate surgery funding when your circle needs it.
African families watch loved ones die waiting for surgery because hospitals demand upfront deposits while existing crowdfunding platforms force them to rely on relatives abroad to even open a campaign that may not arrive in time.
AfyaCircle lets communities, churches, and workplace groups create mutual aid circles where members contribute small fixed monthly amounts into a shared pool. When any member faces emergency surgery costs, they submit a verified claim that the group votes on. Approved claims are paid instantly from the pool.
Families and communities in African countries facing emergency hospital bills that require immediate deposits for life-saving surgery
Proactive recurring community health pools with democratic governance instead of reactive one-off crowdfunding campaigns
empowering
Tools for group admins to set contribution amounts, membership rules, and voting thresholds
Automated monthly deductions via mobile money with grace periods
Structured claim form with hospital bill upload and medical summary
Group members receive push notifications to vote on claims within 12 hours
Real-time view of pool balance, member contributions, and claim history
Direct bill verification links sent to partnered hospitals
Suggests optimal group size and contribution levels based on historical data
Configurable rules for unused funds at end of period
Discover and join existing circles based on location and values
| Column | Type | Nullable |
|---|---|---|
| id | uuid | No |
| name | text | No |
| admin_id | uuid | No |
| monthly_amount | int | No |
| current_balance | int | No |
| min_members | int | No |
| created_at | timestamp | No |
Relationships:
| Column | Type | Nullable |
|---|---|---|
| id | uuid | No |
| circle_id | uuid | No |
| user_id | uuid | No |
| joined_at | timestamp | No |
| status | text | No |
| Column | Type | Nullable |
|---|---|---|
| id | uuid | No |
| circle_id | uuid | No |
| claimant_id | uuid | No |
| amount | int | No |
| status | text | No |
| vote_end_at | timestamp | No |
| created_at | timestamp | No |
Relationships:
| Column | Type | Nullable |
|---|---|---|
| id | uuid | No |
| claim_id | uuid | No |
| voter_id | uuid | No |
| vote_value | text | No |
| voted_at | timestamp | No |
/api/circlesCreate new mutual aid circle
/api/claimsSubmit surgery funding claim
/api/voteCast vote on pending claim
/api/circles/[id]/balanceGet real-time pool balance and member status
/api/webhooks/contributionsHandle recurring payment confirmations
No automated recurring billing
Up to 50 members
Unlimited members
| Month | Users | Conversion | MRR | ARR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month 1 | 180 | 12% | $756 | $9,072 |
| Month 6 | 3,200 | 18% | $10,080 | $120,960 |
Build a community health savings circle. Contribute monthly. Access immediate funding when a member needs life-saving surgery.
Target established church groups, chama (investment groups), and workplace welfare associations in Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana. Offer 3 months free Pro to the first 10 circles with over 25 members. Attend physical church leadership conferences to demo the product live.
Large existing user base
One-off campaigns only, no recurring community pools
Proactive monthly savings model creates reliability
Strong brand in consumer finance
Individual debt products rather than community solutions
Social accountability and group governance instead of high-interest loans
Strong network effects within trusted social circles (churches, chamas, workplaces). Data from claim outcomes improves risk engine, creating defensibility.
Mobile money APIs have matured significantly in the last 18 months and African communities are actively seeking alternatives to expensive microfinance loans for medical emergencies.
Pool runs dry during simultaneous claims
Start with conservative group sizes, implement reinsurance partnerships after 6 months
Being classified as an insurance provider
Structure as pure mutual aid with explicit member agreements and consult regulators early
Low participation in voting leading to deadlocks
Default voting rules and push notifications with deadlines
Success: At least 8 groups agree to pilot the product
Success: Minimum 3 successful claims paid with 85% member retention
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