AfricInvest will provide $2.5 million in financing, while Proparco, through its Bridge by Digital Africa facility, will contribute EUR 450,000 (approximately $490,278).

This funding aims to enhance access to optical care in Africa, where the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 80% of visually impaired individuals do not receive proper treatment.

With this financial boost, Lapaire plans to strengthen its presence in the countries it already serves and expand its operations to new markets, including Senegal, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Tanzania.

The investment comes just nine months after the startup raised $3 million for its previous expansion efforts across the continent.

Founded in 2018 by Swiss entrepreneur Jérôme Lapaire, the company has established itself as a key player in providing affordable eyewear in West and East Africa.

Lapaire operates over 80 optical stores in countries such as Ivory Coast, Benin, Togo, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Uganda.

It offers free eye tests and flexible payment options to make essential eye care more accessible to low- and middle-income populations.

The need for optical care in Africa is pressing. According to the WHO, one in six blind people globally resides in Africa, alongside 26 million individuals with varying levels of visual impairment.

Despite this, only 14% of those in need of cataract surgery receive treatment, and over 80% of individuals with short-sightedness go untreated.

Jérôme Lapaire highlighted the importance of the financial and technical support from AfricInvest and Proparco in expanding the startup’s optical network, with the goal of improving the lives of one million people by 2026.

Faisal Jiwa, Senior Partner at AfricInvest, expressed pride in supporting Lapaire through the Transform Health Fund, which is dedicated to making healthcare services more accessible and affordable for underserved populations in Africa.

AfricInvest’s Transform Health Fund, which raised $111 million in October 2024, focuses on scaling innovative healthcare models that provide affordable services to vulnerable communities across the continent.