Founded in 2021 by Dr Zane Stennings and Dr Karishma Soni, the Cape Town-based company is building a network of mobile and fixed dental clinics aimed at reaching communities that often struggle to access oral healthcare.

The investment will support the company’s next stage of growth, including expanding its footprint and increasing access to its locally manufactured clear aligners.

Access to dental care remains a major challenge in South Africa, where many households place urgent medical and financial needs ahead of oral health.

High treatment costs, limited access to dental facilities, and long travel distances continue to prevent many people from seeking treatment.

Health experts have long warned that untreated dental problems can contribute to serious long-term conditions, including infections, cardiovascular disease, and reduced productivity.

Mia Healthcare is attempting to tackle this gap by bringing dental services directly to schools, workplaces, and underserved communities through its mobile clinics.

The startup also produces clear aligners locally, positioning itself as a lower-cost alternative in a market largely dominated by international brands.

According to the company, the approach is designed to make orthodontic treatment more accessible to middle- and lower-income consumers.

“Edge Growth and FNB’s Vumela Fund investment in Mia comes at an exciting stage in our journey,” said Dr Zane Stennings, co-founder and CEO of Mia Healthcare.

“This funding validates the work we are doing with our partner dentists to improve patient outcomes while creating growth opportunities for practitioners. We believe there is significant room for innovation and scale within the dental sector.”

He added that securing growth funding in the current economic climate was not easy, making the backing from Vumela particularly meaningful for the company’s long-term plans.

The Vumela Fund was established by FNB Business Banking and Edge Growth to provide growth capital and business support to high-potential South African SMEs.

Since its launch, the fund has backed businesses across multiple industries with a focus on scalable enterprises capable of creating economic and social impact.

Sally Kitley, associate principal at Edge Growth, said Mia Healthcare stood out because of its market approach and leadership team.

“Mia Healthcare is an exciting business with an innovative service offering,” Kitley said. “The company has a strong management team with deep industry expertise and a model that responds to a clear market need. We are confident that this investment will help unlock further growth.”

The funding comes at a time when South Africa’s healthcare sector is seeing increased interest in startups using technology and alternative delivery models to bridge gaps in access to care.

Companies offering mobile healthcare services and lower-cost treatment solutions are increasingly attracting investor attention as pressure on both public and private healthcare systems continues to grow.