June 2, (THEWILL)- Ambition, resilience, determination, fuelled by lack of opportunity in Nigeria are some of the reasons why Nigerians in the diaspora are prone to succeed against all odds. And one of such is Dr. Ikenna Okezie, the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Somatus, a $2.5 billion market leader in value-based kidney care. His healthcare start-up based in Virginia, United States is all set to revolutionize the way kidney disease is managed and treated.
Founded in 2016, Somatus has grown to become a leader in kidney care with a focus on prevention and enabling patients to take better control of their health. Born in Nigeria but raised in Detroit, his attraction to medicine was influenced by the fact that his father and elder brother are physicians. But his close-knit family encouraged him to widen his net and go into business.
Majoring in Economics at Yale, where he graduated cum laude, he moved to Harvard Medical School in 1994 where he earned high honours and honours in all clinical rotations. Three and a half years into his medical degree, he followed his passion for business by applying for the Harvard Business School where he was accepted and his journey into health-related business started. His reason for starting Somatus is not farfetched. Millions of Americans have chronic kidney disease, underscoring the potential need for businesses like Somatus with room for expansion.
As of 2022, Dr Ikenna Okezie was valued at $250 million and his company valued at $2.5 billion during a successful series E funding, that is, an injection of capital into a startup, usually by venture capitalists and institutional investors, to further propel its growth trajectory.
