WoW Woman in FemTech I Gigi Kenneth, founder and CEO of Asele
Gigi Kenneth is the founder and CEO of Asele, a digital health platform that promotes preventive care and blends cycle tracking, personalized health tips, and community support into a self-care experience.
She is also a writer and content-driven marketer passionate about responsible AI and reimagining health tech for African women. Gigi’s background spans biochemistry, AI, data science, storytelling, content marketing, and ethical AI, focusing on creating culturally relevant tools.
Through Asele, she has launched an app, an online community, a store, and a podcast called Blush and Bloom. Her work reflects a deep commitment to health equity, education, and helping women feel seen and supported in every phase of life.
Asele is a digital health platform for African women to better understand their bodies, manage their wellness, and stay motivated throughout their cycles. It combines a mobile app, online community, educational resources, and online store to deliver practical and preventive health support, from period tracking and personalized insights to culturally relevant content and community-driven conversations.
Tell us a bit about your background and your projects so far.
I began in biochemistry, working on projects related to chemical pathology and pharmacological biochemistry. At university, I met computer science students and started taking coding more seriously. During my hospital lab internship, I landed a data science internship, which opened up opportunities in machine learning. Eventually, I explored roles in community and program management, then tried pivoting into product management. Alongside all this, I worked as a freelance writer for B2B SaaS companies and an AI website, where I explored the intersection of AI, healthcare, and policy from an African perspective.
Writing became the thread connecting all my interests. I resisted making it my full-time path until I eventually accepted a technical writing role at a data science company. That experience, combined with my personal health journey, led me to build Asele, a digital health platform for African women that blends cycle tracking, education, and productivity tools. What started as a side project is now a growing ecosystem that includes a web app, care packages, a podcast, and a supportive community.
How did you get into this industry? Has it been an easy industry to get into or have you had many challenges?
I got into the health tech space after writing an article on AI’s role in improving femtech for African women, published in The Yuan. That research opened my eyes to the massive gap in culturally relevant health tools. Around the same time, I was navigating life on my own and noticing how my energy levels fluctuated throughout my cycle. Learning about cycle-syncing helped me make sense of my body, and I wanted to create a tool for other women who might benefit from the same awareness.
Grief also played a part. Losing my stepmother was painful, and I channeled that grief into creating something meaningful. While we can’t control everything about our health, we can try to care for our bodies. I believe education and community are essential steps in helping women love themselves and make informed health choices. Asele is a personal journey for me, and I’m continually inspired by the women in our community who show up for themselves and for each other.
How long did it take you to be where you are now? What was the biggest obstacle?
It’s been about three years since I started working on Asele. The journey hasn’t been linear; there were long pauses and moments of doubt, but over the past year, I’ve made progress with the support of family. Asele is named after our late mother, who passed away shortly after I was born (I know, I’ve lost two mums, my memoir, if I write one, will be really something). It’s a family-run project, which brings its own challenges as people like to warn me, but clear communication has made it work. I like to remind myself: if two brothers could build Flo and two siblings are building Anthropic, we can build this too.
What are the challenges of being in the industry you are in?
One major challenge is building health tech tools in a context where access, trust, and infrastructure can be limited. There's also a general lack of localized data and culturally relevant resources, which makes it harder to build solutions that feel personal and useful. Add to that the funding gap for African startups especially in femtech, and it’s clear that the path isn’t easy. But those same constraints push us to be creative and intentional.
What are your biggest achievements to date?
Launching Asele is my proudest achievement. What started as a Telegram chatbot has evolved into a full platform, with a web app, an online store, a podcast, and a vibrant community. I’m especially proud of our fitness challenges, where women show up, support one another, and share their health journeys. On tough days, it’s those small wins, seeing someone take a walk or go for a run because of our challenge or share an update in the group, that remind me this work matters.
What are the projects you are currently working on?
Right now, I’m testing the Asele app with our community, growing the Blush and Bloom podcast (where I talk to African doctors and healthcare professionals), and planning new features based on user feedback. I'm also exploring how to expand Asele’s reach across Africa, beginning with Nigeria. Our goal is to keep things grounded in empathy and education.
Is the #WomenInTech movement important to you and if yes, why?
Absolutely. The movement helped me see that I belonged even when I wasn’t sure I did. It’s changed how I see myself and my work. I’ve been inspired by other women’s stories and supported by communities that made space for me. Now, I hope to do the same: support and inspire others as I continue building.
What will be the key trends in your industry in the next five years and where do you see them heading?
Personalized digital health will become a standard, especially in underserved regions. Cycle tracking will move beyond just period prediction into full-cycle awareness, helping women understand how their bodies affect their energy, productivity, and mental health. AI will play a growing role in diagnostics and everyday decision-making, but we’ll need to stay mindful about ethics, privacy, and cultural bias. I hope to see more Afrocentric tools built by people who understand the nuance of our health experiences.
What is the most important piece of advice you could give to anyone who wants to start a career in this industry?
You don’t need to know everything. You don’t need the perfect background. Just begin. Ask questions, share your work, and keep learning (if you can, in public). Build what you wish existed, and don’t wait for validation. Most importantly, surround yourself with people who believe in your vision even when you’re still figuring it out.
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