In a landmark achievement for African innovation in global health technology, Ecotone AI, a San Francisco-based artificial intelligence and genomics company founded and led by Gambians, has been selected for the prestigious Mayo Clinic Platform_Accelerate program. This milestone highlights the rising influence of Gambian leadership in cutting-edge scientific advancement.
Ecotone, founded by CEO eMalick Njie, Ph.D., focuses on leveraging AI to analyze the full human genome—beyond traditionally studied sections—to uncover disease mechanisms and translate insights into therapeutic pathways. The company aims to accelerate cures for rare genetic diseases by pinpointing faulty DNA elements with unprecedented precision.
Njie, a Gambian-American innovator, co-leads the firm alongside Founding Team Member and Chief of Strategic Partnerships Jaha Dukureh, both alumni of Ndow’s Comprehensive Junior Secondary School in The Gambia. Their shared educational roots underscore how strong local institutions can propel talent to the forefront of international science.
The Mayo Clinic Platform_Accelerate is a competitive 30-week accelerator designed for early-stage health tech AI startups. Participants gain access to Mayo Clinic’s vast de-identified clinical data, expert mentorship from world-renowned physicians and scientists, technical resources, and pathways for validation in real-world clinical settings. Mayo Clinic, a nonprofit academic medical center ranked among the world’s top hospitals for over 150 years, is celebrated for excellence in patient care, research, and ethical standards. Its Platform partners with innovators to responsibly advance digital health, genomics, and AI-driven medicine with a focus on patient safety and scientific rigor.
Participation in the February 2026 cohort—comprising 18 innovative companies—offers Ecotone a structured environment to test, refine, and scale its full-genome AI models under Mayo Clinic’s trusted guidance. This is not a commercial endorsement but a rigorous validation opportunity within one of medicine’s most respected institutions.
Adding to the momentum, Ecotone has been nominated for the Global Startup Awards – North America in two categories: Best Newcomer Startup and Best Healthtech Startup. These awards, determined by public votes and expert jury review, celebrate emerging companies for innovation, impact, and growth potential.
eMalick Njie expressed pride in the recognition: “Ecotone was founded to push the boundaries of disease understanding using AI on the full genome. Joining Mayo Clinic Platform_Accelerate is a key step to responsibly advance our approach. As a Gambian leading an AI genomics company in San Francisco, this shows African-founded leadership belongs at the highest levels of global science.”
Jaha Dukureh added: “Led by two Gambians committed to excellence and impact, this opportunity with Mayo Clinic—a benchmark for ethical medicine—marks a meaningful moment. It reflects the growing presence of Gambian innovators in U.S. advanced tech.”
These independent recognitions spotlight how Gambian-led ventures contribute to global health innovation, inspiring the African continent and beyond. Ecotone’s progress signals a new era where diverse perspectives drive breakthroughs in genomics and AI for rare diseases and personalized medicine.
