Benjamin Winters, Executive Leadership Team Member
Over the past several months, I’ve had the privilege of watching a bold idea take shape into a living, breathing initiative—one that holds the promise to reshape how we partner with countries and navigate the evolving terrain of global health. The Bridge the Gap (BTG) incubator wasn’t formed to be another business development arm or consultancy extension. It was born from a deep recognition that our systems, strategies, and structures need to evolve just as quickly as the global health challenges we aim to solve.
Why BTG, and Why Now?
We launched the BTG incubator under the shelter of Akros, a decision rooted in pragmatism. Akros gave us the infrastructure—financial systems, tech platforms, and credibility—to begin work immediately without the overhead of forming a new legal entity. But even from the outset, we envisioned something more expansive, more participatory, and more future-focused.
The global health space, particularly in malaria, is undergoing a fundamental shift. We’re entering a new era where market mechanisms, domestic financing, and country-driven priorities will determine impact more than donor checkbooks. In this context, our work isn’t just about filling gaps in funding or technical assistance. It’s about helping countries seize leadership, drive agendas, and own their futures.
Beyond BD: A Platform for Ownership
One of the most important things we’re grappling with as a team is how to redefine our identity. BTG isn’t here to act as a hidden engine of Akros—it’s here to stand alongside Akros and others as a collaborator, innovator, and catalyst. This distinction matters. We are a collective of professionals from across geographies and disciplines who are investing our time and expertise not for transactional returns, but because we believe in building something durable.
Looking ahead, we are exploring the formation of a new, independent legal entity. This would allow all of us—those who’ve contributed our energy and insights—to become members or managers of a shared endeavor. It would ensure that our work and commitment translate into shared ownership, influence, and long-term sustainability.
Principled Country Engagement
Nowhere is our vision clearer than in how we approach country engagement. We’re learning from past pitfalls—passivity encouraged by high-velocity donor flows, minimal domestic investment, and missed opportunities for strategic advocacy. We believe this is the moment to reset the compass.
BTG exists to help countries position themselves in this new market era. That means advocating with ministries of finance for increased health budgets. It means resisting reactionary strategies and supporting countries to act with foresight and autonomy. And it means doing all of this grounded in a set of shared values that guide how we show up, what we prioritize, and how we hold ourselves accountable.
To that end, we’re drafting a collective framework of principles—something that will serve as our north star and a tangible expression of our approach to partnerships, innovation, and impact.
What Comes Next
This is still the beginning. We have much to refine, define, and deliver. But we are committed—to each other, to our partners, and to the belief that we can build better. BTG is more than a temporary construct. It’s a space for co-creation, a forge for better engagement models, and a springboard for systems-level transformation.
If you’re aligned with this vision—or even just curious—I hope you’ll follow our journey, challenge our thinking, and help us build what comes next.
Together, we can bridge the gaps that matter most.
