Design · Technology · ConsultingCape Town, ··:··
Ideas don’t change
the world.
Implemented ideas do.
Upstream.Africa helps organisations improve how they work. We bring together design, technology and research to develop practical solutions with the people who will use them.
What matters
- Time saved
- Simpler processes
- Less admin
- Tools people use
- Skills shared
01 — Why Upstream
We help you put ideas into practice.
You might need a better website, a less time-consuming way to manage paperwork, or help making sense of research. These are different projects, but they all need someone to understand the problem and see the work through.
We start by listening to the people doing the work. Then we agree on what needs to change, develop it with you, and help your team put it to use. The aim is to leave you with something useful and the confidence to manage it.
02 — Our work
How we can help.
Our current work includes private practices, design projects and quality systems consulting. Research, health systems and training are part of our longer-term plans.
Upstream Practice
Less admin. More time for patients.
Help with documentation, letters, finding evidence and everyday admin in private practice. We look at where better processes and appropriate AI tools could save time.
AvailableUpstream Studio
Design that works for your organisation.
Brand identity, websites, digital products and communications. We work with you on how your organisation presents itself and how people use its services.
AvailableUpstream Research
Making research easier to use.
Support for organising research, reviewing evidence and communicating findings clearly to the people who need them.
PlannedUpstream Health Systems
Improving how care is delivered.
Working with institutions, NGOs and health organisations to understand problems in care delivery, plan improvements and assess the results.
PlannedUpstream Academy
Learning through practical work.
Workshops and training for young Africans and professionals who want to apply new skills to their own projects and organisations.
Longer termQuality & compliance
ISO 13485 consulting for medical device businesses, with practical support for quality management systems, documentation and implementation.
Our approach
Better ways of working. More time for people.
03 — How we work
What you can expect from us.
Useful results
We agree on what a project needs to achieve and check whether it is useful in day-to-day work.
People involved
The people who will use a service or system should have a say in how it is developed.
Care with the details
Clear wording, straightforward processes and accessible design make a difference to the people using them.
Ideas from here
We value African knowledge and experience, and the ideas people develop in response to the challenges around them.
Understand the problem
We ask why a problem keeps happening before deciding what to change.
A proper handover
Your team should understand how to use and maintain the work. Training and documentation are part of that.
04 — Our founder
Waheed Amanjee
Co-founder, WiZmedCo-founder, African Research Society
Waheed grew up in Harding, KwaZulu-Natal. He is in his final year of medicine at UCT and is also pursuing an MSc in neurogenomics as a Mandela Rhodes Scholar.
His work across WiZmed and the African Research Society reflects an interest in making healthcare and research more accessible. Upstream brings that interest to the practical challenges organisations face in their everyday work.
- Mandela Rhodes Scholar 2025
- Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans 2025
- Abe Bailey Travel Bursary 2025
- Rising Star, SA Health Excellence Awards 2024
- UCT Individual Student Leadership Award 2024
05 — Get in touch
Let’s talk about your project.
Tell us a little about your organisation and what you need help with. We can talk through whether Upstream is a good fit.
waheed@upstream.africa