Caitlin Dolkart

Updated April 2025

When a medical emergency strikes, the first reaction in some parts of the world, like London or New York, is to call an ambulance. Throughout Africa, however, that can be problematic. While most countries might have a centralized number, that number leads to a call centre which is not connected to ambulance resources. Healthcare providers, including doctors and nurses, and patients must literally decide between hundreds to thousands of potential numbers of who to call during an emergency, praying to find assistance that is available and nearby. The cost to nerves, let alone to life, can be high: a 2017 study by the Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit found that the average response time in Kenya is an astounding 162 minutes. Since the first hour, dubbed the “golden hour” of care, can make all the difference, the outcome for most can be the difference between life and death.

An end-to-end emergency response system

Flare set out to change that. Launched in 2017 by Caitlin Dolkart and her co-founder Maria Rabinovich, the company connects people to emergency response services through its rescue.co services. “It’s the next-generation 911,” states Caitlin. “We want to ensure that no matter who you are or where you are throughout East Africa, you have access to emergency services.” Dubbed “Uber for ambulances” by the African start-up ecosystem, Flare is part of an end-to-end system that sets it apart from the competition.

To access its platform, users subscribe to Rescue.co, an annual membership service catering to corporate, individual, family, school, and tourist subscriptions, with the average yearly fee for an individual costing anywhere between $25-75. In return, the customer receives 24/7 connection to a fleet of over 800 ambulances and 70-plus aircraft, which is already the largest in the region, coordinated by Flare. “Most ambulance owners have a fleet of one,” says Caitlin. “It’s our job to pull these emergency responders together on a single platform.” Flare then sends them out on calls via its dedicated dispatch center and automated dispatching platform following the requisite medical protocols.

A life-changing service

To date, Flare has signed up hundreds of corporates, tour companies, agents and insurance firms, as well as thousands of households. With more than 2 million individuals using its services, the company has completed over 40,000 life-saving evacuations. “We consistently hear from people how life-changing it is to have access to our service,” says Caitlin.

For Caitlin, Flare’s digital analysis can be a step towards improving the region’s health services. “Through our ability to access real-time data, we aim to change the expectation that you will not have access to emergency services in a place like Kenya,” she says.

After several years working with the Clinton Health Initiative across East Africa, Caitlin saw the opportunity to build emergency services to drive healthcare forward. “Working in the emergency environment is both exciting and challenging,” she states. “There’s a constant feeling that everything is urgent and must be done in seconds! Setting up our business in this field has been a race against the clock. It’s a service no one has ever had access to, but once they see it’s possible, they want it instantly, and the expectations are high.”

The company now operates throughout East Africa and across Africa for some of its Rescue.co air evacuation products and is eyeing further expansion. Today, two-thirds of the world lacks a system like Flare, and the opportunities to scale are expansive.