Ubenwa AI

Ubenwa AI is a pioneering healthtech company that has developed the world’s first artificial intelligence foundation model for interpreting infant cry sounds. Founded in 2017 and based in Montreal, Canada with operations in Nigeria, Ubenwa transforms any microphone-enabled device into a powerful diagnostic tool for early health detection in infants. The company’s innovative technology analyzes acoustic biomarkers in babies’ cries to identify critical health conditions such as birth asphyxia, neurological disorders, and respiratory distress, addressing a critical gap in infant healthcare particularly in regions with limited access to medical resources.

The company has achieved remarkable clinical validation through partnerships with leading hospitals across Canada, Brazil, and Nigeria, conducting the largest-ever study on infant cries with over 10,000 clinically annotated samples. Their flagship consumer product, Nanni AI, has gained widespread adoption with over 500,000 parents using the app globally to understand their babies’ needs and detect potential health issues early. Additionally, Ubenwa has expanded into healthcare operations with Roseline AI, an intelligent voice agent that handles routine patient calls, appointments, and medical intake for healthcare providers, demonstrating the versatility of their voice AI technology beyond infant care.

Backed by prominent investors including Radical Ventures, AIX Ventures, and AI luminaries Yoshua Bengio and Hugo Larochelle, Ubenwa raised $2.5 million in pre-seed funding in 2022. The company emerged from Mila – Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute and has received numerous accolades including MIT Solve prizes and recognition in IBM’s Watson AI XPRIZE competition. Led by CEO and founder Charles Onu, a PhD researcher in AI and biomedical engineering, alongside CTO Innocent Udeogu, the team combines world-class expertise in artificial intelligence, neonatology, and healthcare innovation to revolutionize how voice biomarkers can enhance patient care and save lives across the entire human lifespan.