Every baby deserves a warm arrival. Every child, a fair start.
In Uganda, too many newborns lose their lives to the cold on the way to hospital. We are a team of engineers, clinicians and caregivers who decided that should never be normal, and set out to build the tools to change it, right here on Old Kira Road. It started with NeoNest.
- Founded
- 2023
- Global awards
- 3× 1st place
- Made in
- Uganda
Our team, 2025
Vivian and the team with the NeoNest at the Design Cube, Makerere University.
Where we are so far
1,000+
Newborns supported in hospital with Che Nest
100+
Hours of NeoNest running safely in pilot testing
50
Families using Che Nest at home
It started with four students, one ward, and a problem no one else was solving.
Vivian, Saajan, Joseph, and Sophia met during the Duke-Makerere Biomedical Engineering Fellowship. Eight weeks of walking Uganda's largest national referral hospital and listening to what health workers actually needed.
What they saw was pre-term hypothermia, especially during transit, claiming newborns who could have been saved. That summer became NeoNest, and NeoNest became Che Innovations. Today we're eight Ugandan engineers, regulators, and finance professionals. We started at the Design Cube at Makerere University and have since spun out into our own independent premises.
Three products. Each one grown from a real Ugandan need.
Two neonatal devices born on Ugandan wards, and one locally-invented card game we're proud to bring to more classrooms. Order, inquire, or bring one to your school today.
Flagship · Neonatal
NeoNest
Safety from the first breath.
A patented, low-cost transport infant warmer built from Ugandan household materials. Currently in clinical pilot.
Neonatal · Home & Ward
Che Nest
A womb-like place to grow, safely.
Locally-made baby nests for newborns from birth. Home use package includes nest, waterproof mattress, cotton sheet and mosquito net.
Learning · Card Game
Matica
Play the math.
A Ugandan-invented mathematics card game. UGX 20,000 retail, UGX 17,000 for bulk orders of 15+. Pay by MTN MoMo, Airtel Money or cash on delivery.
Recognised & supported by
Three first-place finishes at global health tech competitions. For a warmer made from a water jug.
Recognised by Rice 360 Global Health Technologies Institute, the Duke Global Health Institute, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Royal Academy of Engineering (London), and the Ugandan Ministry of Health.
Rice 360
Duke Global Health
ASME
Royal Academy of Engineering
VentureWell
MoH Uganda
Real words, from the mothers and nurses we serve.
"I wish I had this. My baby wouldn't have died on the road to hospital."
Bring NeoNest or Che Nest to your ward or home.
We'd love to hear from you. Book a demo, order via WhatsApp, or just send us a note. Vivian or one of the team will reply personally.