More than a decade ago, a young engineer named Sona Shah stepped into a classroom in rural Kenya—and the beginning of a life-changing journey. What she witnessed there didn't just shape her understanding of global health disparities; it set her on a path to build solutions for those often left behind. Today, as CEO and Co-Founder of Neopenda, Shah is leading a growing team that's redefining how clinical care is delivered in low-resource settings around the world. The company's mission is simple but urgent: develop innovative, sustainable medical technologies that make high-quality care accessible to everyone.
Shah's inspiration for Neopenda was born from lived experience. After earning her degree in chemical engineering, she spent time teaching in western Kenya, where preventable illness and lack of access to healthcare were daily realities. "That experience planted a seed," she said. "I couldn't stop thinking about the kids I had taught, and the families around them who deserved more." Returning to the U.S., Shah pursued a master's in biomedical engineering at Columbia University, where she met her co-founder, Teresa Cauvel. A needs-assessment trip to Uganda exposed the two to hospitals filled with critically ill newborns, overwhelmed nurses, and donated medical equipment that sat broken and unused. "It became crystal clear that the issue wasn't just a lack of resources—it was a lack of thoughtful design," she said.
This realization laid the foundation for neoGuard™, Neopenda's flagship product: a wearable, clinical-grade vital signs monitor designed for low-resource environments. "We didn't want to create just another device—we wanted to build something with and for the clinicians on the frontlines," Shah explained. Designed to monitor heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and temperature, neoGuard is battery-powered, lightweight, and built to function in settings where reliable power and infrastructure are not guaranteed.
Before Neopenda had a device on the market or a manufacturing line in place, it started in Maryland. In 2015, Shah and Cauvel joined the Relevant Health accelerator in Rockville, an experience Shah credits as essential to the company's formation. "We wouldn't exist without Relevant Health," she said. "It gave us the foundation to shape an idea into a sustainable solution—and the mentors who helped us think strategically and boldly." That early support gave the fledgling startup more than just technical tools. It helped Neopenda take root in a community of like-minded entrepreneurs, researchers, and global health champions.
Today, Neopenda remains thankful to the Maryland ecosystem that first believed in them. "The BioHealth Capital Region (before it was called the BHCR) was the first community that truly welcomed us as entrepreneurs," Shah recalled. "It blended scientific expertise with mission-driven collaboration, and helped us realize that our work—though rooted in emerging markets—has global relevance." Those early connections continue to shape how the company thinks about systems-level change and the role of innovation in global health equity.
Since launching neoGuard, Neopenda has expanded its reach across Kenya, Uganda, and Ghana, with more than 350 devices deployed and over 35,000 hours of patient monitoring logged. "We've helped provide real-time data for clinicians working in some of the world's most under-resourced settings," Shah said. "They're using neoGuard to prioritize care, intervene earlier, and ultimately save lives." Nurses in crowded wards, often caring for dozens of newborns at once, have described how the technology helps them focus on critical cases without fear of missing early warning signs.
But developing clinical-grade technology for low-resource settings hasn't come without challenges. From building a robust Quality Management System to navigating complex regulatory hurdles, Neopenda has remained focused on designing for context. "We’ve had to figure out how to make something that’s one-tenth the cost of existing equipment, without sacrificing quality,” said Shah. “It’s a constant balancing act—but that’s where innovation shines.” Achieving CE Mark certification, refining product durability, and managing logistics in difficult environments have all required resilience and creative problem-solving.
The company’s view of the global health tech landscape has grown more ambitious as it scales. “We’re now looking at the 85% of the world’s population that lives in emerging markets and doesn’t have access to the kind of technology we’re building,” Shah said. That broader lens has led Neopenda to expand beyond neoGuard, developing new tools like neoSpot, a spot-check monitor for both neonatal and adult patients, and neoCloud, a real-time data platform that supports clinical decision-making and health system planning.
Neopenda’s fundraising journey reflects its mission-driven ethos. With $6 million raised from a mix of grants and investment, the company has balanced impact and sustainability in its growth. “Grants from organizations like Grand Challenges Canada and Cisco allowed us to validate our tech and conduct clinical trials,” Shah said. “Meanwhile, investors have helped us scale operations and deepen our reach.” Neopenda recently opened investment opportunities to the public to further democratize support for their work. “We want to bring more people along with us on this journey,” Shah added.
When asked what advice she has for other mission-driven founders, Shah emphasizes diversifying funding, building community, and staying resilient. “It’s about finding the people who truly believe in your mission,” she said. “They’re the ones who will help you prove the rest wrong.”
Looking ahead, Neopenda is poised for even greater impact. With new products in development, growing strategic partnerships, and recognition from WHO and UNITAID, the company is building toward a future where equitable care is not just a goal but a reality. “We’re more committed than ever to building a world where every patient has access to the care they need, regardless of where they’re born,” Shah said.
For Neopenda, success isn’t just about scale—it’s about lasting change. “We want to empower healthcare workers, improve outcomes, and create a culture of care and collaboration,” said Shah. “It’s a privilege to be part of something bigger than ourselves.”
To learn more about Neopenda or explore how you can support their work, visit www.neopenda.com.