Charles Onu, based in Montreal, Canada, is the founder and CEO of Ubenwa, a medtech company transforming infant healthcare through voice-based artificial intelligence. The company’s breakthrough technology analyzes newborn cries to deliver early, actionable insights into their health, offering a non-invasive, scalable solution to caregivers and medical professionals across the globe.
Ubenwa, which means “cry of a baby” in the Igbo language (one of the languages spoken in Nigeria), is the world’s first AI platform that interprets infant cries to detect signs of medical distress. Designed for parents, health workers, and researchers, the technology turns any device with a microphone into a clinical-grade monitor. By detecting specific biomarkers in a baby’s cry, the system is able to deliver clinical-grade information that helps parents and doctors respond earlier and more effectively. This is especially critical in low-resource settings, where access to trained professionals and diagnostic tools may be limited.
The idea for Ubenwa began during Charles Onu’s PhD research at McGill University, where he focused on using machine learning to solve real-world problems in medicine. His vision is to develop affordable, accessible diagnostic tools that could function in low-resource settings. Ubenwa’s system is now backed by the world’s largest infant cry database and has been tested across hospitals on three continents. Its first product, Nanni AI, has already supported nearly half a million parents worldwide in newborn care.
Beyond Infants: The Launch of Roseline AI
While Ubenwa focuses on early childhood, Onu’s latest venture, Roseline AI, tackles another gap in the healthcare system. Roseline uses voice and text-based AI agents to streamline clinical functions such as patient intake, call handling, note-taking, and documentation. Its features are tailored to over 30 medical specialties and integrate seamlessly with electronic health record systems.
Roseline can answer and triage patient calls, conduct smart intake interviews, and generate structured clinical notes in real-time. It reduces paperwork, shortens wait times, and frees up physicians to focus on delivering better care.
A Career Rooted in Impact
Charles Onu is an AI researcher, software engineer, and MedTech entrepreneur focused on improving healthcare outcomes through technology. Though born in Nigeria, Onu has built his entrepreneurial journey in Canada, where he completed a PhD in Artificial Intelligence at McGill University. He’s received numerous honors, including the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, the Harvard Rising Star Award, the Jeanne Sauvé Fellowship, and the Royal Commonwealth Society’s Associate Fellowship.
While completing his PhD, Onu began the research that would become Ubenwa. The goal was to apply AI to neonatal health in a way that was clinically relevant, cost-effective, and accessible. Ubenwa has since evolved into a venture-backed company with strong ties to Canada’s leading AI research institutions, including Mila and the Vector Institute.
Its first product, Nanni AI, has supported nearly half a million parents globally with tools to monitor and better understand their newborns’ needs. The system is backed by the world’s largest database of infant cry sounds, compiled in collaboration with pediatric hospitals across three continents.
Outside his professional life, Onu enjoys sports and music. He’s a dedicated runner, swimmer, skier, and squash player. He also plays guitar, keyboard, and harmonica, often performing in the streets of Montreal during the summer.
A Vision Rooted in Equity and Innovation
At a time when much of the tech world is focused on automation and efficiency, Onu is listening to the smallest voices, and giving tools to those who lack the means. He’s showing how artificial intelligence can be human-centered, equitable, and deeply transformative by translating sound into diagnosis, and paperwork into smart automation.
