RespiraWorks

What RespiraWorks does

RespiraWorks is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2020 in Berkeley, California, and organized as a Nevada nonprofit corporation. The organization designs open-source, low-cost ventilators and Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPRs) intended for communities underserved by the global medical supply chain, with primary target users being hospitals and healthcare workers in developing countries including India, Guatemala, Brazil, Tunisia, and Turkey. The ventilator supports advanced modes including Pressure Regulated Volume Control (PRVC), dual flow sensing, closed-loop oxygen concentration control from 21% to 100%, and altitude compensation, built around a custom Ventilator Mainboard PCB with C++/QML firmware running on Raspberry Pi. The PAPR uses P100 filters with documented 99.92-99.97% filtration efficiency, runs 20+ hours on standard USB-C battery packs, and is offered in wearable belt or shoulder-strap configurations. Both products are published as complete open-source designs on GitHub, with bills of materials, 3D models, assembly instructions, and self-contained deployment scripts.

The organization is volunteer-driven, with over 100 volunteers drawn from Stanford, Caltech, Harvard Medical School, MIT, and universities worldwide, including respiratory therapists, pulmonologists, critical care doctors, and engineers. RespiraWorks has no commercial product revenue; its funding model relies on tax-deductible charitable donations, a merchandise shop, and institutional grants, with disclosed grant funding totaling approximately $70,000 from CITRIS/Banatao Institute ($50,000) and Protocol Labs ($20,000). Distribution is achieved through partnerships with regional manufacturers - principally FoundryM in India with AMTZ and Andhra Pradesh government support - rather than direct sales, and the organization is pursuing ISO-13485 regulatory compliance to enable formal medical device certification. In October 2020, RespiraWorks merged with BostonVent, combining engineering, physician, and regulatory expertise.

Name

RespiraWorks

Legal name

RespiraWorks

Website

https://respira.works

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

RespiraWorks is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that designs open-source, low-cost ventilators and Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPRs) for hospitals and healthcare workers in developing countries, distributing designs free via GitHub and through regional manufacturing partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Open-source medical devices (ventilators and respirators)

NAICS

Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing (339112), Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing (339113)

SIC

Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841), Industrial & Commercial Fans & Blowers & Air Purifing Equip (3564)

akta.pro primary industry

Ventilators & Mechanical Ventilation Systems (ICU/Transport/Home) (HLAHAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (Gloves, Masks/Respirators, Gowns, Face Shields) (HLAHANAF), Oxygen Therapy Systems (Concentrators, Cylinders, Liquid O2, HFNC) (HLAHAGAD)

Keywords

• Open-source ventilator
• Powered air-purifying respirator
• Medical device design
• Low-cost respiratory equipment
• ICU ventilator hardware

Headquarters

HQ city

Tulsa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations: As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, RespiraWorks relies on charitable donations from individuals and organizations. Donations are tax-deductible for US donors (EIN 85-0627673). Larger donations can be arranged by direct contact.
2. Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling RespiraWorks branded merchandise including apparel and accessories. Proceeds support ventilator and PAPR design and production.
3. Grants and Funding: RespiraWorks receives grant funding from institutional sources including CITRIS ($50,000), Protocol Labs ($20,000), and participates in innovation challenges with prize money ($1,000 from CoVent-19 Challenge).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

RespiraWorks designs and publishes open-source hardware and software for two medical products: a low-cost, full-featured ICU ventilator capable of Pressure Regulated Volume Control (PRVC) ventilation, and a Powered Air-Purifying Respirator (PAPR) using P100 filters. All designs, bills of materials, assembly instructions, and firmware are released free on GitHub, and the organization enables local manufacturing through regional partners such as FoundryM in India.

Product overview

RespiraWorks is a non-profit organization offering two open-source medical device products: a low-cost, advanced support ventilator capable of Pressure Regulated Volume Control (PRVC) ventilation, and a Powered Air-Purifying Respirator (PAPR) using P100 filters. Both products are designed for accessibility in developing economies and underserved communities, with complete open-source documentation enabling local manufacturing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Swasa: The v0.3 enclosed ventilator prototype developed in collaboration with the India team. Manufacturing design fully documented with self-contained software deployment scripts.

Products and services

• Low-Cost Open-Source Ventilator Full-featured, low-cost ICU ventilator capable of Pressure Regulated Volume Control (PRVC) ventilation with dual flow sensors, oxygen concentration control (21%-100%), altitude compensation, and a 90-minute integrated battery backup. Open-source design released on GitHub with full documentation, 3D models, bills of materials, assembly instructions, and C++/QML software for manufacture in developing economies and low-resource communities.
• Powered Air-Purifying Respirator (PAPR) Low-cost, reusable powered respirator using P100 filters (99.97% filtration) that filters both inhaled and exhaled air. Runs 20+ hours on standard USB-C battery packs, supports waist-belt or shoulder-strap wearable configurations, and includes a polyimide-film speaking diaphragm for clear communication. Open-source design with complete assembly instructions and parts list.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.97% particulate filtration in PAPR design, verified by particle counter testing (ambient 76,500 counts/cm3 reduced to 61.20 counts/cm3)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BostonVentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 October 2020BostonVent merged with RespiraWorks, bringing more than 35 years of combined FDA experience. Their anesthesiologists have extensive experience in ICU and pre-hospital care and are professionally affiliated with Harvard Medical School and MIT. Combined expertise with RespiraWorks' volunteers from Stanford, Caltech, and global universities.
• FoundryMcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2020India-based manufacturing partner for local sourcing and production of ventilators. Accomplished milestones including building first fully-enclosed ventilator (Swasa), revising enclosure design, developing test code, designing customized fittings, achieving oxygen control, and finalizing PCB schematics. Also working on PAPR sourcing and distribution.
• AMTZ (Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and development institution park and medical device incubation center created by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, India. Supporting the India team and FoundryM partnership.
• FogelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommercial refrigeration design, manufacture, and distribution company based in Guatemala City, Guatemala. ISO certified quality program with experience in fabrication, part sourcing, assembly and testing. Preliminary partnership discussions underway for assembly, test, and distribution of RespiraWorks ventilator.
• Newmeyer DillionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLaw firm with offices in Newport Beach, CA, Walnut Creek, CA, and Las Vegas. Provided pro bono legal support for RespiraWorks efforts.
• Southern Utah UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents Jathen Chaffin, Antoine Pautrat, Kobe Potter, and Alessandro Sanchioni redesigned the ventilator blower mount to support four blower models instead of one, making it more adaptable and serviceable. Tested against ISO 80601 standard medical device drop test.
• Sticker MuleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCustom printed products company with free worldwide shipping. Donated stickers to give to donors and supporters for outreach events. Also sponsoring swag for volunteers and donors.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Medtronic: Publicly-traded medical device major whose Puritan Bennett ventilator line became the largest open-source reference design during COVID-19 (via Medtronic's PB560 release). Comparable on ventilator category; Respi­raWorks serves the opposite end of the market — humanitarian/low-cost.
• Dräger (Drägerwerk): Established German manufacturer of ICU ventilators (e.g., Evita, Oxylog) and PPE including PAPRs. Comparable on ventilator and PAPR product overlap but operates as a for-profit incumbent with full regulatory clearances.
• Hamilton Medical: Swiss specialist in high-end mechanical ventilators widely deployed in ICUs globally. Comparable ventilator category but commercial/regulated incumbent, contrasted with RespiraWorks' open-source, low-resource focus.
• 3M (PAPR / Respiratory Protection): Global incumbent in respiratory protection with a Versaflo PAPR line and P100 filter cartridges. Comparable product category (PAPR) but commercial, large-scale, and not open-source; useful as a market benchmark for the PAPR space RespiraWorks serves.
• Honeywell (Personal Safety / PPE): Industrial conglomerate whose Personal Safety division sells North-brand PAPRs and respiratory protection. Comparable PAPR product category, but at commercial scale and not open-source.

Direct peers

• Mechanical Ventilator Milano (MVM): Italian open-source ventilator project that emerged during COVID-19 and released designs publicly to enable local manufacturing worldwide. Closely matched to RespiraWorks on humanitarian mission, open-source distribution model, and rapid-prototyping approach.
• OxVent: University of Oxford / King's College London spin-out that built an open-source, rapidly-deployable ventilator during COVID-19, targeting low- and middle-income countries. Directly comparable to RespiraWorks on mission, open-source ethos, and target market.
• MIT E-Vent (MIT Emergency Ventilator): MIT-led open-source ventilator project that released designs for a low-cost, automated resuscitator-style ventilator during the COVID-19 pandemic. Comparable on open-source academic origin, volunteer-driven development, and pandemic-response positioning.

Others

• PATH (Program for Appropriate Technology in Health): Global health nonprofit that funds and scales appropriate medical technologies for low-resource settings. Relevant ecosystem peer for RespiraWorks given its humanitarian mission, grant-driven funding model, and focus on LMIC deployment partnerships.

Emerging players

• Rice University Open Ventilator Project: Student-led effort at Rice University's Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen to design and share open-source emergency ventilator hardware. Comparable mission and open-source strategy, though smaller in scale than RespiraWorks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• GitHubgithub.com/RespiraWorks
• Xx.com/respiraworks
• Facebookfacebook.com/RespiraWorks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/respiraworks

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RespiraWorks