Maternity Foundation

What Maternity Foundation does

Maternity Foundation is a Danish non-profit international development organization, founded in 2005 and headquartered in Copenhagen, that builds digital and in-person training tools to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. Its core product is the Safe Delivery App, a free mobile application for midwives and other frontline healthcare professionals that delivers evidence-based, peer-reviewed clinical guidance on obstetric and neonatal emergencies, alongside the Safe Delivery+ Programme which combines app-based learning with hands-on mentoring. The platform has reached more than 500,000 healthcare professionals across 70+ countries and supports content in 30+ languages, with offline functionality designed for low-connectivity settings.

The underlying technology stack centers on a smartphone application supported by an in-app learning management system, with content co-developed with the University of Copenhagen, Johns Hopkins, and UNFPA/UNICEF partners, and extended by an AI-enabled smartbot called NeMa that was piloted in India in 2023–2024 in partnership with Neuvo Inc. and benshi.ai. Distribution is direct-to-user via app stores and is also driven by national-level integration of the curriculum into pre-service midwifery training and by partnerships with government health authorities. The product has expanded beyond intrapartum emergency care into modules covering gestational diabetes, postnatal care, and perinatal mental health.

The organization is funded primarily through institutional grants rather than commercial revenue. Major disclosed funders include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Government of Denmark, the Novo Nordisk Foundation, and the World Diabetes Foundation; corporate partners include Laerdal, GN, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, and Gnosis by Lesaffre. The go-to-market is partnership-led: scale is built by embedding the solution into national health systems and donor-funded programs rather than by direct sales.

Name

Maternity Foundation

Legal name

Maternity Foundation

Website

https://maternity.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Maternity Foundation is a Danish non-profit NGO founded in 2005 that develops the Safe Delivery App and Safe Delivery+ Programme to train midwives and frontline healthcare professionals in low- and middle-income countries, reaching 500,000+ users across 70+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maternal and Newborn Health Digital Solutions

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Social Assistance (624), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Pregnancy & Prenatal Care Telehealth (OB tele-visits, prenatal monitoring) (HLALAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Maternal & Neonatal Remote Monitoring Platforms (HLACAFAC), Postpartum & Newborn Care Telehealth (postpartum check-ins, newborn guidance) (HLALAHAD), Maternal Mental Health Telehealth (perinatal anxiety/depression, support programs) (HLALAHAH), Contraception & Family Planning Telehealth (birth control, counseling, follow-up) (HLALAHAB)

Keywords

• Maternal health training
• Digital health solutions
• Midwifery capacity building
• Mobile health applications
• Global health programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Copenhagen

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grants and Donations: Maternity Foundation is a non-profit NGO. Revenue comes primarily through grants from foundations (Gates Foundation, Novo Nordisk Foundation, World Diabetes Foundation), government funding (Government of Denmark, GIZ), corporate partnerships (Gnosis by Lesaffre, Ferring Pharmaceuticals), and individual donations (MobilePay, bank transfer, US donations via maternityus.org).
2. Strategic Partnerships: Global Maternity Partners programme - strategic philanthropists that contribute not only funding but also essential knowledge, skills, and network to support scaling work globally.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Maternity Foundation develops and distributes the Safe Delivery App, a free evidence-based mobile job aid and microlearning tool for midwives and other healthcare professionals in low-resource settings. The App works offline once downloaded, is available in 30+ language and country versions, and is delivered alongside the Safe Delivery+ Programme - a Training-of-Trainers cascade curriculum combining competency-based training, certification, and integration into national health system curricula across 70+ low- and middle-income countries.

Product overview

Maternity Foundation operates a platform-plus-modules product architecture centered on its Safe Delivery+ Programme. The core offering consists of the Safe Delivery App—a free, evidence-based mobile application that functions offline and supports midwives in providing maternal and newborn care. The App serves as the digital backbone, while the broader Safe Delivery+ Programme provides competency-based training, certification pathways, and implementation support. The App contains multiple clinical modules including Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care, Antenatal Care, Postnatal Care, Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Perinatal Mental Health, Modern Contraception, Safe Abortion, COVID-19, and Normal Labour and Birth. Additional offerings include the LUCY SMS service for pregnant women and the 10 Million Safer Births Initiative. The product portfolio has expanded from an initial focus on emergency care to a more holistic, preventive approach encompassing the full continuum of maternal healthcare.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Safe Delivery App: Evidence-based job aid, training and microlearning tool designed to support midwives and other healthcare professionals in providing quality preventive, routine, and emergency care during pregnancy, birth and postpartum.
• Safe Delivery+ Programme
• 10 Million Safer Births Initiative

Products and services

• Safe Delivery App A free, evidence-based mobile application and microlearning tool designed to support midwives and healthcare professionals in providing quality preventive, routine, and emergency maternal and newborn care. Works offline once downloaded and is available in 30+ language and country-specific versions covering emergency obstetric and newborn care, antenatal care, postnatal care, gestational diabetes, perinatal mental health, contraception, safe abortion, COVID-19, and normal labour.
• Safe Delivery+ Programme A comprehensive capacity-building programme combining competency-based training with the Safe Delivery App as a practical job aid and microlearning tool. Includes Training-of-Trainers cascade approaches, certification pathways for healthcare professionals, and integration into national health system curricula in low-resource settings.
• LUCY SMS Service An SMS-based health information service for pregnant women and new mothers providing health information and enabling connection to health systems throughout pregnancy and early childhood. Originally launched in Ethiopia.
• 10 Million Safer Births Initiative A flagship maternal health initiative implemented through UNFPA's Maternal and Newborn Health Fund, aiming to ensure 10 million safer births across Sub-Saharan Africa by end of 2030. First phase targets Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Tanzania.

Quantifiable outcome

• 77% of midwives in Tajikistan report improved obstetric knowledge; 79% report increased confidence; 98% confirm stronger clinical decision-making
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Gnosis by LesaffrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 December 2025Multi-year partnership to expand preventive focus in maternal health. Core focus is accelerated rollout of antenatal care module within Safe Delivery App and expanding hands-on antenatal care training.
• UNFPAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2025Partnership with UNFPA for the 10 Million Safer Births Initiative under patronage of HM Queen Mary of Denmark. First phase targets Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Tanzania. Initiative aims to ensure 10 million safer births across Sub-Saharan Africa by end of 2030.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership to launch national versions of Safe Delivery App for Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan under the regional project 'Improving Mother and Child Health in Central Asia'. Includes training cascade programmes.
• International Confederation of Midwives (ICM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership with ICM and Direct Relief to support midwives in safeguarding women and newborns from climate-related impacts. Global partnership to strengthen midwives' capacity.
• Direct ReliefmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership with ICM and Direct Relief announced to support midwives in protecting mothers and newborns from climate-related risks.
• World Diabetes FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) training module in Safe Delivery App in India. Piloted in clinics across selected districts of Madhya Pradesh, reaching 16,700 users with GDM module.
• Ferring PharmaceuticalsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership to prevent excessive bleeding after birth (postpartum haemorrhage), one of the leading causes of maternal mortality.
• Neuvo IncmajorTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2023Collaboration to develop AI-based NeMa smartbot, piloted in India in 2023. Provides faster, high-quality AI-powered support for midwives.
• UNFPA JordanmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2022Implementation partner for Safe Delivery+ programme in Jordan, including training in Al Za'atari Camp and integration into national SRH coordination.
• Jordan Health Aid Society – International (JHASi)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2022Implementation partner in Jordan for Safe Delivery+ programme, hosting workshops and supporting knowledge exchange.
• Danish Red CrossmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2022Implementation partner for Safe Delivery+ programme in MENA region (Jordan, Iraq, Syria).
• Iraqi Red Crescent SocietymajorOthers · 1 January 2022Implementation partner in Iraq. Has integrated Safe Delivery App into maternal health programming.
• Laerdal Global HealthmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partnership to support and scale Safe Delivery App globally. Laerdal is a leading provider of solutions for healthcare training.
• JhpiegomajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2018Implementation partner for Safe Delivery App launch in India (Hindi version) and various other countries. Technical support for integration.
• Aastrika FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Due to collaboration with Aastrika, a learning experience with content from Safe Delivery App has been integrated into their digital learning platform 'Aastrika Sphere'. Also partnered for e-learning platform for nurses across India with India Nursing Council.
• Five universities in EthiopiamajorOthers · 1 January 2018Partnership with five universities in Ethiopia to make Safe Delivery App part of the curriculum in midwifery schools.
• Ethiopian Midwives AssociationcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2016Long-term partnership for implementing Safe Delivery App in Ethiopia. Collaborating on CPD accredited courses based on Safe Delivery App modules.
• University of CopenhagenmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Partnership for developing and testing innovative mobile health technologies. Clinical trial of Safe Delivery App in Ethiopia conducted in cooperation with University of Copenhagen and University of Southern Denmark.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Laerdal Global Health: Laerdal Global Health is a non-profit that develops low-cost simulation and training tools (e.g., MamaBirthie, MamaNatalie) for maternal and newborn care in low-resource settings, and is a long-standing Maternity Foundation partner. Both organisations target the same frontline birth attendant segment with complementary digital and physical training products.
• Jhpiego: Jhpiego is an international non-profit affiliated with Johns Hopkins that designs and implements maternal, newborn, and reproductive health programmes in 40+ countries. It is both a Maternity Foundation implementation partner (India, Ethiopia) and a direct peer in the maternal-health capacity-building space.
• D-tree International: D-tree International develops digital clinical decision-support and training apps for community health workers in low-resource settings across Africa and Asia. It is a close direct peer in mobile health tooling for frontline maternal and child health workers.
• AMREF Health Africa: AMREF Health Africa is a large African-led NGO focused on training community health workers, with deep maternal and newborn health programming. It is highly comparable to Maternity Foundation in target audience (midwives, frontline workers) and operating geography (Sub-Saharan Africa).
• Pathfinder International: Pathfinder International is a global sexual and reproductive health and rights organisation delivering family planning, maternal health, and contraception programmes in 15+ LMICs. Its contraceptive and reproductive health focus closely mirrors Maternity Foundation's Modern Contraception and Safe Abortion modules.
• IntraHealth International: IntraHealth International works on health workforce development, including digital training and capacity-building for midwives and frontline workers in low-resource settings. Its mandate on building health-worker capacity directly overlaps Maternity Foundation's Safe Delivery+ training model.

Broad incumbents

• Save the Children: Save the Children operates a large global maternal, newborn, and child health portfolio across 100+ countries with substantial funding from major institutional donors. It is a broader incumbent that overlaps with Maternity Foundation's maternal health work but at a much larger scale and scope.
• UNFPA: UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, a core Maternity Foundation partner and co-implementer of the 10 Million Safer Births Initiative. It is the dominant institutional incumbent in maternal health globally and a key channel partner for Safe Delivery App rollouts.
• Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI): CHAI works to save lives and reduce the burden of disease in low- and middle-income countries, with growing focus on maternal and newborn health alongside its core HIV, malaria, and vaccine work. It is a broad incumbent in global health implementation with overlapping donor funder ecosystem.

Emerging players

• Concept Foundation: Concept Foundation is a Geneva-based non-profit focused on improving access to sexual and reproductive health commodities and training in LMICs. It overlaps with Maternity Foundation on contraception and maternal health training in low-resource settings, but at smaller scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/maternityf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Maternity Foundation