Helpful Engineering

What Helpful Engineering does

Helpful Engineering is a registered US 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, founded in March 2020 in response to COVID-19-related PPE and medical equipment shortages. The organization operates as an open-source community incubator that mobilizes a global network of more than 20,000 volunteer engineers, scientists, makers, and professionals to develop and openly distribute humanitarian engineering solutions. Its portfolio spans personal protective equipment (Origami Face Shield, UVisor, OpenShield, MakerMask), medical devices (RespiraWorks ventilator, OpenVent-Bristol, Apollo Oxygen Concentrator, Tetra Ventilator Splitter, Open Source 3D-Printed Nasopharyngeal Swab), digital platforms (Reach4Help mutual aid platform, CoVital vitals monitoring app, Manufacturer Database, Project Data), and modular origami-based field systems (FlexContain, FlexTriage, FlexClean, FlexSleep, CleanAir Retrofit Kit, Helpful Water). Projects are released under CERN 2.0 Permissive (hardware), Apache 2.0 (software), and Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (documentation) licenses, with designs distributed freely via GitHub, Google Drive, and Airtable for local manufacture.

The organization's technology stack spans distributed manufacturing methods including 3D printing, laser cutting, injection molding, and CNC, as well as web and mobile applications supporting volunteer coordination and remote patient monitoring. Notable partners include Sandia National Laboratories (UVisor validation), CITRIS and the Banatao Institute (RespiraWorks grant), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (CoVital algorithm development), Hospitalito Atitlán (Guatemala ventilator deployment), and ATOR Labs (MakerMask testing). The platform serves healthcare providers, underserved and crisis-affected communities, community health organizations, and vulnerable populations, with demonstrated reach across the United States, France, Guatemala, Kyrgyzstan, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Portugal.

Helpful Engineering does not sell products; all designs are distributed at no cost. Revenue is generated exclusively through tax-deductible donations accepted via PayPal and Open Collective, project-specific grants, and merchandise sales from the Helpful SWAG Store. The organization is led by CEO James Butler, Chief Risk Officer Amish Chadha, and Chief Operating Officer Rob Elkin, with program-level leadership across multiple verticals. In 2025, Helpful Engineering formalized a Challenge Development Framework, launched Helpful Innovation Labs, introduced the Infectious Disease Challenge, and entered formal review for UN Global Compact membership, signaling a strategic evolution from ad-hoc pandemic response toward structured, UN SDG-aligned global innovation programming.

Name

Helpful Engineering

Legal name

Helpful Engineering

Website

https://helpfulengineering.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Helpful Engineering is a US 501(c)(3) nonprofit that mobilizes a global network of 20,000+ volunteer engineers to develop and openly distribute humanitarian engineering solutions. The organization produces open-source PPE, medical devices, digital platforms, and modular field systems for healthcare providers, crisis-affected communities, and vulnerable populations worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Open-Source Engineering

NAICS

Engineering Services (541330), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Other Specialized Design Services (54149)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Engineering Design & Project-Based Learning Programs (EDAMADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Assistive, Biomedical & Human-Centered Engineering Programs (EDAMADAL), Reliability, Safety & Risk Engineering (RAMS/PSM) Consulting (BPAHAIAK)

Keywords

• Open-source hardware
• Humanitarian engineering
• Medical device design
• Volunteer innovation platform
• Nonprofit engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Registered US 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that accepts tax-deductible donations to fund operations, prototyping, testing, and distribution of open-source humanitarian solutions. Donations can be made via PayPal and Open Collective.
2. Swag Store: Helpful SWAG Store selling merchandise where proceeds support project prototyping and mission visibility.
3. Project-Specific Funding: Project-specific funding opportunities through Open Collective platform supporting teams and initiatives directly.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Helpful Engineering operates as an open innovation hub that mobilizes a 20,000+ volunteer community of engineers, scientists, and makers to develop open-source humanitarian engineering solutions. It produces freely distributed, field-tested designs for personal protective equipment (face shields, UV helmets, respirators), medical devices (ventilators, oxygen concentrators, diagnostic swabs), modular origami-based field systems (isolation pods, triage bays, decontamination stations), and digital platforms (mutual aid apps, vital-signs measurement apps, manufacturer databases). All outputs are released under CERN 2.0, Apache 2.0, and Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licenses for local manufacture and adaptation.

Product overview

Helpful Engineering is a registered US 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating as an open-source community incubator that organizes volunteer engineers, scientists, and makers worldwide to develop and deploy emerging engineering solutions. The portfolio spans multiple product categories: personal protective equipment (Origami Face Shield, Baseball Cap Face Visor, UVisor, OpenShield, MaskMate); medical devices (RespiraWorks ventilator, OpenVent-Bristol, ARMEE Emergency Ventilator, Apollo Oxygen Concentrator, Tetra Ventilator Splitter, Tetra PAPRa, Tetra Fitra, Open Source 3D-Printed Nasopharyngeal Swab, HeatCheck); diagnostic tools (CoVital app, PathoPrint DIY PCR); digital platforms (Reach4Help web app, Manufacturer Database, ScanAlert, ComAlert, Project Data, VentOS, MARLEy); sanitation systems (CleanLoop sanitizer stations); and modular origami-based field systems (FlexContain, FlexTriage, FlexClean, FlexSleep, CleanAir Retrofit Kit, Helpful Water). Projects are released under CERN 2.0 Permissive (hardware), Apache 2.0 (software), and Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (documentation) licenses. The organization coordinates work through GitHub repositories and Slack communities, with projects addressing healthcare, supply chain, agriculture, water, energy, and infrastructure aligned to UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Reach4Help: A platform to fulfill the needs of quarantined people in need by connecting them with volunteer networks
• RespiraWorks
• UVisor
• Origami Face Shield
• Baseball Cap Face Visor
• CoVital
• OpenShield
• ScanAlert
• HeatCheck
• PathoPrint
• ComAlert
• CleanLoop
• MaskMate
• FlexContain Origami System
• Helpful Water
• CleanAir Retrofit Kit
• FlexTriage Origami Bay
• FlexClean Origami Decon Station
• FlexSleep Origami Patient Pod

Products and services

• Origami Face Shield Low-cost disposable face shield made entirely of PET, producible for $0.55-$0.88 per unit, shipped flat for fast delivery, designed for local and mass production as PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic. Deployed to healthcare facilities for iterative feedback.
• Baseball Cap Face Visor Face visor repurposing common baseball caps with injection-molded fasteners and die-cut visors, producible for under £4.00 (~$5.00), with reusable components that can be sterilized.
• UVisor The world's first full-face, filterless UV-based protection helmet with positive air pressure, featuring a concealed ultraviolet light chamber achieving >99% efficiency (tested by Sandia National Laboratories against MS2 surrogate virus), USB charging, 6-hour battery life, and reusable decontamination via standard disinfectant wipes.
• RespiraWorks Ventilator Open-source ventilator project developing affordable, easy-to-build ventilators for low-resource communities, designed for long-term use with lung-protective adaptive ventilation strategies rather than temporary bridging solutions. Planned for manufacturing and deployment in Guatemala with Hospitalito Atitlán as a partner hospital.
• Manufacturer Database A searchable database listing over 5,000 volunteers and manufacturers with capabilities in 3D printing, injection molding, laser cutting, and CNC, designed to connect local manufacturers with healthcare organizations needing PPE during supply shortages.
• Reach4Help A web application connecting quarantined and high-risk individuals with verified volunteers and organizations, featuring an interactive global mutual aid map and multi-language support with direct messaging capabilities. Available on iOS and Android as well as web.
• CoVital A mobile app that uses smartphone cameras and machine learning algorithms to measure blood oxygen saturation and pulse rate, enabling individuals to self-monitor COVID-19 symptoms at home and share data with healthcare providers via telemedicine.
• FlexContain Origami System Rapidly deployable origami-based containment and isolation units that pack flat, deploy in minutes, and scale with need, designed for outbreak and emergency settings where isolation capacity is constrained.
• Helpful Water Modular water solutions designed for reliability and adaptability in crisis environments, focusing on simplicity, maintainability, and resilience with minimal dependence on complex infrastructure.
• CleanAir Retrofit Kit Add-on kit reimagining existing fans and duct systems as platforms for improved filtration and air treatment, designed for fast installation and easy maintenance in settings where full system replacements are not feasible.
• FlexTriage Origami Bay Rapidly deployable intake and assessment zones with clear spatial cues and flexible setup, designed to support organized decision-making during outbreaks, mass casualty events, and sudden healthcare surges.
• FlexClean Origami Decon Station Standardized, repeatable decontamination workflow station reducing healthcare worker exposure risk during PPE removal, featuring embedded visual cues and logical sequencing with fast assembly and easy cleaning in austere conditions.
• FlexSleep Origami Patient Pod Lightweight, foldable patient pods creating micro-boundaries within existing spaces, balancing airflow, visibility, and protection while maintaining patient dignity and improving rest without permanent structures.
• Tetra PAPRa Open-source powered air-purifying respirator developed by Tetra Bio Distributed, using a fan and filter in an airtight box to pull clean air through a hose to a face mask, designed to prevent carbon dioxide rebreathing during extended healthcare worker use.
• Tetra Ventilator Splitter Four-way ventilator splitter extending a single ventilator's capacity to treat up to four patients simultaneously.
• Tetra Fitra Fitment device dramatically improving the fit of common flat fold N95 masks, shown in a published study to reduce healthcare worker community transmission to 0.27% compared to 5.5-7.7% at other hospitals.
• MakerMask Science-driven DIY mask research and design initiative providing trusted guidance on mask materials, designs, and usage with quantitative breathability testing via ATOR Labs using ISO 16900 and NIOSH methodologies.
• Open Drone Delivery Open-source drone delivery system project developing VTOL (Vertical TakeOff and Landing) aircraft for efficiently delivering medication over long distances, built from scratch to meet criteria for easy manufacturing and worldwide deployment.
• Open Source 3D-Printed Nasopharyngeal Swab Open-source 3D-printed swab design for COVID-19 testing, producible with low resources such as a $100 3D printer using FDM technology and soft PLA filament.
• Infectious Disease Challenge Global call to action focused on developing open-source Class I biomedical tools and community health innovations including outbreak alert systems, DIY diagnostic tools, low-cost medical devices, and PPE, supported by a corresponding fundraising campaign on Open Collective.
• OpenShield Flat-pack face shields designed for essential workers as part of the Infectious Disease Challenge portfolio.
• ScanAlert Privacy-first self-screening and local outbreak alert application designed for offline-capable operation in low-connectivity environments.
• HeatCheck Contactless thermometer for public screening as part of the open-source infectious disease solution portfolio.
• PathoPrint DIY PCR units for bioscience education and local testing, enabling molecular diagnostics in resource-limited settings.
• ComAlert SMS-based health alerts for rural and low-connectivity areas, enabling health communication without requiring internet access.
• CleanLoop Foot-pump sanitizer refill stations made from locally sourced materials for community hand hygiene in areas with limited infrastructure.
• MaskMate Fit-test indicators for improving cloth mask safety, helping users verify proper mask fit without specialized equipment.
• OpenVent-Bristol Open-source ventilator design developed by U.K. volunteers, described as invaluable in crises and for healthcare systems with limited equipment.
• Apollo Oxygen Concentrator Open-source oxygen concentrator inspired by the Apollo-13 crew's problem-solving, designed so anyone can build one for COVID-19 response.
• ARMEE Emergency Ventilator Emergency ventilator intended for medical professionals needing ventilation options during COVID-19 crisis situations.
• Open Standard Respirator (OSR) Collaborative respirator mask project (OSR-M1) serving as an alternative to elastomeric face-fitting N95 respirators.
• VentOS Volunteer coordination system supporting open-source ventilator groups through shared resources, documentation, and collaborative development.
• MARLEy Augmented reality educational tool addressing student lack of hands-on learning caused by COVID-19 school closures.
• Project Data Location-specific predictability modeling system combining centralized databases with demand prediction modeling to prevent medical supply shortages during and beyond pandemics.

Quantifiable outcome

• Origami Face Shield production cost of $0.55-$0.88 per unit enabling mass deployment at scale
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and key.

• SafecastsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSafecast's licensing structure served as inspiration and reference for Helpful Engineering's own licensing guide, providing a model for open-source hardware and software licensing frameworks.
• Hospitalito AtitlánkeyImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGuatemala-based hospital partner for RespiraWorks ventilator deployment. Planned manufacturing in Guatemala followed by local use at the hospital for low-resource community healthcare.
• Sandia National LaboratorieskeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducted independent testing of UVisor UV chamber achieving >99% efficiency against MS2 surrogate virus, validating the helmet's effectiveness for pathogen inactivation.
• AnsyssupportingTechnology or IntegrationSimulation software partner for UVisor project providing engineering simulation capabilities for product design and development.
• Emory UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner contributing to UVisor project development, bringing research and clinical expertise to the open-source PPE initiative.
• PorexsupportingTechnology or IntegrationMaterials partner for UVisor project providing specialized filtration and porous materials expertise for UV chamber and air filtration components.
• Stanley ElectricsupportingTechnology or IntegrationLighting technology partner contributing UV and LED expertise for UVisor's ultraviolet sterilization chamber design.
• ATOR LabskeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlorida-based testing facility providing ISO 16900 and NIOSH methodology testing for MakerMask prototypes, demonstrating breathability performance for homemade masks.
• Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerScientific research partner for CoVital project developing algorithms to translate smartphone camera data into blood oxygen saturation and heart rate measurements.
• AEISECsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational youth organization partner for Reach4Help volunteer coordination, providing background-checked volunteer networks across multiple countries.
• FeedFolks LAsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMutual aid organization partner for Reach4Help in Los Angeles, contributing volunteer coordination and community outreach for quarantined individuals.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Field Ready: Nonprofit that designs and manufactures humanitarian relief items in or near disaster zones using local labor and digital fabrication. Comparable mission (locally-manufacturable humanitarian engineering) with a more paid-staff, narrower geographic operating model.
• Engineering for Change (E4C): Established global community of engineers developing solutions for underserved communities, with active programs in WASH, energy, and health. Overlaps on humanitarian engineering scope but emphasizes knowledge-sharing and case study publication rather than deployable hardware IP.
• Concern Worldwide: Established international humanitarian organization working in emergencies and long-term development across food security, health, and livelihoods. Relevant as a potential deployment partner or competing applicant for the same institutional grant pools Helpful is targeting with its SDG-aligned work.
• Médecins Sans Frontières Foundation (MSF): Major humanitarian medical NGO with deep field networks, MSF Foundation funds innovation programs for medical devices in low-resource settings. Represents the institutional counterpart — incumbent humanitarian medical organization that could absorb or partner with Helpful's health vertical.

Direct peers

• Safecast: Open-source, volunteer-driven community deploying citizen-built environmental monitoring hardware worldwide. Explicitly cited by Helpful Engineering as the inspiration for its own licensing framework — a benchmark peer with a longer track record in open-source humanitarian instrumentation.
• Open Source Medical Supplies: COVID-era volunteer coalition that crowdsourced open-source PPE and medical equipment designs. Nearly identical founding context (pandemic response) and operating model to Helpful Engineering's earliest projects, making it the most direct same-era peer.
• Open Source Ecology: Open-source, distributed-manufacturing community developing the Global Village Construction Set of 50 industrial machines for civilization rebuilding. Shares the open-source + distributed-manufacturing ethos that Helpful Engineering applies to humanitarian hardware.
• e-NABLE: Global volunteer community producing open-source 3D-printed prosthetic and assistive devices for underserved populations. Closest structural parallel: volunteer-led, distributed-manufacturing, open-source humanitarian engineering community organized around challenge-based projects.
• RespiraWorks: Open-source ventilator nonprofit actually incubated within Helpful Engineering; comparable as a stand-alone organization developing clinical-grade Class I medical hardware via volunteer engineering with rigorous testing.

Emerging players

• MakerMask / Project Ovid: Science-driven DIY mask initiative that was a Helpful Engineering project but operates semi-independently with its own non-profit status. Comparable as a focused open-source respirator/PPE testing effort with quantitative validation methodology.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/helpfuleng
• GitHubgithub.com/helpfulengineering
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/helpful-engineering
• Facebookfacebook.com/HelpfulEngineering
• Instagraminstagram.com/helpfulengineering
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCv8TKb8ISZLzqiod0lVpkWQ

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

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 Helpful Engineering