Freo2 Foundation

What Freo2 Foundation does

FREO2 Foundation is an Australian-registered non-profit (ABN 48 614 164 224), founded in 2010 by Dr. Bryn Sobott out of the University of Melbourne's Nossal Institute for Global Health, and headquartered in Melbourne. Its functional purpose is to deliver reliable medical oxygen to children in low-resource health facilities where grid power, equipment maintenance, and supply chains are unreliable. The organization designs and deploys an integrated oxygen delivery platform — the Oxylink System — that combines the Oxylink-5 concentrator with an integrated PRIORITISER, the FREO2 Protect power-stabilization unit, the Oxygen Distribution System (ODS), a Stack Lamp status indicator, a Remote Monitoring Unit (FRMU), and the Snorkel nasal filtration adjunct launched in February 2023.

Its commercial model is non-commercial: oxygen treatment is delivered free to patients, and FREO2 funds operations through grants and donations from institutional and government donors including the Gates Foundation, USAID, Grand Challenges Canada, UKAid, KOICA, and Norad. Deployment is direct, with on-site installation and clinical training at government health facilities in partnership with national Ministries of Health in Uganda, Tanzania, and Solomon Islands, and via in-country implementation partners. The core service innovation is "Oxygen as a Service" (O2aaS) — a managed-service model that bundles hardware, power conditioning, remote monitoring, and maintenance into a single deployment, rather than discrete equipment sales. To date, FREO2 has installed more than 150 systems across 79 facilities in Uganda plus additional facilities in Tanzania and Solomon Islands, with cumulative patient throughput reported at 34,789 children treated (Nov 2025).

Name

Freo2 Foundation

Legal name

FREO2 Foundation

Website

https://freo2.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FREO2 Foundation is an Australian non-profit that designs and deploys integrated medical oxygen systems (Oxylink) to government health facilities in Uganda, Tanzania, and Solomon Islands, delivering oxygen free to paediatric patients under an Oxygen-as-a-Service model funded by institutional grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Oxygen Delivery Systems

NAICS

Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510)

SIC

Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845)

akta.pro primary industry

Oxygen Therapy Systems (Concentrators, Cylinders, Liquid O2, HFNC) (HLAHAGAD)

Keywords

• Medical oxygen concentrators
• Oxygen therapy devices
• Neonatal respiratory care
• Low-resource healthcare
• Global health nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Oxygen as a Service (O2aaS): FREO2 operates as a non-profit foundation providing oxygen as a comprehensive service rather than selling products. O2aaS comprises innovative products ensuring uninterrupted oxygen supply, clinical training for timely diagnosis and treatment, and technical training for sustainable maintenance and support. The service model integrates every component needed to ensure a sustainable oxygen supply - equipment, training, and ongoing maintenance. Treatment is provided free to patients at government health facilities, with funding coming from donors, foundations, and government partnerships.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

FREO2 Foundation designs, manufactures, and deploys the FREO2 Oxylink System — an integrated oxygen concentrator with automatic backup-cylinder failover — to healthcare facilities in low-resource settings with unreliable electricity. The foundation operates an Oxygen as a Service (O2aaS) model that bundles the hardware with clinical staff training, technical training, and ongoing maintenance, delivering continuous medical oxygen at no cost to patients at partner government facilities in Uganda, Tanzania, and the Solomon Islands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FREO2 Oxylink System Integrated oxygen delivery system designed for healthcare facilities in low-resource settings with frequent power outages. Combines the Oxylink-5 concentrator, PRIORITISER automatic failover, FREO2 Protect power stabiliser, ODS low-pressure distribution, Stack Lamp status indicator, and FRMU remote monitoring to deliver continuous medical oxygen to patient bedsides. Deployed at government health facilities in Uganda, Tanzania, and the Solomon Islands.
• Oxygen as a Service (O2aaS) Comprehensive managed service integrating the FREO2 Oxylink System with clinical training for timely diagnosis and treatment, technical training for sustainable maintenance, and ongoing remote monitoring and field support. Treatment is delivered free to patients at partner government health facilities, funded by institutional donors and foundations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 35% reduction in pneumonia mortality with access to oxygen therapy
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of MelbournecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe University of Melbourne provides support for research and development. FREO2 was founded by researchers at the University's Nossal Institute for Global Health, and the collaboration continues with ongoing R&D support. The Melbourne Faculty of Science is a leader in scientific research and education.
• Kröber MedizintechnikcoreTechnology or IntegrationManufacturer of FREO2 oxygen systems. The family company has been manufacturing and selling medical devices for the homecare sector since 1981.
• Engineers Without Borders AustraliacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCommunity organisation creating social value through engineering. Focused on developing skills, knowledge, and appropriate engineering solutions since 2003.
• PharmaLexminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading provider of specialized services for the pharmaceutical, biotech and medtech industries. Guides clients from early strategic planning through clinical development, regulatory submission, and post-approval activities.
• SMCcoreTechnology or IntegrationWorld's largest designer and manufacturer of pneumatic components.
• WürthcoreTechnology or IntegrationHigh-quality German tool and material manufacturer developing innovative solutions for drilling, gluing, plugging, anchoring, and screwing.
• SensirioncoreTechnology or IntegrationLeading manufacturer of high-quality sensors and sensor solutions for measurement and control of humidity, and of gas and liquid flows.
• Babies and Mothers Alive (BAMA)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerImplementation partner in Uganda sharing vision of providing quality care to mothers and preventing maternal and newborn deaths. Dr. Dan is Executive Director and Dr. Eleanor is Program Director. Partnership has seen zero deaths due to oxygen shortages or power outages.
• Doris Mollel FoundationcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal partner in Tanzania supporting FREO2 programs. Executive Director Doris Mollel says FREO2's investment in Mafia Island will be 'one of the most remarkable investments that our government will forever cherish'.
• Adara GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner collaborating with FREO2 to improve health outcomes.
• Ministry of Health TanzaniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWizara ya Afya Tanzania collaborated with FREO2 to improve oxygen access on Mafia Island. Dr. Zuberi (DMO) and Dr Kassim S.Ndumbo (District Executive Director) supported implementation.
• Ministry of Health UgandacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFREO2 works closely with Uganda Ministry of Health to classify oxygen as essential medicine and integrate oxygen solutions into national health systems. Clinical Services Commissioner Dr Rony Bahatungire announced plans to make piped oxygen systems mandatory at Health Centre IIIs and IIs.
• Ministry of Health & Medical Services Solomon IslandscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner ministry supporting FREO2 programs across the Pacific island nation.
• Every Breath Counts CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition advocating for oxygen access as a healthcare priority. Leith Greenslade, Founder & CEO of JustActions and Coordinator of Every Breath Counts, works to raise awareness and drive policy change.
• Clinton Health Access InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal health organization supporting FREO2's mission to improve oxygen access.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Assist International: Non-profit that delivers oxygen and medical equipment solutions to hospitals in low- and middle-income countries, including oxygen concentrator programs in sub-Saharan Africa. Comparable mission, geographic focus, and integrated equipment-plus-training service model.
• Hewatele: Kenyan social enterprise that produces and distributes medical oxygen to hospitals in East Africa using both pressure swing adsorption plants and cylinder distribution. Directly comparable to FREO2 as an East Africa-based oxygen delivery organization with focus on reliable supply for underserved health facilities.
• Lifebox: Global non-profit working to make surgery and anesthesia safer in low-resource settings, distributing pulse oximeters and other clinical equipment with training and maintenance support. Comparable in non-profit model, low-resource hospital focus, integrated equipment-plus-training approach, and global health funding base.
• Gradian Health Systems: Non-profit social enterprise that designs, manufactures, and supplies anesthesia machines and other medical equipment engineered for low-resource hospitals in Africa and Asia. Directly comparable to FREO2 in mission (resilient medical devices for low-resource settings), training-plus-equipment service model, and target market of ministries of health.

Broad incumbents

• Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI): Global health organization that works with governments to expand access to oxygen and other essential medicines in low- and middle-income countries. Already a FREO2 partner; comparable in oxygen market-shaping work but operates at country policy and procurement level rather than direct equipment delivery.
• UNICEF Supply Division: UN agency that procures and distributes medical oxygen equipment and supplies to low- and middle-income countries, including oxygen concentrators and pulse oximeters. Comparable in target customer base (ministries of health in LMICs) and product category, but operates at procurement scale rather than field deployment.
• PATH: Large global health non-profit that develops and deploys medical devices, diagnostics, and oxygen solutions across low-resource settings at significant scale. Comparable in mission and oxygen programs, but operates across a much broader portfolio (vaccines, diagnostics, digital health) rather than specializing in oxygen delivery.
• Direct Relief: Large humanitarian medical aid organization that supplies medicines, medical equipment, and oxygen supplies to health facilities in low-resource and disaster-affected settings. Comparable in non-profit mission and global health focus, but operates across many medical categories rather than specializing in oxygen.

Regional players

• Oxygen for Life Initiative (OLI) / Kenya-based oxygen programs: African non-profit and program operator focused on expanding medical oxygen access in East Africa. Comparable mission and regional footprint to FREO2's Uganda and Tanzania operations, with overlapping ministry-of-health and facility relationships.

Emerging players

• AirSep / CAIRE Inc. Manufacturer of stationary and portable oxygen concentrators used globally in clinical and home-care settings, including supply to humanitarian programs. Comparable as a concentrator manufacturer in the same product category as FREO2 Oxylink-5, but operates as a commercial enterprise with broader market focus.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/freo2_au
• Facebookfacebook.com/freo2au

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Freo2 Foundation