We believe a more human approach to care is possible with the right technology
Our mission
Putting nurses and patients back at the heart of care
In a world flooded with different digital healthcare solutions, we believe in making care simpler, more accesible, and human-centred. Our mission is to put nurses and patients back at the heart of every solution; without leaving technology behind.
Born in Estonia, one of the world’s leading countries in digital health and digitalisation, CoNurse’s mission is to standardise protocols and streamline workflows, improving nurses’ burnout levels and patient safety, giving them the time and clarity they need to deliver high-quality care.
At CoNurse, we’re driven by one guiding principle: technology should empower care, not complicate it. Every tool we create is designed to support staff, improve outcomes, and make healthcare safer, more coordinated, and more human.
Our story
Technology should empower care, not complicate it
CoNurse was born after a tragic, all-too-common incident during a routine procedure: a blood transfusion, where a patient died due to preventable gaps in communication and workflow.
Determined to make care safer, more consistent, and human-centred, we set out to create a solution that empowers nurses, supports decision-making, and keeps patients safe.
Combining practical technology with a deep understanding of clinical workflows, CoNurse helps hospitals standardise protocols, track patient evolution, and close the care loop across teams, making preventable errors up to 20% far less likely.
During our journey, we have had the chance to team up with leading institutions, including:
Enterprise Estonia (EIS)
EIT Health
Medical Valley
North Estonia Medical Centre
Bamberger Akademien – Skills Lab
These collaborations ensure our solutions are not only technically robust but also designed for the people who use them every day.
Meet our team
We take immense pride in our team of nine individuals, each a true expert in their respective fields, with diverse backgrounds that blend expertise in healthcare, technology, and business.
Andres Mellik
CEO and Co-Founder
Andres Mellik, Cognuse‘s founder and CEO, boasts over 20 years of experience in e-learning, embedded systems design, and serious/educational games.
He founded Juku Lab LLC, an e-learning company at the age of 24 and worked with the earliest standards in e-learning (SCORM 1.2/2004, xAPI).
Andres holds BSc/MSc from Tallinn University of Technology and M.Eng. from the University of Lugano. Additionally, he has completed research terms at UEC, Tokyo and UC San Diego in California.
Andres is a long-term member of the IEEE as well as the founding member of the Sleep Technology Council under the National Sleep Foundation in the USA.
Karmen Markov
CPO and Co-Founder
Karmen has a strong background in neuroscience and medical technology, complemented by expertise in data science and machine learning.
She specializes in translating complex scientific concepts into actionable digital health solutions.
Karmen holds a BSc degree in Neuroscience from King’s College London and a Master’s in Health Sciences and Technology at ETH Zürich, with a focus on sleep monitoring wearables, signal processing and machine learning.
Her research experience spans neurodegeneration imaging, working with London Neurodegenerative Diseases Brain Bank and wearable technology.
Jürgen Järvik
Content Logic Expert
Jürgen leads the content development for CoNurse. He is responsible for the language and the logic of the text of the procedures.
Standing at the junction between the developers, the content experts and the end users, he makes sure that the content grows out naturally from the technical logic of the application, follows pedagogic requirements as well as reflects in detail the practical conditions in which it is going to be used.
As an instructional designer he has been a co-author of a number of e-learning courses for several international organizations, including the NATO CCD COE, OSCE, Frontex and many others. His mission is to make learning easy, effective and appealing.
David Moreno
Marketing
David is a dedicated professional with a background in marketing, tourism and trade fairs, bringing understanding of diverse audiences and cultures.
Having spent several years in the tourism sector and promoting destinations at international fairs, David gained extensive insights and experience in consumer behaviour.
His combined experience allows him to transform complex healthcare concepts into clear, accessible messaging to reach and bridge the gap between healthcare professionals and the audience.
Merike Liiva
UX/UI Design
Merike Liiva, a UX/UI designer, has specialized in healthtech design, merging data, psychology, and design thinking in her work.
Educated at prestigious institutions like Parsons and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Merike blends scientific principles with creativity in her designs.
Her bachelor’s project in healthtech design was recognised by the Estonian Research Council and the Estonian Academy of Arts, showcasing her ability to combine functionality while addressing healthcare challenges.
Andrew Menard
Chief Advisor
Andrew R. Menard, JD, is the chief administrative officer of radiology for the Johns Hopkins Health System in Baltimore, Maryland.
Working with the chair of radiology, Menard’s mission is to integrate technical and professional radiology across the Johns Hopkins Health System.
Menard received his law degree cum laude from Harvard Law School. He studied economics at Georgetown University, School of Foreign Service, where he received a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, and was the recipient of the William Notz Medal for Economics.
Developing solutions with nurses, for nurses: Insights from the frontline
At CoNurse, we develop our solutions in collaboration with nursing professionals from North Estonia Medical Centre, Tartu University Hospital, Ida-Viru Central Hospital, and nursing students from Bamberg Sozialstiftung.
Our team of members range from junior to senior nurses and nursing managers, providing valuable insights into nursing practices and frontline challenges.