Medsider

We're taking you back to a few of our favorite conversations with past Medsider guests. First stop, Dr. Asha Parekh, biomedical engineer and CEO of Front Line Medical Technologies Inc., who shares how she tackled early-stage prototyping. Next up, Marcus Gerhardt, a maven in technology disruption and CEO of Blackrock Neurotech, who discusses his innovative model for raising capital. Here’s a sneak peek at two of our exclusive interviews:  𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩 𝐎𝐟𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝: 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐬𝐡𝐚 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐤𝐡, 𝐂𝐄𝐎 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 🎈 How Asha went from prototyping with party balloons to creating the sleek COBRA-OS, a fast and efficient tool to manage trauma in the field. 🏥 The rational and unique approach Asha's team utilized to execute their first-in-human study. 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩𝐬: 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐍𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐂𝐄𝐎 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐆𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐭 💸 Instead of taking VC money, how Marcus funded Blackrock by acquiring existing technology that turned a profit fast. 👨🏽🔬 How Blackrock built strong partnerships with 500+ neuroscientists who use its electrodes, stimulators, and data acquisition systems for research purposes. PS - We've launched exciting new features exclusively for Medsider premium members: ⭐ Playbooks: Go from 0 to 100 with hand-picked collections of the best Medsider interviews with the brightest founders and CEOs. ⭐ Investor database: Find your next #medicaldevice or #healthtechnology investor with our growing database of VC funds, equity investors, and high-net-worth angels.

“Everyone thinks they can learn how to run a business by listening to podcasts, but no one would say you can learn how to cook by watching Food TV. No one would say you can learn how to do woodworking by watching carpentry shows. There's just so much nuanced bits and pieces that you really only get by doing. Through experimentation, you get to choose how quickly you want to learn.” This week, we're releasing a lively interview with Aakash Shah, founder and CEO of Wyndly (YC W21).  Aakash and his team have developed a digital health solution with his ENT specialist cousin Dr. Manan Shah to bring allergy immunotherapy straight to patients' doors. With Wyndly, patients can buy allergy test kits online, virtually consult with specialists, and receive personalized, at-home allergy treatments. Here’s a glimpse at Aakash’s chat with Scott Nelson: 📈 Focus on streamlining healthcare processes by paying attention to changing consumer trends. Digital health is a ripe market where you can provide convenient, accessible solutions that align with modern consumer demands. 🧪 Experiment constantly and learn by doing. Practical experience is invaluable; the nuances of any endeavor, including business, are best understood on the fly rather than through theory alone. 🖼️ Continuously refine your narrative based on your experience with how it lands. Storytelling is a skill that can be learned to attract customers, inspire a team, and persuade investors. 📹 Leveraging social media, especially video content, significantly amplifies your reach, even in B2B markets. At the end of the day, you're engaging with people, and people are decision-makers in your target enterprises. Click the link in the comments for the entire conversation. This Medsider episode was brought to you by FastWave Medical, a hot IVL startup in the cardiovascular space. Don’t miss out on their next fundraise (more details in the comments). P.S. - We recently launched Medsider Mentors Volume VI, which is packed with insights and learnings from founders and CEOs of some of the most dynamic medical device and health technology startups in the world. Click the link in the comment section for this latest edition now available exclusively to our premium members.

“As I think about the last 10 years of Cytovale, I really think of it as four or five, two-year chapters. And in each of those chapters, what's been important has been thinking about what is the key milestone I'm trying to move through in this chapter, but then also starting to build that network of people who can give me insight on the upcoming chapter.” Meet Ajay Shah, a serial #medtech entrepreneur and co-founder and CEO of Cytovale. Fresh off a $80 million Series C funding round, Ajay is focused on scaling up IntelliSep, a rapid sepsis test that's already demonstrating impressive results in various medical institutions. Here’s a taste of what’s to come in this episode with Ajay and Scott Nelson: 🥇 Understanding the clinical problem their tech solves is top priority for a medtech CEO. For this, immerse yourself where your technology will most commonly be used and get insights from those on the front lines early on. 🧱 Don’t accept capital from whoever offers it simply because you’re desperate for money. Find investors you can build a company with and focus on nurturing these relationships. When you do so, they might eventually contribute in many different ways, like serving as board members or key advisors. 👨🏻🏫 Capitalize on every opportunity that arises, especially the unexpected ones. Stay agile as an organization to make the most of these moments. Cultivate a network of trusted advisors and harness your technical skills to sift through their advice. Click the link in the comments for the whole conversation. This Medsider episode was brought to you by FastWave Medical, a hot IVL startup in the cardiovascular space. Don’t miss out on their next fundraise (more details in the comments). P.S. - We recently launched Medsider Mentors Volume VI, which is packed with insights and learnings from founders and CEOs of some of the most dynamic medical device and health technology startups in the world. Click the link in the comment section for this latest edition now available exclusively to our premium members.

Looking to go beyond traditional marketing for your #medicaldevice? Our host, Scott Nelson, has got you covered in his latest op-ed featured in MD+DI! 🖊️ He shares five innovative strategies for creating awareness for your venture leveraging inspiration from some of our favorite past Medsider guests who have successfully drawn attention for their startups. A big thank you to our contributors for their invaluable insights that keep the Medsider community thriving. Check out the full article below! 👇🏼

We're taking you back to a few of our favorite conversations with past Medsider guests. First, we look at what Robert Kline, Chairman of ThermoTek, Inc., learned from selling 3 medtech companies. And revisit an episode with Rosina S., CEO of OCULOGICA, serial entrepreneur, and biomedical engineer, who built a diagnostic device with interest from the NFL. Here’s a sneak peek at two of our exclusive interviews: 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 3 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐬: 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐨𝐛 𝐊𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞, 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐓𝐞𝐤 💪🏽 At Medivance, how Bob built a device that trumped competitors by prioritizing user-friendliness and eliminating the need for specialized training. 🏃🏽♂️ What Bob focuses on when building startups, and surprisingly, it isn’t positioning for an exit. 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥: 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐢, 𝐂𝐄𝐎 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚 🏈 Despite expectations, why Rosina chose not to target the NFL initially, even though Oculogica’s EyeBOX diagnoses concussions in seconds. ✂ How Oculogica used its first duct-tape-prototype to convince trial sites to start enrolling. PS - We've launched exciting new features exclusively for Medsider premium members: ⭐ Playbooks: Go from 0 to 100 with hand-picked collections of the best Medsider interviews with the brightest founders and CEOs. ⭐ Investor database: Find your next #medicaldevice or #healthtechnology investor with our growing database of VC funds, equity investors, and high-net-worth angels.

“When you're trying to tackle risk in a startup, you want to tackle risks that unlock your path forward. And what I mean by that is to understand where your blockers are. And oftentimes, the blockers are money and getting investment and an ability to go forward, especially in this environment. And so if that is the case for your startup, understand your investor sensitivities. What are they concerned about? And make sure that that early development is geared towards mitigating those types of risks to optimize your chances to go forward.” Meet Brian Fahey, CEO of Adona Medical, a Shifamed-portfolio company he co-founded with Amr Salahieh. Adona Medical is developing a novel, adjustable interatrial shunt and remote monitoring solution for patients with heart failure. A fellow of Stanford University Biodesign Program, Brian has been around various startups, including Niveus Medical which he founded and led to an eventual exit. He was also at Johnson & Johnson Innovation, specializing in drug-device products for oncology. Check out the key takeaways from his interview with Scott Nelson: 💡 There are three major risk factors in medtech: product-market fit, technical feasibility, and clinical validation. When assessing your idea, first, talk yourself out of it. If you don’t succeed, you’ve got something solid! 🏅 Pioneering innovations demand longer, more complex trials, but offer substantial rewards. To mitigate clinical risk, study the pathways of predicate technologies. A truly disruptive product is not just better, but transformational. 🎯 Be selective in fundraising: Consider your sector, stage, and the size of the round you’re after in order to focus your energy on your best prospects. Transparency and consistent communication build trust for fundraising and M&A processes. Click the link in the comments for the whole conversation. This Medsider episode was brought to you by FastWave Medical, a hot IVL startup in the cardiovascular space. Don’t miss out on their next fundraise (more details in the comments). P.S. - We recently launched Medsider Mentors Volume VI, which is packed with insights and learnings from founders and CEOs of some of the most dynamic medical device and health technology startups in the world. Click the link in the comment section for this latest edition now available exclusively to our premium members.

“Fundraising is primarily about storytelling and just being able to understand how VCs evaluate opportunities, which is mostly related to risk. For us in healthcare, especially if it's medical device, you have regulatory risk with the FDA, you have risk with hardware development and supply chain, and then potentially even reimbursement and how to get paid. And so I think our job is to remove risk and show investors that we're able to overcome these to be able to raise funds and try to structure this around achieving milestones.” Meet Konrad Morzkowski, a Swedish engineer turned entrepreneur when he met his co-founders while doing his MS at Stanford University. As the CEO of WearLinq, Konrad also made it on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. WearLinq’s first product, eWave, is an FDA-cleared EKG monitor designed for home use. It offers continuous cardiac monitoring for weeks at a time, complemented by a virtual cardiology team’s diagnosis and consultation – a crucial innovation for patients in underserved areas. Here’s a sneak peek at Konrad’s chat with Scott Nelson: 🩺 Plan your fundraising efforts around achieving significant milestones, such as getting FDA clearance, that reduce risk, unlock new sets of investors, and increase your startup’s fundability. 🧠 Don’t try to understand everything on your own. Reach out, whether it’s to experts who have navigated similar paths, or to investors who have experience in your domain. 🏃♂️ Swiftly move through the product design phase to show value to stakeholders and minimize cash burn. Consider unconventional methods like recruiting trial subjects through Craigslist or gathering user feedback through Facebook support groups. Check out the full interview in the comments section. This Medsider episode was brought to you by FastWave Medical, a hot IVL startup in the cardiovascular space. Don’t miss out on their next fundraise (more details in the comments). P.S. - We recently launched Medsider Mentors Volume VI, which is packed with insights and learnings from founders and CEOs of some of the most dynamic medical device and health technology startups in the world. Click the link in the comment section for this latest edition now available exclusively to our premium members.

“One of the fundamental things is really being rigorous and making sure that you're being objective about whether or not this is a market pull or whether it's a technology push. It’s very easy to fall in love with the concept, the promise, the specialness, the uniqueness. But that doesn’t always mean that the market is interested in the application of the technology you’re enamored with." Meet Bryan Lord, President and CEO of Pristine Surgical, and tech lawyer turned #medtech entrepreneur. Before Pristine, Bryan founded three venture organizations: New Venture Advisors, Orthopedic Venture Partners, and Innovation Alliance. Pristine is making endoscopy simpler with Summit, a first-of-its-kind, single-use, digital arthroscope with 4K resolution. Here’s a glance at the conversation between Bryan and Scott Nelson: 🏰 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐚𝐭: Patents matter, but true differentiation lies in your trade secrets, software, and unique processes. It's the unseen details that give you a real edge. ✅ 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝: Engage stakeholders early—physicians, ASCs, administrators, technicians. Focus on simplifying processes for significant operational gains. 👩🏼🏫 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐦: Surround yourself with the right mentors to refine your company’s narrative. Make the most of your circumstances to keep pushing your venture forward. Read the interview summary in the link in the comments section. This Medsider episode was brought to you by FastWave Medical, a hot IVL startup in the cardiovascular space. Don’t miss out on their next fundraise (more details in the comments). P.S. - We recently launched Medsider Mentors Volume VI, which is packed with insights and learnings from founders and CEOs of some of the most dynamic medical device and health technology startups in the world. Click the link in the comment section for this latest edition now available exclusively to our premium members.

Here's the newest op-ed Scott Nelson, our host and CEO of FastWave Medical, published in MD+DI. In this article, he talks about 5 strategies that will help get your #medicaldevice adopted in the highly competitive #medtech space. Big thanks to our guests for sharing their insights with the Medsider community. Click on the link ⬇ to check out the full article.

"My approach to biosurgery and some platform products is like looking at a fried egg. The yolk is the center of what you go for, which needs to be big enough to put food on the table. It’s the market opportunity that is crisp and large enough to keep you busy once approved. The white of the egg is a bunch of smaller opportunities around it. Using both pre-market and post-market data, you gradually explore these. But don't start focusing on some obscure part of the egg white in the beginning." Amar Sawhney is a serial entrepreneur whose inventions in biomaterials have led to numerous FDA-approved devices, such as surgical sealants, spacers, and drug delivery systems. Together, they have impacted over 8 million patients globally. Today, Amar is the CEO of Instylla, Rejoni, Inc, Sealonix, and Pramand LLC, all companies focused on developing advanced biosurgical products. In particular, Instylla is developing polymerizing liquid embolics to shut down the blood supply to hypervascular tumors. Here’s a glance at his insightful conversation with Scott Nelson. 🍳 Don't take on too many risk factors at once, especially those outside your expertise. Prioritize ideas with immediate, clear value over those with uncertain long-term outcomes. A strong "wow moment" can drive market pull organically. 🧩 When designing clinical trials, ensure your primary endpoints directly reflect your technology's core function. You can have cascading secondary endpoints, but start simple and layer in sophistication only after your key goals are established. 🤩 Pick your initial indication wisely. Aim for something that has the potential to be disruptive, instead of implementing small tweaks to existing solutions. Learn more from Amar’s vast medtech experience in the full interview [link in comments]. This Medsider episode was brought to you by FastWave Medical, a hot IVL startup in the cardiovascular space. Don’t miss out on their next fundraise (more details in the comments). P.S. - We recently launched Medsider Mentors Volume VI, which is packed with insights and learnings from founders and CEOs of some of the most dynamic medical device and health technology startups in the world. Click the link in the comment section for this latest edition now available exclusively to our premium members.