Medsider

"Don't jump into entrepreneurship thinking you’re going to do something you love all the time. There are a lot of things I don’t like that I still have to do, and that's okay. The reason you put up with that 80% is because the other 20% is so rewarding that it more than covers for it." Meet Dhruv Agrawal, CEO of Aether Biomedical, a startup building the ZEUS bionic hand now deployed worldwide, including those impacted by the war in Ukraine. At 18, Dhruv found his true calling in building prosthetics while he was studying medicine in India and proceeded to co-found Aether. He later moved the company to Poland and has helped raise over $15 million in funding and guided the launch of their flagship prosthetic hand. ZEUS is designed with both strength and resilience in mind, tackling real needs like grip strength and durability. The tech doesn’t stop at hardware; paired with a digital therapy platform, ZEUS enables continuous patient monitoring and remote support, bringing prosthetics in line with modern healthcare standards. Aether is also working with Ukrainian NGOs like Superhumans Center and UNBROKEN Ukraine to provide advanced prosthetics for war amputees and train local clinicians. In Dhruv’s discussion with Scott Nelson, you’ll hear about: 💡 Nail down your problem statement early. Don’t try to compete in medtech by delivering more or less the same offering, only cheaper. Bring real value to people’s lives by addressing their genuine problems. Keep listening and learning, even after you’ve launched your initial product. 🚀 Grants can provide critical support without giving up equity, but over-relying on them can turn a startup into a research operation rather than a growth-focused company. To convince VCs, prepare thoroughly and create a comprehensive data room. 🌍 Carefully evaluate market opportunities and avoid spreading yourself too thin too soon. Prioritize markets based on their potential impact and your available resources, as trying to establish a presence everywhere can dilute efforts and slow growth. Click the link in the comments for the full interview. 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.

This week, we bring you insights from two Medsider trailblazers who’ve shaped the landscape of healthtech and biotech. First, we look at John Mastrototaro's journey -  from his groundbreaking work in diabetes care to launching the Movano Ring, a smart wearable transforming how consumers manage their health with data-driven insights. Next, we revisit Caroline J Loew, PhD, CEO of Mural Oncology and former CEO of Glympse Bio (Sunbird Bio), who takes us behind the scenes of her biotech journey - from developing groundbreaking biomarker panels to tackling regulatory hurdles. Here’s a sneak peek at two of our exclusive interviews: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭: 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 Movano Health 𝐂𝐄𝐎 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐨 📊 How John demonstrated to payers and patients how the Movano Ring could reduce traditional healthcare costs. 💍 How Movano ensured consistent use of its wearable by prioritizing design alongside functionality. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐖𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬: 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐆𝐥𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐬𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐨 𝐂𝐄𝐎 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐞𝐰 💸 The 4 strategies Caroline used to raise funds during the pandemic year when markets were at their lowest. 🤓 How her flexible and proactive approach with regulators was key to navigating the regulatory process successfully. PS - We've revamped our 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: 3 new fundraising support packages to fit your needs. Find your next #medicaldevice or #healthtechnology investor with Medsider.

“Accept the time it takes. You can move fast on technology development and fail fast. But probably slow down over the clinical and regulatory process, and then be prepared to accelerate really strongly on the back end of that.” Steffen Hovard, CEO of Neuspera Medical Inc., has spent over 30 years in the medical device field. At Coloplast, a Danish medtech company, he led major initiatives, including an acquisition that eventually brought him to the U.S. from Denmark. Now at Neuspera, Steffen is steering an innovative approach to neuromodulation technology. Neuspera’s device is designed to treat conditions like overactive bladder, using a less invasive, “microimplant” system that doesn’t require a traditional battery or bulky hardware. Here's a quick look at Steffen’s interview with Scott Nelson: 🌐 In medtech, development timelines can stretch over a decade. Before pouring resources into an idea, it’s crucial to confirm its relevance and market potential and then get the right people on board. Building your network early helps with finding the right talent as well as the right investors. 🕰️ Align your pace with the development stage you’re at. Move fast in early development but slow down and be thorough in the clinical stages. Then, be ready to pick up speed and go full throttle when commercialization approaches. 🔋Perfect your pitch and refine your story to make a strong impression. View each investor interaction as a long-term relationship rather than a one-time opportunity; stay in touch, and show consistent progress. Above all, bring energy and resilience to each pitch. Click the link in the comments for the full interview. 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.

“Hiring clinical directly is because we were collecting data from people who would be our future customers as well. Why would you pay someone else to get the relationships when then you have to pay someone to build those relationships four years later? We built a lot of relationships with clinicians, not all ultimately customers, but they were always customers and advisors at the same time. So we decided to do that for the fact that we wanted to be close to the end user. And we got lots of marketing feedback, lots of things that we got fed back to us on how to do better clinicals.” This week we welcome Don Crawford back on Medsider. In 2014, he led Sapheon, Inc. to a $238 million acquisition by Medtronic. Now, he’s the President & CEO of CorVista® Health, a startup focused on novel heart diagnostics. CorVista’s echnology uses advanced machine-learned algorithms to detect heart conditions like coronary artery disease and pulmonary hypertension—right in the doctor’s office without invasive procedures. Here's a sneak peek at Don’s conversation with Scott Nelson: 🎯 In the startup world, there’s no room for inefficiency. Spreading your efforts too thin can be risky. Choose a focus—one that aligns with your company’s strengths—and direct your efforts there. 🏠 Managing clinical trials in-house can give you the control you need to ensure accuracy and reliability at every step. It also lets you connect directly with potential users, gathering valuable insights, building trust, and refining your technology based on real-world feedback. 🤝🏽 Be open about goals, challenges, and successes with your team, and show respect for everyone’s ideas and contributions. When hiring, prioritize flexibility and growth. Start by bringing in consultants or part-timers to assess their fit before committing to full-time roles. Click the link in the comments for the full interview. 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.

“You’ve got to win hearts and minds. And so how can you do that? Through product design. And product design, in our category, is both the ID as well as the experience and the journey that you take them on. And I looked at the category, it was just littered with products that were so dorky. It was like a sci-fi series or Star Trek series, and it still is. So what I'm doing is really trying to change that and reset the way people think about neurotech and neuroscience.” Tim Rosa, the CEO of Somnee, knows a thing or two about taking brands from zero to global success. With over 20 years of experience leading marketing and growth strategies for major companies like Fitbit (now part of Google), Electronic Arts (EA), and 2K Sports Take-Two Interactive, Tim has built a career in launching products that change the game. At Somnee, Tim is working on a smart sleep headband that uses EEG monitoring and neurostimulation to improve sleep quality. Developed with UC Berkeley neuroscientists, including Dr. Matthew Walker, PhD, and backed by seven years of research, Somnee aims to redefine sleep tech with its personalized, science-backed approach. Here’s a glance at Tim’s interview with Scott Nelson: 🧱 Building a brand as you build your company is crucial. To do this, put yourself in your customer’s shoes and analyze available data, such as forums, customer support logs, and other feedback sources. Develop a product roadmap that addresses any friction points you discover. 💗 A brand is more than just marketing; it’s the foundation of your business strategy. Building a brand means creating an experience that connects with your audience. To achieve this, focus on what matters to your customers. Stay in tune with consumer trends, like the shift toward being more informed and empowered, and align your decisions accordingly. 🕵🏼 Clinical evidence in OTC categories can help you create something that truly changes the game within your industry. Aim to build products that solve real problems in a measurable way. Invest in ongoing R&D to refine and adapt your solution continually and prioritize data accuracy and clinical evidence to gain trust and differentiate yourself from competitors. 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.

💸 Looking to tackle the complexities of fundraising in #medtech? Check out the latest op-ed by our host, Scott Nelson, CEO of FastWave Medical, featured in MD+DI! 🖊️ In this article, Scott draws from his own experiences, as well as insights from some of your favorite past Medsider guests, on all things related to keeping your startup funded! A huge thank you to the CEOs who contributed their learnings—know that your experiences empower others who are on the same path! See below for the full article! 👇🏼

We're bringing you two Medsider interviews from our archives: First, we look at how Holly Rockweiler, CEO of Madorra Inc. and an activist for women’s health, built her startup as a spinout of Stanford Biodesign. And then we revisit an episode with John Murphy, CEO of Virtual Incision, who developed the world's first miniaturized robotic-assisted surgery platform for abdominal procedures. Here’s a sneak peek at two of our exclusive interviews: 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐚 𝐂𝐄𝐎 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐰𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫 👩🏻🤝👩🏽 How Holly's Stanford Biodesign training on identifying unmet needs led to Madorra's breakthrough designation that could potentially benefit 43 million women around the world. 🤝 Holly’s creative approach to grants, R&D tax incentives, and strategic partnerships to fund Madorra's clinical trials and build investor credibility. 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐲: 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐄𝐎 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐡𝐲 ⛑️ How John navigated the regulatory maze by first securing De Novo classification that led to 510(k) clearances for future iterations of Virtual Incision's robots. ⏩ John's advice for liquidity events: Prepare for both IPOs and M&A exits simultaneously to keep your options open as your company accelerates. 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.

“Sales people make the best early-stage CEOs because when you carry the bag, you fully appreciate what it takes to get from the beginning of a sale all the way through to a ‘yes’. And in the course of that time, 99% of the time, you hear ‘no’. And I think what it does is it ingrains into you – deep into your soul – the ability to persevere through the hard times." Meet Eric Goslau, co-founder and CEO of Transverse Medical Inc, and co-inventor of their Point Guard Cerebral Embolic Protection Device. With this technology, Transverse is on a mission to achieve full brain protection to prevent strokes during cardiovascular procedures. Eric has successfully raised over $14M for Transverse through innovative financing strategies to bring the second-gen Point Guard to market. Here’s a glance at his interview with Scott Nelson: 👜 A technical background is great for a CEO, but sales experience adds unique value. It sharpens the skills needed for initiatives like creating clear, stage-specific execution plans, staying focused on measurable progress, and handling setbacks with persistence. 🚴🏽♂️ Fundraising is a cycle—start each stage with the next in mind. You’ll raise money from various sources, like family offices, high-net-worth individuals, and angel investors, so focus on securing the right amount for your stage. Having a lead investor to support you through multiple rounds can also guide other investors. ⏩ Don’t get stuck aiming for perfection. Get into the market faster with a ‘good enough’ device for early traction and investment. For that, move to clinical trials as soon as possible to learn and iterate based on real data. 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.

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.