Medsider Radio: Learn From Proven Medtech And Healthcare Experts

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Steffen Hovard, CEO of Neuspera Medical, where his team is developing a novel, less invasive device that uses neuromodulation to treat conditions like overactive bladder.Previously, Steffen spent two decades at Coloplast, where he held various senior leadership roles that contributed to the company’s growth, including the acquisition of a Minneapolis-based urology business in 2005. With deep expertise in the space, he has consistently driven growth and innovation across multiple functions, positioning himself as a leader of leaders in medtech, with board roles at Medical Alley and AdvaMed.In this interview, Steffen talks about confirming market fit before investing, building an early network for key hires and investors, aligning development speed with each phase, engaging with regulators early, and taking a steady, relationship-driven approach to fundraising.Before we dive into the discussion, I wanted to mention a few things:First, if you’re into learning f

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with returning guest, Don Crawford, CEO of CorVista Health. CorVista is developing a non-invasive medical device that uses advanced machine-learned algorithms to detect heart conditions, right in a doctor’s office.Don's career began at Medtronic, followed by progressively senior sales and marketing roles at Guidant Corporation, Ventritex, and Intermedics, including overseeing a $100 million international cardiovascular business. Before CorVista, he led Sapheon, a venous device company, to a $238 million acquisition by Covidien. In this interview, Don talks about the need for focus in startups, the importance of precise data collection, and the value of transparency and respect within teams. He also shares his approach to hiring and building a top-notch group of people.Before we dive into the discussion, I wanted to mention a few things:First, if you’re into learning from medical device and health technology founders and CEOs, and want to know when new interviews

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with, Tim Rosa, CEO of Somnee, a company developing wearables based on personalized neuroscience to improve sleep quality. Previously, Tim was the CMO at Fitbit, where he played a key role in establishing the health and fitness wearables category. He built the organization’s global marketing function, contributing to the sale of over 140 million devices in 100+ countries. Additionally, he helped drive the company’s IPO and its eventual $2.1 billion sale to Google. Tim has also advised and worked with major brands like Electronic Arts, 2K Sports, ESPN Video Games, and Jasper Health.In this interview, Tim shares insights on building and scaling successful brands based on real customer experiences, keeping messaging clear, and using brand strategy as a business foundation. He also shares why solid data and clinical evidence in OTC products are essential and how he generates value out of ongoing research.Before we dive into the discussion, I wanted to mention a few t

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with medtech veteran, Eric Goslau, the co-founder and CEO of Transverse Medical. His startup is developing the Point Guard Cerebral Embolic Protection device that shields the brain from debris during cardiovascular procedures, reducing the risk of strokes. Co-inventor of Point Guard, Eric has 29 years of experience in leadership roles across sales, marketing, and product development. At Transverse, Eric oversees all aspects of the company, including fundraising, clinical planning, and regulatory strategy. He has successfully raised over $14 million through innovative financing strategies.In this interview, Eric shares how his background in sales helps him manage various functions of the company, how fundraising cycles have worked for Transverse, and his philosophy when it comes to product development: the enemy of good is perfect.Before we dive into the discussion, I wanted to mention a few things:First, if you’re into learning from medical device and health tech

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with the exuberant Aakash Shah, co-founder and CEO of Wyndly, a telehealth startup that helps people overcome their allergies with personalized, at-home treatment plans. Aakash was part of the Y Combinator W21 batch. As the CEO of Wyndly, he’s led the company from early inception through product development and eventual commercialization. Aakash holds dual degrees in Computer Science and Cognitive Science from the University of Virginia. Outside of Wyndly, he often presents on healthcare, telehealth, and startups, advises entrepreneurs, and hosts the Founders and Builders podcast.In this interview, Aakash shares insights on simplifying healthcare access by meeting patients online and emphasizes the importance of learning by doing to accelerate personal and business growth. Aakash also talks about the power of storytelling when engaging customers and investors, and how to leverage video-based social media to reach both consumers and decision-makers effectively.Bef

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Ajay Shah, co-founder and CEO of Cytovale. The company is helping solve the sepsis problem with IntelliSep, a simple, cost-effective, and quick sepsis test.  Ajay is a serial entrepreneur and engineer with expertise in cell-based diagnostic technologies. Before Cytovale, Ajay co-founded two other life sciences startups, one of which was acquired in 2012. In 2023, Ajay raised a Series C financing round of over $80 million and brought Cytovale’s sepsis test to market. In this interview, Ajay shares why CEOs should immerse themselves in the problem they’re hoping to tackle, how he nurtures relationships with investors over time, and his opinions on making the transition to entrepreneurship from a non-commercial career path. Before we dive into the discussion, I wanted to mention a few things:First, if you’re into learning from medical device and health technology founders and CEOs, and want to know when new interviews are live, head over to Medsider.com and sig

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we had an insightful chat with Brian Fahey, CEO of Adona Medical, which is a Shifamed-portfolio company. The Adona Interatrial Shunt is a smart implant designed to enable individualized management of heart failure. Before Adona, Brian founded a critical care company, Niveus Medical. He also spent time at J&J Innovation, specializing in drug-device products for oncology, and contributed to the leadership team at Arrinex, a neuromodulation company in the ENT space. An alumnus of the Stanford Biodesign Innovation Program, Brian holds a Ph.D. from Duke University.In this interview, Brian talks about the importance of identifying and mitigating medtech’s three major risk factors, how to assess ideas strategically, and how to approach investors and potential M&A transactions. Before we dive into the discussion, I wanted to mention a few things:First, if you’re into learning from medical device and health technology founders and CEOs, and want to know when new interviews ar

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Konrad Morzkowski, co-founder and CEO of WearLinq. The startup is commercializing eWave, an FDA-cleared EKG monitor for continuous cardiac monitoring. Konrad is an engineer from Sweden and a member of Forbes’ 30 under 30 list. After obtaining an MS at Stanford – where he met his co-founders and raised his first round – Konrad dove right into entrepreneurship with WearLinq, a company commercializing consumer-facing digital healthcare solutions with an initial focus on EKG monitoring. In this interview, Konrad shares how he optimizes fundraising efforts by aligning them with important milestones, his unconventional methods to gather voice of customer research, and how his startup moved rapidly through product design iterations. Before we dive into the discussion, I wanted to mention a few things:First, if you’re into learning from medical device and health technology founders and CEOs, and want to know when new interviews are live, head over to Medsider.com an

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we had a fun chat with Bryan Lord, President and CEO of Pristine Surgical. Pristine's flagship product, Summit, is a 4K, single-use digital arthroscope that streamlines arthroscopic procedures. Bryan started his career as a “deal guy” – originally a tech lawyer in Boston, and always involved in startups. He has a wealth of experience across various technology sectors including semiconductors, enterprise software, and medtech, and spanning roles in corporate finance, technology licensing, and M&A. Before Pristine, Bryan also founded three venture organizations: New Venture Advisors, Orthopedic Venture Partners, and Innovation Alliance.In this interview, Bryan shares the story of how he evolved his career to become a medtech entrepreneur and the lessons he learned along the way—about how to protect your competitive advantage, how to achieve market pull vs. market push, and the importance of collaborating with experienced mentors. Before we dive into the discussion, I wante

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we had an insightful chat with Amarpreet Sawhney, inventor, serial entrepreneur, and CEO of a few startups, including Instylla, which is developing polymerizing liquid embolics that can be used to shut down blood supply to hypervascular tumors and control bleeding.Amar is also the CEO of Rejoni, Sealonix, and Pramand. His FDA-approved inventions include ReSure Sealant and Dextenza for ophthalmology, DuraSeal for neurosurgery, FocalSeal for lung surgery, Mynx for femoral puncture sealing, and SpaceOAR for prostate cancer radiotherapy. Together, they have impacted over 8 million patients globally.In this episode, Amar shares his frameworks on risk assessment for medtech startups, tips on clinical study design, and how to prioritize indications when working on platform technologies.Before we dive into the discussion, I wanted to mention a few things:First, if you’re into learning from medical device and health technology founders and CEOs, and want to know when new interviews a

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we had an engaging chat with Reinhard Krickl, CEO of Phagenesis, a startup commercializing a neurostimulation system designed to treat dysphagia, a condition that impairs a patient's ability to swallow.An Austrian engineer with over 25 years of experience in medtech, Reinhard specializes in neurology-based medical devices. After beginning his career in academia, he got his industry start with Medtronic in 2000, where he would eventually lead the company’s efforts with deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy across Europe. He is also an INSEAD-certified director and serves on several boards, chairing two of them. In this interview, Reinhard shares insights on the importance of simplicity in design, what thorough market understanding truly means, and how he engages with stakeholders effectively. He also reveals the “market access checklist” he uses before entering the commercialization stage.Before we dive into the discussion, I wanted to mention a few things:First, if you’re int

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we had an interesting chat with Sumit Nagpal, founder and CEO of Cherish Health, a company developing radar-based health and safety monitoring devices. Over the past three decades, serial entrepreneur and digital health veteran Sumit has co-founded and grown five companies that have tackled some of the boldest challenges faced by the healthcare economy. He also serves on the board of HIMSS and chairs the Nominating Committee.In this interview, Sumit shares his take on the importance of being stage-appropriate—both mentally and business-wise—and how to recognize patterns in the market by simply listening. Oh - and constantly learn from others because, as Steve Jobs paraphrasing Picasso put it, “great artists steal.”Before we dive into the discussion, I wanted to mention a few things:First, if you’re into learning from medical device and health technology founders and CEOs, and want to know when new interviews are live, head over to Medsider.com and sign up for our free newsle

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we had an insightful chat with Dan Nardi, CEO of Reimagine Care, a startup that integrates clinical oncology experts and robust capabilities to deliver individualized cancer treatment and recovery experience from home.Dan has over two decades of experience in healthcare IT and digital health. Before Reimagine Care, he served as COO at Carrum Health, where he focused on value-based care and oversaw operations, including care delivery and growth. He also played a key role in scaling Livongo from 13 employees to its IPO as Vice President of Operations. In this interview, Dan shares how he forms strategic partnerships that prioritize long-term value over short-term gains, how to leverage early adopters, and how he’s positioned his company in the emerging fee-for-value healthcare model.Before we dive into the discussion, I wanted to mention a few things:First, if you’re into learning from medical device and health technology founders and CEOs, and want to know when new interviews

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we had a fun chat with Conor Cullinane, co-founder and CEO of Pirouette Medical. The company, founded by three rocket scientists, is developing a low-profile, disc-shaped injector designed to deliver medicines as easily as pushing a button.  Conor studied Aeronautical Engineering at Clarkson University and graduated with minors in Biomedical Engineering and Mathematics, followed by his PhD in Medical Engineering & Medical Physics at MIT and Harvard Medical School. He is also a mentor for Field X at Harvard Business School and a NASA Space Technology Research Fellow.In this interview, Conor shares learnings from launching a community fundraising round, insights on selective innovation, identifying different value propositions for diverse stakeholders, and building strong investor relationships.Before we dive into the discussion, I wanted to mention a few things:First, if you’re into learning from medical device and health technology founders and CEOs, and want to know whe

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we had an insightful chat with  Dr. Bill Hunter, CEO of Canary Medical. The company is developing smart, implantable medical devices that report on function, patient activity, and more.  Bill is a former practicing physician with 30+ years of healthcare entrepreneurial experience and over 200 patents and patent applications to his name. He’s been intimately involved in the development of renowned devices like the TAXUS DES and paclitaxel-eluting balloons and spearheaded the success of companies like Angiotech and Correvio. As the CEO of Canary Medical, he’s now leading a new, smart, digital approach to patient monitoring and post-surgical care.In this interview, Bill talks about his perspective on innovation in medtech, discusses what it takes for a device to be commercially viable, how Canary is alleviating the workload of healthcare professionals, and offers advice to physicians contemplating the transition to industry. Before we dive into the discussion, I wanted to menti

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we had a compelling chat with Beth Rogozinski, CEO of Oncoustics. The company uses advanced AI to analyze ultrasound data to offer a cost-effective alternative to traditional diagnostic methods. Beth has held a variety of leadership roles in the field of digital health, including the development of the first FDA-cleared prescription digital therapeutic. She advises numerous startups and accelerators and has consulted with organizations like Stanford, UnitedHealth, and the National Mental Health Innovation Center. She is a guest lecturer at UCSF Health Hub and Columbia’s HIT Lab and serves on BIO’s Digital Health committee. In this interview, Beth shares her insights on the importance of persistence and resilience in fundraising, the value of engaging with a diverse range of investors, and the need for a strong narrative about your technology, particularly when it involves AI capabilities.Before we dive into the discussion, I wanted to mention a few things:First, if you’re in

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we had an insightful discussion with Timothy Boire and Geoffrey Lucks, co-founders of VenoStent. The company is developing SelfWrap, a bioabsorbable wrap to improve the success rate of vascular surgeries, starting with dialysis access creation for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients.    Tim holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Vanderbilt University. He has experience as a Research Associate at Genzyme and was an Entrepreneurial Lead at NSF I-Corps. Geoffrey is a venture partner at Pioneer Fund and has a BA in Economics, Biology, and Zoology from the University of Wisconsin, a Master's in Bioethics from the University of Pennsylvania, and an MBA in Finance from Vanderbilt University. In this interview, they talk about understanding your end user, working collaboratively with FDA, structuring and executing large clinical trials, and staying resourceful to attract funding while developing your concept.Before we dive into the discussion, I wanted to mention a few thing

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with Jason Hannon, President and CEO of Mainstay Medical, where he and his team are commercializing ReActiv8, an implantable neurostimulation system for intractable mechanical chronic low back pain. Jason holds a J.D. from Stanford University Law School and a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley. After 12 years at NuVasive, where as COO, he led the company to incredible revenue milestones, he transitioned to his current role at Mainstay. In this interview, Jason shares his experiences on iterative product development, considerations for clinical trial design, the importance of patient education, and why reimbursement is paramount.Before we dive into the discussion, I wanted to mention a few things:First, if you’re into learning from medical device and health technology founders and CEOs, and want to know when new interviews are live, head over to Medsider.com and sign up for our free newsletter.Second, if you want to peek behind the curtain of the wor

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we had a fascinating chat with Dmitri Leonov, co-founder and CEO of Taopatch USA. The company is commercializing a range of wearable nanotechnology light therapy devices aimed at managing neurological conditions including pain management and sports performance.  Dmitri is also an advisor in a number of transformative technology projects. After seven fruitful years at Overture and later at Yahoo, he dove into the startup world. He went on to found several companies, including Sanebox.com, but was intrigued by frequency medicine and started his current venture by bringing Taopatch to the United States from Italy, where it was first invented.In this interview, Dmitri shares how the company was able to garner unique publicity and how strategic partnerships with holistic practitioners, authentic user testimonials, and a creative money-back guarantee strategy were instrumental in Taopatch USA's market success.Before we dive into the discussion, I wanted to mention a few things:Fir

In this episode of Medsider Radio, we sat down with medtech veteran Joe DeVivo, President and CEO of Butterfly Network. Butterfly iQ3 is the startup's latest chip-powered, hand-held ultrasound device with superior image quality and ultrafast scan times.  Joe is a proven executive with 35 years of business leadership experience, including 22 years in the medical device industry spanning small start-up companies to multi-billion-dollar organizations. He has acquired and fully integrated eight companies, engineered four business turnarounds, and delivered five company exits. In this interview, Joe shares insights on why a lean start in commercialization is better than a high-burn, high-risk approach, the difference between your company being sold and being purchased, and best practices for managing M&A transactions. Before we dive into the discussion, I wanted to mention a few things:First, if you’re into learning from medical device and health technology founders and CEOs, and want to know when new intervie