EPISODE · Feb 10, 2026 · 1H 8M
10x Isn't Enough to Change Medicine with Alan Cohen
from The Crux of Medtech · host Crux of Medtech
Alan Cohen has built companies, sold companies, started a price war between tech giants and now invests in what he calls "tech med" at DCVC, a $4.5bn deep-tech fund.The distinction matters: tech med starts with data and computational methods, not hardware. In this conversation, Alan unpacks the investments that excite him, from real-time surgical guidance to AI-powered ultrasound and the pitches that don't make the cut.He and Henry dig into hospital bottlenecks, the promise and peril of Health GPT, and his vision for a future where every treatment is personalised to a "circle of one."Key Topics:The distinction between "med tech" and "tech med" and why it mattersHow computer vision, autonomous vehicle tech, and AI are entering the operating roomWhat DCVC looks for when investing in healthcare startupsThe "circle of one" vision for personalised therapiesWhy data strategy must be foundational, not an afterthoughtRelated Insights:The real bottleneck in hospital systems isn't technology it's workflow and staffingLLMs like Health GPT have promise, but also serious risks for untrained usersSurgeons and specialists are the scarcest resource tech should augment, not replaceCore Challenges:Healthcare costs are reaching unsustainable proportions, forcing new thinkingPersonnel shortages mean hospitals can't scale with demandSwitching behaviour in medicine is slow new entrants need a 10x improvement to break through🎧 Tune in now to hear how one of Silicon Valley's sharpest deep-tech investors sees the future of surgical robotics, AI diagnostics, and the quantified self.The Crux of MedTech podcast is brought to you by Cruxx, a specialist surgical robotics recruitment agency. To learn more about Cruxx, click here.A big thank you to our sponsors on this season of the podcast; TTP plc With a 35-year track record, TTP excels in turning innovative ideas into market-ready solutions. Their team of 300+ experts deliver breakthrough solutions in areas ranging from endoluminal robotics and navigation systems to ultrasound imaging. Whether you're a startup or a multinational, TTP plc can accelerate your development with the latest technologies. Learn more at TTP.com&KUKA is a global leader in robotics with over 25 years of experience partnering with medtech companies on their journey to market. Their reputation is built on robust technology, reliability and long term collaboration and being more than just a supplier.KUKA provides trusted support throughout the product life cycle, from development to integration and beyond. Find out more at kuka.com/healthcare
What this episode covers
Alan Cohen has built companies, sold companies, started a price war between tech giants and now invests in what he calls "tech med" at DCVC, a $4.5bn deep-tech fund.The distinction matters: tech med starts with data and computational methods, not hardware. In this conversation, Alan unpacks the investments that excite him, from real-time surgical guidance to AI-powered ultrasound and the pitches that don't make the cut.He and Henry dig into hospital bottlenecks, the promise and peril of Health GPT, and his vision for a future where every treatment is personalised to a "circle of one."Key Topics:The distinction between "med tech" and "tech med" and why it mattersHow computer vision, autonomous vehicle tech, and AI are entering the operating roomWhat DCVC looks for when investing in healthcare startupsThe "circle of one" vision for personalised therapiesWhy data strategy must be foundational, not an afterthoughtRelated Insights:The real bottleneck in hospital systems isn't technology it's workflow and staffingLLMs like Health GPT have promise, but also serious risks for untrained usersSurgeons and specialists are the scarcest resource tech should augment, not replaceCore Challenges:Healthcare costs are reaching unsustainable proportions, forcing new thinkingPersonnel shortages mean hospitals can't scale with demandSwitching behaviour in medicine is slow new entrants need a 10x improvement to break through🎧 Tune in now to hear how one of Silicon Valley's sharpest deep-tech investors sees the future of surgical robotics, AI diagnostics, and the quantified self.The Crux of MedTech podcast is brought to you by Cruxx, a specialist surgical robotics recruitment agency. To learn more about Cruxx, click here.A big thank you to our sponsors on this season of the podcast; TTP plc With a 35-year track record, TTP excels in turning innovative ideas into market-ready solutions. Their team of 300+ experts deliver breakthrough solutions in areas ranging from endoluminal robotics and navigation systems to ultrasound imaging. Whether you're a startup or a multinational, TTP plc can accelerate your development with the latest technologies. Learn more at TTP.com&KUKA is a global leader in robotics with over 25 years of experience partnering with medtech companies on their journey to market. Their reputation is built on robust technology, reliability and long term collaboration and being more than just a supplier.KUKA provides trusted support throughout the product life cycle, from development to integration and beyond. Find out more at kuka.com/healthcare
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10x Isn't Enough to Change Medicine with Alan Cohen
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