350. LSI Keynote: Masimo Founder Joe Kiani on beating Apple and lessons learned on the path to building a billion dollar company

Joe Kiani, Founder & Executive Chairman of Willow Laboratories, delivers an inspiring keynote on the realities of medtech entrepreneurship. He reflects on founding Masimo, detailing the challenges of breaking into a monopolized market to introduce technology that prevented blindness in infants. Kiani emphasizes the critical role of hard work, ethical integrity, and surrounding oneself with purpose-driven "purists." He shares candid experiences of legal battles with industry giants, the importance of patient safety as a guiding compass, and the decision to reward early investors and employees generously. Now at Willow, Kiani is channeling the same passion into revolutionizing diabetes care. The discussion offers invaluable insights on leadership, the long-term commitment required for genuine innovation, and the imperative to keep patient welfare at the core of every business decision.Episode Breakdown:00:00 – Cold Open: Why Medtech Needs Visionary Leadership00:45 – Welcome to the Podcast & Episode Overview02:00 – Introducing Joe Kiani & His Journey Into Medtech04:30 – Founding Masimo: Early Challenges & Breakthroughs07:30 – The Problem With Pulse Oximetry Before Masimo10:00 – Innovation vs Resistance in Healthcare12:30 – Fighting Industry Pushback & Legal Battles15:00 – Patient Safety as a Business Model17:20 – Lessons From Scaling a Global Medtech Company19:30 – Leadership, Culture & Long-Term Thinking21:40 – The Role of Persistence in Medtech Innovation23:30 – Advice for Founders & First-Time CEOs25:30 – The Future of Monitoring & Patient Care27:30 – Final Reflections From Joe Kiani29:00 – Closing Thoughts & Call to Action30:00 – End of EpisodeAre you a medtech CEO in need of some marketing help attracting investors, growing sales pipeline, and more? Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GrowMyMedtech.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to book time for a free analysis.Subscribe to our Youtube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@thestateofmedtechSubscribe to our LinkedIn Newsletterhttps://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/state-of-medtech-pod-7328860752952352770/Follow The State of MedTech onLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestateofmedtech/Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/stateofmedtech/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@stateofmedtechpodX https://x.com/stateofmedtechFacebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/stateofmedtechFollow Omar M. Khateeb onLinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/okhateeb/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/omar.m.khateeb/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@omar.m.khateebX ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https: https://x.com/OmarMKhateebFacebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/OmarMKhateeb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or medical advice. The views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of State of MedTech LLC. Nothing discussed on this podcast should be interpreted as a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any investment or security. Listeners should conduct their own due diligence and consult with a qualified financial advisor, attorney, or other professional before making any financial or investment decisions#medtech #digitalhealth #guthealth #healthcareinnovation #medicaldevices