372. Corporate Venture: Hikma Pharma's VP Corporate Development & Ventures Lana Ghanem on Investing in Medtech

In this episode, Omar Khateeb sits down with Lana Ghanem, VP of Corporate Development & Ventures at Hikma Pharmaceuticals and Managing Director at Hikma Ventures, to unpack how corporate venture is reshaping MedTech.This is not just about capital. It is about how corporate venture teams think, how they assess opportunities, and why most companies never make it past the first conversation.Lana explains why strong traction alone is not enough, and how founders who understand strategic alignment and investor priorities create a clear advantage. The conversation also touches on Hikma’s focus on AI diagnostics, drug development, and scaling healthcare solutions across global markets, especially in the Middle East and North Africa. If you are raising or planning to, this gives you a clearer view of what investors are actually looking for.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Middle East Healthcare Reality + Antibiotic Misuse Problem00:45 Investor Mindset: Why Your Pitch Must Make Sense00:52 AI Diagnostics and Early Screening Trends01:23 Intro: Rise of Corporate Venture in MedTech02:13 Alana Ghanem Background and Career Path12:00 Why Startups Fail: Market vs Product12:30 MarketCraft Ad: Market Engineering for Founders14:59 Board Seat vs Observer Seat Explained16:37 What Investors Look for Beyond Metrics17:45 Founder Mistakes and Importance of Preparation19:51 US vs Global Expansion Strategy20:30 Drug Delivery Innovation and 505(b)(2) Strategy21:30 AI in Drug Development: Where Pharma is Heading23:49 AI Use Cases Beyond R&D (Legal, Ops, Efficiency)25:42 AI Diagnostics and Early Disease Detection26:20 Antimicrobial Resistance Challenge in MENA27:17 Scaling Challenges in MedTech and AI Platforms28:49 Advice for Founders: Make It an Easy Yes30:00 Investor Expectations and Decision Process31:07 How to Reach Hikma Ventures31:44 Conferences and Networking Opportunities32:02 Final Thoughts on Pharma + MedTech Convergence33:00 Outro and SubscribeAre 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 #healthcareinnovation #digitalhealth #aiinhealthcare #healthtech