The Crux of Medtech

In this episode of the Crux of Neuro, Renee Ryan, co-founder and CEO of PinPrint and former CEO of Cala Health. Renee traces her path from Wall Street healthcare banker to one of medtech’s most prolific investors and operators. She explains why, in neurotech today, getting reimbursed is often harder than getting cleared and how data became the whole story.Key TopicsRenee’s path from healthcare investment banking to leading J&J’s medtech investing (JJDC)Founding Verb Surgical and investing across J&J’s surgical-robotics portfolio (Auris, Verb)Crossing from investor to operator as CEO of Cala HealthWinning Medicare coverage for wearable, at-home neuromodulationLaunching PinPrint and high-resolution 3D-printed microneedle patchesRelated InsightsWhy “if it’s not published, it doesn’t exist” to payersHow a connected device turns real-world data into reimbursement evidenceThe shift in medtech from “get FDA approval” to “prove you can get paid”Pharma and medtech converging around sensors, biomarkers and real-time dataCore ChallengesWearable, at-home neuromodulation didn’t fit existing reimbursement codes forcing Cala to build the clinical evidence and the payment pathway from scratch, through repeated appeals.Microneedle/microarray patches have existed for decades without FDA approval; PinPrint argues the real bottleneck has been manufacturing precision, which high-resolution 3D printing now addresses.🎧 Tune in now to hear how Renee Ryan turned data into dollars in neuromodulation and where she’s taking the body’s next interface with PinPrint.

In this episode, Jordan is joined by Ahmed Elmouelhi, President & CEO of TRiCares, the company behind Topaz, a purpose-built transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement system now in head-to-head pivotal trial against Edwards EVOQUE in the US.Ahmed brings over 20 years of structural heart experience, including nearly a decade building TAVR and LAA therapies at AtriCure and Medtronic, and explains exactly why he crossed to the right side of the heart and what it took to build a valve that doesn't behave like anything the field has seen before.Key Topics:Why the tricuspid valve was "the forgotten valve" for decades and what changedThe design philosophy behind Topaz: building a soft, flexible valve purpose-built for the right side of the heartGoing head-to-head with Edwards EVOQUE in the TRICURE US IDE pivotal trialWhat the first 20 patients taught TRiCares the good, the bad, and the uglyRunning dual CE mark and US pivotal studies simultaneously, and what that demands from leadership and boardThe three things TRiCares hires for: hungry, humble, and smartRelated Insights:Why more than 25% pacemaker rates in current TTVR systems are clinically and economically untenableHow ICE-based (intracardiac echo) guidance is reducing procedural imaging burden and removing the need for general anaesthesiaThe "smooth is fast, slow is smooth" operating philosophy borrowed from Formula OneWhat physicians should look for when choosing which TTVR pivotal study to joinCore Challenges:The tricuspid annulus is highly variable in anatomy and extremely low-pressure, everything that works in aortic and mitral valve replacement has to be unlearned when building for the right side of the heart.The current commercial standard (Edwards EVOQUE) carries a pacemaker implant rate exceeding 25%, often appearing after discharge, a clinical, economic, and patient safety problem that TRiCares is targeting with a reported 0% rate from its soft outer shell design.Running two concurrent pivotal trials across the US and Europe while building out a team, infrastructure, and physician network is a resource and execution challenge that demands an experienced, aligned board.Tune in now to hear why Ahmed believes the tricuspid space has the potential to outgrow TAVR and what it will take to get there.

In this episode of the Crux of Neuro, Liz Moyles is joined by Hubert Martens, physicist-turned-entrepreneur, co-founder of Sapiens Steering Brain Stimulation (acquired by Medtronic for ~$200M), and now CEO of Salvia BioElectronics. Hubert shares how a career that started with double-layer DVD technology at Philips led him to building a patient-centred neuromodulation implant for treatment-resistant migraine and what 25 years of hard-won startup experience has taught him about doing it right.Key TopicsFrom Philips R&D to Medtronic acquisition: Hubert's path into neuromodulationWhy chronic migraine is a neurological disorder, not just a headacheThe MySalvia system: how a battery-free implant targets treatment-resistant migraineFDA Breakthrough Device Designation: what it means in practiceWhy reimbursement strategy must start before you design the productBuilding patient-centricity into company culture from day oneThe emotional reality of being a medtech founder and who to call when it gets hardRelated InsightsThe clinical case for neuromodulation in migraine: decades of physician-led experimentationPositioning for payers: building economic and clinical evidence in parallel with regulatory approvalHow patient advocacy drives market adoption for novel implantable therapiesThe 14–17 year medtech funding gap and why consistent de-risking milestones matter more than everCore ChallengesTreatment-resistant migraine patients, those who have failed CGRP inhibitors and Botox, have no meaningful therapeutic option. The disease progressively worsens, and its invisibility compounds the psychological burden: isolation, shame, and the constant fear of the next attack.Bringing a novel implantable neuromodulation system to market requires simultaneous mastery of regulatory strategy, reimbursement landscape, and clinical evidence design, areas most early-stage founders engage too late, at significant cost.Tune in now to hear how Hubert Martens is building the therapy that treatment-resistant migraine patients have been waiting for and the hard lessons from three decades in neuromodulation that shaped how he's doing it.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

In this episode of the Crux of MedTech, Henry Norton is joined by Tatiana Lobanov-Rostovsky, Investor at Oxford Science Enterprises, the independent, billion-pound investment company built in partnership with the University of Oxford. With a background in neuroscience, Healthcare M&A at Rothschild & Co, and hands-on experience inside a biotech startup, Tatiana brings a rare view across the full lifecycle of medtech company building.From the Europe vs US debate to why most companies fail not in R&D but in commercial and what the best founders do differently from day one, this is a candid conversation about what it actually takes to build something the strategics will want.Key TopicsEurope vs US: where medtech startups should build, raise, and scaleThe Oxford Science Enterprises model, patient capital, EIR programmes, and venture building from university spinoutsHow to spot the difference between a technology looking for a problem and a genuine clinical pullBuilding for a strategic acquisition from day one, what the buyers actually want to seeWhy commercial talent matters more than technical talent at the early stageThe EU/UK infrastructure gaps holding back medtech foundersRelated InsightsWhy hardware companies will outlast SaaS in a world of AI disruption and what that means for medtech investorsThe NHS as a data advantage: how UK founders can use patient data to build globally competitive productsStructural heart and neurovascular as active investment themes and what's driving OSE's thesis buildingCaristo Diagnostics and Ultromics as case studies in AI-powered cardiac diagnostics scaling for the US marketCore ChallengesThe majority of medtech companies that reach FDA approval still fail in commercial, making go-to-market strategy as important as clinical validation.European founders face a structural disadvantage in accessing the right commercial talent early enough, with risk aversion and brain drain compounding the problem.Investors are paralysed by AI disruption uncertainty, but hardware-first, highly regulated sectors like medtech remain defensible, if founders and investors are willing to think long-term.Tune in now to hear why the most valuable medtech companies are built from the commercial endpoint backwards and what the strategics are actually looking for when they acquire.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

In this episode, your host, Jordan Burgin, is joined by Vlastimil Hrabal, CEO and Co-Founder of Kardi AI, to unpack why a 24-hour Holter monitor the hospital gold standard misses most dangerous arrhythmias, and how long-term, AI-evaluated ECG monitoring is changing detection, prevention, and the economics of cardiac care.Key TopicsWhy long-term ECG monitoring outperforms the 24-hour Holter standardBuilding two AI models one to detect arrhythmias, one to strip out noise and artifactsEarning clinician trust through MDR Class IIa certification and university-hospital studiesA three-channel commercial model: hospitals, direct-to-consumer, and employee benefitsScaling a regulated device across Central Europe, India, the Gulf and Southeast AsiaRaising a Series A in a tougher, more data-hungry healthcare capital marketRelated InsightsWhy roughly half of arrhythmia patients are asymptomatic and what that means for screeningHow AI can act as a “third eye” for cardiologists rather than replacing themWhat sustained patient “stickiness” (four measurements a week, over years) reveals about real-world valueLocalising a regulated medical device market by market pricing, partners and presenceCore ChallengesA 24-hour Holter monitor detects an arrhythmia in only ~3–5% of cases, because dangerous rhythms such as atrial fibrillation appear unpredictably and are easily missed in a single day’s snapshot while patients can wait three to six months for testing and weeks more for results.Kardi AI’s certified, wearable long-term ECG belt lets patients measure anytime, with AI-evaluated reports returned within five minutes to both patient and physician reportedly a 10× higher detection rate, while reducing clinician workload and false positives.🎧 Tune in now to hear why the future of cardiac care is continuous, AI-evaluated, and built for prevention not just diagnosis.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

In this episode of the Crux of Cardio, Jordan Burgin sits down with Dan Rose, CEO of Endovascular Engineering (E2), to talk about building, exiting, and doing it all over again this time in one of the hottest spaces in cardiovascular medicine.Dan joined LimFlow as its first employee, guided it through an FDA approval, a landmark New England Journal of Medicine publication, and ultimately its acquisition by Inari Medical. Weeks before that deal closed, E2 had seven days of cash in the bank.Key TopicsThe PE thrombectomy market and what the Stryker–Inari and Boston Scientific–Penumbra acquisitions signalBuilding LimFlow from the ground up as a first-time CEO and first employeeWhy changing physician behaviour is harder than building the technologyCultivating strategic relationships before you need themManaging strategics on your cap table without compromising board integrityWhat physicians actually want from the next generation of PE devicesClosing an oversubscribed $80M Series C when most of the market is starved for capitalThe role of chair seats in extending a CEO's impact and perspectiveRelated InsightsWhy market development, not efficacy is often the real barrier to adoptionThe emotional reality of exits: the post-acquisition dip no one talks aboutWhy CEOs should proactively build peer networks and ask for helpHow arriving second in a category can be a structural advantage if you have differentiated technologyThe value of transatlantic commercial experience in European medtechCore ChallengesPulmonary embolism is the third leading cause of cardiovascular death, yet the current category leaders are delivering incremental innovation rather than the low-profile, high-efficiency, blood-return-capable devices physicians are asking for.Medtech startups moving into unfamiliar physician behaviour, like foot-focused wound care for interventional cardiologists at LimFlow, require deep clinical education infrastructure, not just compelling data.Founder CEOs face a lonely role where they cannot be fully transparent with their own teams, and must actively build external peer networks to stay effective and grounded.🎧 Tune in now to hear what it really takes to build, exit, and rebuild in medtech and why Dan Rose had just seven days of cash left when the LimFlow deal finally closed.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

In this episode, your host, Liz Moyles, is joined by Juan-Pablo Mas, Managing Director at Action Potential VC to talk about investing at the frontier of neurotech and bioelectronic medicine, and why reimbursement, not technology, is so often the make-or-break risk.Juan-Pablo traces his path from electrical engineering and a formative stint in Medtronic's cardiovascular division, through Stanford Biodesign and his first venture roles at Morgenthaler and Lightstone, to a decade investing in the brain and nervous system at Action Potential and now the Synapse Fund.He explains what he looks for in founders, why "herd mentality" in venture is where the real opportunity hides, how AI and signal processing are reshaping neurotech, and where he sees the healthcare system heading as clinical resources become more abundant.Key Topics:Juan-Pablo's route from engineering and Medtronic to venture and the Synapse FundInvesting in neuromodulation, bioelectronic medicine and the wider neurotech marketHow AI, signal processing and machine learning are accelerating the fieldWhat separates fundable founders from the restWhy reimbursement is the single biggest risk in neurotech todayRelated Insights:The "thirsty learner" founder mindset saying "I don't know, but I'll find out"Why a unique, against-the-grain take is where returns are madeChoosing investors and boards who actually understand the business technicallyThe shift toward preventative health as an investable categoryDesigning healthcare for abundance agentic tools, BCI and what comes nextCore Challenges:Reimbursement and coverage decisions not the technology are often the hardest, riskiest part of bringing a neurotech to market. Agencies can default to denial, and a single coverage setback can hit a company exactly when its burn is highest.Founders need a credible reimbursement and commercialisation strategy from day one, and a board that genuinely understands the business otherwise they risk setting up failure at later rounds without realising it.🎧 Tune in now to hear why the brain is medtech's last great frontier and what it really takes to fund and build there.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

In this episode, your host, Jordan Burgin, is joined by Brandon Allen a cardiovascular commercial leader who is CCO at Atraverse Medical, the transseptal-access company acquired by Johnson & Johnson to talk about what it really takes to commercialise cardiovascular technology.Drawing on two decades across Guidant, Boston Scientific, Biosense Webster, Acutus and Atraverse, Brandon shares the lessons that don’t make the pitch deck: surviving a cash crisis with three months of runway left, choosing between VC and family-office capital, building electrophysiology teams from scratch, and why the first commercial hire can decide whether a startup makes it.Key TopicsBrandon’s accidental path into medtech and cardiac EP from college golf to Pfizer to GuidantSurviving a cash crisis with three months of runway leftVC capital vs. family-office capital for cardiovascular startupsBuilding and developing commercial teams in electrophysiologyWhat early adoption really takes in the EP lab, the “aha moment”When to make your first commercial hire and who it should beRelated InsightsWhy family offices can beat VCs on founder control and connectionSelling the patient story, not just the clinical dataWhy engineers need to be in the room during live casesHow leaders learn more from bad leadership than goodCore ChallengesFounders confuse clinical validation with commercial adoption, underestimating how entrenched the big four (Biosense, Medtronic, Abbott, Boston) already are inside hospitals.Companies wait until approval to hire sales talent, forgetting it can take 90–180 days before a new rep delivers any revenue making the timing, and the first hire, mission-critical.🎧 Tune in now to hear how Brandon Allen turns differentiated cardiovascular technology into real commercial traction, from cash crises to clean exits.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

In this episode, your host, Jordan Burgin, is joined by Jim Hartman, Chief Commercial Officer at Cleerly, to talk about why heart disease is still caught too late and how AI-driven coronary CT analysis is moving diagnosis upstream, before the heart attack ever happens.Jim shares the personal story behind his switch from cardiac surgery to prevention, breaks down what Cleerly actually sees inside the arteries, and walks through the commercial playbook he used to take the company from pre-revenue to scale from reimbursement battles to hiring for skill, will, and fit.Key TopicsWhy heart disease is still diagnosed “on the back end” and the case for imaging the heartWhat a Cleerly coronary CT analysis sees that a calcium score missesBuilding a commercial engine from pre-revenue to scaleHiring for skill, will, and fit in a mission-driven startupRelated InsightsThe shift from a “sick-based” system to value-based, subscription-style careWhy financial ROI now outweighs clinical enthusiasm in hospital salesUsing AI tools for market segmentation and smarter territory planningCore ChallengesPhysician inertia: even with cutting-edge technology and a deep body of clinical data, established physician habits change slowly. Adoption depends on proving clinical value, workflow efficiency, and ROI all at once and, in today’s ~1–2% hospital margins, the financial case can be the showstopper.Reimbursement and capacity: securing coverage took nearly five years, forcing an early pivot to the concierge market. Even now, with demand rising, a shortage of CT machines and radiology techs leaves some markets up to six weeks behind on coronary CT.🎧 Tune in now to hear how Jim Hartman is building the commercial engine behind a world without heart attacks.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

In this episode of the Crux of Neuro podcast, Liz Moyles sits down with Jim Surek, a 33-year medtech veteran with seven M&A exits to his name, including Advanced Bionics' $3 billion acquisition by Boston Scientific.Jim shares the commercial playbook he's used to build and scale teams across spine, neuromodulation, and urology, from selling medical supplies out of a catalogue to leading the commercial strategy behind some of the biggest exits in the industry. He explains why "better, cheaper, faster" is a dead pitch, why he hires reps with zero medtech experience, and how founders should really think about selling to today's multi-headed customer.Key Topics:Why "better, cheaper, faster" fails as a value proposition in modern medtechSelling to the multi-headed customer: clinicians, purchasing, CFOs, and value analysis committeesHiring non-medtech sales reps and why conventional experience can be a liabilityBuilding program-based commercial strategies that go beyond the physician championNavigating M&A as a CEO: what founders get wrong about acquisition interestLeading a distressed asset: Jim's playbook for turning Valencia Technologies aroundRelated Insights:Why curiosity and courage matter more than a track record when hiring for startupsThe difference between solving pain points and creating unrealised gains for health systemsHow the value analysis committee process really works, and why the conventional track failsLessons from US Surgical's training philosophy and how they still shape medtech sales cultureCore Challenges:Medtech founders are still leading with product features instead of articulating real value across every stakeholder in a health system. The "multi-headed customer" demands clinical, economic, operational, and strategic value, not just a better device.Startups struggle to break into hospitals because they follow conventional sales processes. Jim argues that programme-based selling, where every stakeholder understands what they gain, is the only way to move fast and avoid getting stuck in 14-month VAC loops.🎧 Tune in now to hear Jim Surek's unfiltered playbook on commercial strategy, hiring, M&A, and why the best medtech leaders make it about everyone but themselves.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

In this episode, host Jordan Burgin sits down with Dr. Dave Albert, physician, serial inventor and founder of AliveCor, the man who put a clinical-grade ECG in your pocket. From a viral 2011 iPhone demo to a pocket-sized 12-lead ECG that can diagnose a heart attack anywhere, Dave shares four decades of skating to where the puck was going.Key TopicsDave’s path from clinical medicine to serial medtech entrepreneurThe viral 2011 iPhone-ECG video that helped define “digital health”Building and exiting Corazonix, Data Critical and LifetoneInside AliveCor’s Kardia 12L: a pocket-sized, AI-powered 12-lead ECGWhere AI will reshape cardiovascular risk predictionRelated InsightsWhy “digital health” will simply become “health”“Augmented intelligence”: using AI to find who’s really at riskThe case for orthogonal innovation, looking where no one else isDistilling the wearable “data tsunami” into clinical signalCore ChallengesToday’s risk tools, lipids, calcium scores, family history, still can’t reliably predict who will have a heart attack. Clinicians need AI to surface who is truly at risk, and when, so treatment can begin decades earlier.Wearables generate an overwhelming volume of data that floods the medical record. That data must be distilled into actionable clinical insight before digital health can genuinely become health.Tune in now to hear how Dr. Dave Albert spent 40 years putting life-saving cardiac diagnostics into the palm of your hand and where he thinks AI takes cardiology next.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

In this episode, host Henry Norton sits down with Anat Shani, CEO of Synchrony Medical, to talk about LibAirty™, the first FDA-cleared at-home airway clearance system and what it took to carry it from a COVID-era prototype to a US commercial launch.Key TopicsThe cystic fibrosis patient whose LibAirty device sustained her through a six-month, overseas transplant waitWhat airway clearance is, and why people with chronic lung disease need it every single dayHow LibAirty mimics a respiratory therapist using a guided-breathing vest synchronised with a coaching appBuilding inside the MEDX Xelerator venture studio and the Israeli Innovation Authority ecosystemGoing from FDA 510(k) clearance to early US commercialisationRelated InsightsWhy COVID accelerated the shift from hospital-based care into the home settingHow tight feedback loops between engineers, clinicians and patients shaped the deviceLeading and reinventing yourself as a first-time founder through doubt and through conflictWhy adherence, not just efficacy, is the real battleground in chronic respiratory careCore ChallengesChronic lung conditions like COPD, bronchiectasis and cystic fibrosis trap thick secretions in damaged airways, driving a vicious cycle of flare-ups, infections and decline. Daily airway clearance is the key to breaking that cycle, but there aren’t enough respiratory therapists to deliver it, and existing home methods are hard for patients to perform correctly on their own.LibAirty delivers therapist-level airway clearance at home by synchronising guided breathing with targeted chest compressions, clearing twice as much sputum as traditional vest-based therapy in clinical studies, while improving comfort and the long-term adherence patients need.🎧 Tune in now to hear how Synchrony Medical is turning expert-level respiratory therapy into a daily routine patients can do at home.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

In this episode of the Crux of Cardio, your host Jordan Burgin sits down with Louis de Lillers, CEO of CorWave, the French company developing a next-generation LVAD powered by the wave membrane technology inspired by the motion of marine animals.Louis shares why current LVADs leave patients alive but without a pulse, and how CorWave's approach could restore physiological blood flow, reduce devastating adverse events, and even open the door to cardiac recovery. "He also gets candid about what it really takes to build a medtech company from five employees to first-in-human in an industry where billion-dollar leaders thrive, the fundraising journey that included the European Commission's first direct equity investment since 1957, and why the best advice he can give founders is: if you can avoid raising money, don't raise money.Key Topics:Why current LVAD patients live without a pulse and the clinical consequencesCorWave's wave membrane technology and how it restores pulsatile flowThe 13-year journey from R&D startup to first-in-human implantationFundraising strategy: from Sofinnova Partners to the EIC FundBuilding and retaining a world-class team in a startup environmentRelated Insights:The case for physiological flow over continuous flow in mechanical circulatory supportWhy clinical trial centres can double as early commercial launchpadsThe European medtech talent gap and why experienced operators are in short supplyCore Challenges:Current continuous-flow LVADs disrupt the cardiovascular system, leading to stroke, gastrointestinal bleeding, aortic insufficiency, and severely limited patient quality of life.CorWave's wave membrane LVAD is designed to restore physiological pulsatility, modulate flow for patient activity, and potentially enable cardiac recovery, all while navigating a market with 10+ year barriers to entry and a single dominant player.Tune in now to hear how CorWave is challenging the status quo in mechanical circulatory support and what it takes to build a paradigm-shifting medtech company from the ground up.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

In this episode of The Crux of MedTech, Henry Norton sits down with Thom Rasche, Managing Partner and founding force behind Earlybird Health, the venture fund that literally changed German law to get public health insurers investing in early-stage medtech. Thom shares the unvarnished reality of European health VC: where the arbitrage lies, why the CE mark has lost its edge, and what separates the 5% of startups using AI meaningfully from the 95% just putting it in the business plan. From building a fund around patient outcomes to coaching founders through the painful moment their company outgrows them, this conversation is a masterclass in what it takes to back revolutionary healthcare technology in Europe and get it to the US market.Key Topics:The real cost advantage of developing medtech in Europe vs. the USWhy the CE mark has fallen behind the FDA as a regulatory pathwayHow Earlybird got public health insurers into venture (and changed the law to do it)What separates a better mousetrap from a game-changing technologyThe three phases a startup CEO must navigate, and why most can’t cover all threeRelated Insights:Why outcomes-based pricing could reshape pharmaceutical reimbursementHow AI is accelerating platform validation and clinical trial recruitmentThe role of collaboration over competition in European VCCore Challenges:European medtech startups face smaller funding rounds and a fragmented market, meaning the best companies must eventually flip to the US to access the world’s largest healthcare market and viable exit routes.Assessing founding teams remains the hardest part of due diligence. The biggest reason companies fail is not the technology, it’s that the people cannot execute through the shifting demands of growth, clinical validation, and commercialisation.Tune in now to hear how one of Europe’s most experienced health VCs backs revolutionary technology, navigates the transatlantic funding gap, and coaches founders through the moments that make or break their companies.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

In this episode of The Crux of Cardio, Jordan Burgin sits down with Ken Nelson, one of the most experienced commercial leaders in cardiac digital health.Ken helped scale commercial teams at iRhythm, BioTelemetry/CardioNet, and Bardy Diagnostics, three of the defining names in ambulatory cardiac monitoring. He shares the inside story behind the 2020–2021 cardiac monitoring M&A wave, including Philips’ acquisition of BioTelemetry, Hillrom’s acquisition of BardyDx, and Boston Scientific’s acquisition of Preventice.The conversation also covers the Medicare reimbursement shock that nearly derailed the Bardy transaction, the court decision that forced Hillrom to complete the deal, and the personal loss that now shapes Ken’s work as an investor, board member, and mentor across cardiac and EP startups.Key Topics:The 45-day acquisition wave: Philips/BioTelemetry, Boston Scientific/Preventice, and Hillrom/BardyHow a Medicare reimbursement error nearly killed the Bardy acquisitionKen's people-first commercialisation playbook for medtech startupsThe personal tragedy that made fighting heart disease his life's missionKen's current thesis at Nelson Jennings Ventures and his portfolio companiesRelated Insights:Why angel investors and family offices matter more than ever for early-stage cardiac startupsHeartBeam's credit-card-sized 12-lead ECG and the future of at-home heart attack detectionHow Echo IQ is applying AI to echocardiography to detect aortic stenosis and heart failureWhy wearable therapeutics like StimCardio will disrupt the standard of care in cardiac arrhythmiaCore Challenges:Remote patient monitoring reimbursement codes haven't kept pace with multi-sensor, multi-condition wearable devices, creating a bottleneck for commercialisationCardiac startups need tighter collaboration between the FDA, CMS, payers, and industry accelerators to drive faster adoption of emerging technologiesSeries A funding goalposts have shifted: earlier clinical data is now expected, making angel investors and family offices critical for bridging the gap🎧 Tune in now to hear how Ken Nelson went from a finance cubicle to building the commercial engine behind cardiac monitoring's biggest exits, and what he's betting on next.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

In this episode of The Crux of MedTech, Henry Norton sits down with Toon Overbeeke, CEO and Co-founder of Vitestro, the company behind the world's first CE-marked autonomous robotic phlebotomy device, Aletta. Fresh off a $70M oversubscribed Series B backed by Labcorp, Mayo Clinic, Sutter Health and Sonder Capital, with Intuitive Surgical founder Fred Moll on the board, Toon shares how a friend's father struggling through chemotherapy blood draws sparked the idea to automate the most commonly performed invasive procedure on the planet.Toon breaks down how Vitestro approached the problem from a business case first, not an engineering push, and why that distinction has kept their thesis intact for nine years. He shares surprising patient adoption data, including the counterintuitive finding that elderly patients are more willing to use the system than younger ones, and the moment a waiting room fight broke out because patients wanted to skip the line to use their robot.He also opens up about the personal evolution required to scale from a two-person team to over 100 FTEs, the trade-offs of managing long-standing team members through company growth, and how having Fred Moll and strategic investors on the cap table has accelerated their journey toward European commercial launch.Key Topics:The origin of Vitestro and why business case came before engineeringAutonomous robotic blood drawing and the Aletta devicePatient adoption data and the counterintuitive age findingsScaling from prototype to product and the factor-10 ruleBuilding a strategic investor base and cap table strategyPreparing for European commercial launchRelated Insights:Why standardising the pre-analytical phase matters for diagnostic accuracyHow a one-to-many supervision model makes autonomous devices commercially viableThe role of strategic investors like Labcorp and Mayo Clinic in de-risking commercialisationCore Challenges:Blood drawing remains the only part of the diagnostic chain that hasn't been automated, creating a bottleneck driven by staffing shortages, high turnover, and inconsistent quality that leads to hemolysis and rejected samples.Scaling from a working prototype to a reliable, serviceable, manufacturable medical device requires orders of magnitude more engineering and operations effort than most founders anticipate, encompassing everything from cyber security compliance and regulatory approvals to remote access infrastructure and field serviceability.Tune in now to hear how Vitestro is automating the world's most common invasive procedure and what it takes to build a medtech company from first principle to commercial launch.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

In this episode, your host Jordan Burgin sits down with Dr. Lucy O'Keeffe, CEO and Co-Founder of CroíValve, for the first ever in-person recording of the Crux of Cardio. Lucy explains why the tricuspid valve was once considered the "forgotten valve", how her Dublin-based team is building a device that sits between repair and replacement, and what it really takes to raise €60 million and navigate clinical validation as a first-time founder in structural heart.Key Topics:Why the tricuspid valve was overlooked for decades and what changedCroíValve's "adaptive co-optation" approach and how it differs from clip and replacement technologiesClinical validation: early European data, device updates, and the path to FDA and CE markFundraising as a first-time founder in Ireland's medtech ecosystemBuilding a team culture that retains talent and creates future foundersRelated Insights:Why Ireland has become a launchpad for medtech startupsThe role of Enterprise Ireland and angel syndicates in early-stage medtech fundingWhy a dual US/Europe regulatory strategy still matters in the MDR eraCore Challenges:Tricuspid regurgitation affects 3.6% of the over-65 population, yet current commercial devices leave many patients anatomically unsuitable for treatment and deliver variable outcomes.CroíValve's DUO system is designed to treat the broadest range of patients while preserving right heart function, but the capital-intensive journey of clinical validation competes with venture timelines and a funding landscape increasingly tilted toward AI.Tune in now to hear how a Trinity College spin-out is rewriting the playbook for tricuspid valve treatment.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

In this episode, Henry Norton sits down with Karun Naga, CEO of Apreo Health, to talk about one of the most underserved patient populations in respiratory medicine and why everything the industry tried before was heading in the wrong direction. Karun takes us inside the 25-year journey from the original Emphasys Medical valve device through to Apreo's BREATHE Airway Scaffold, a fundamentally different, non-destructive approach to treating severe emphysema.He explains how a June 2021 cadaver lab session in Minnesota confirmed the science, how the team raised $130 million despite most investors wanting to wait, and why a mechanical engineer turned patent lawyer ended up leading a clinical-stage medtech company.Key TopicsWhy the original emphysema valve approach was answering the wrong questionHow Apreo's BREATHE Airway Scaffold works differently to every predecessorThe Foundry's venture studio model and what "maniacal focus" actually looks likeIP strategy for medtech founders: filing early, going broad, and securing global optionsRaising $130M when most investors wanted to wait for the dataRelated InsightsThe career path from mechanical engineering to patent law to medtech CEOWhy "publish or perish" and intellectual property protection go hand in handHow The Foundry turns clinical curiosity into venture-backed companiesWhat Inari and Penumbra prove about building an entire market through focused executionCore ChallengesSevere emphysema leaves patients with as little as 60-70% of their functional lung tissue, and the diseased tissue hyperinflates to two to three times its size, compressing healthy lung and making every breath a struggle. Every prior interventional approach, from valves to coils to vapour, has been destructive to the lung, limiting treatment to a narrow subset of patients.Apreo Health's BREATHE Airway Scaffold takes a collaborative, tissue-sparing approach: a minimally invasive implant that releases trapped air without sacrificing lung tissue, designed to reach the majority of severe emphysema patients who current treatments cannot help.🎧 Tune in now to hear how Karun Naga and Apreo Health are rewriting the playbook on emphysema treatment after 25 years of unfinished business.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

In this episode of Crux of Cardio, Jordan Burgin sits down with Arnaud Mascarell, CEO and Co-Founder of FineHeart, the Bordeaux-based company behind the FlowMaker, a fully implantable cardiac assist device that works in synchrony with the heart's natural contraction rather than replacing it.Arnaud shares the full journey: 18 years at Medtronic pioneering CRT pacemakers, the origin story that started with a child's toy boat, why the current approach to heart failure is fundamentally broken, and what it takes to spend a decade building a device that nobody else has been able to replicate. He also opens up on fundraising in European medtech, securing a €48M EU grant, and why he measures success in patients saved rather than acquisition price.Key Topics:Why the heart failure industry is failing patients between medication and late-stage devicesThe FlowMaker: a fully implantable, wireless, synchronized cardiac assist deviceThe origin story behind FineHeart and the CRT pacemaker connectionEliminating the driveline and what that means for patient quality of lifeWireless energy transfer as a platform technology for all active implantablesFundraising a €100M+ medtech startup with VCs, industrialists, and cardiologists as investorsRelated Insights:The IPCEI Tech4Cure programme and European sovereignty in active implantable devices5P medicine: preventive, predictable, proof-based, personalised, participativeWhy disruptive medtech innovation now comes almost entirely from startups, not corporatesBuilding digital twins and surgical planning tools to de-risk implantationCore Challenges:Current MCS devices arrive too late in the disease progression, require invasive surgery and external drivelines, and carry significant infection risk. This limits cardiologist referrals and keeps the therapy niche.FineHeart's FlowMaker is designed to intervene earlier with a minimally invasive, fully implantable device that accelerates native blood flow rather than bypassing the heart, with the ambition of promoting cardiac recovery rather than lifelong device dependence.Scaling from feasibility trials to a commercial product serving 100,000+ patients per year demands parallel investment in manufacturing, regulatory approval, and clinical demonstration, all while maintaining fundraising momentum in a risk-heavy European medtech landscape.Tune in now to hear how a Playmobil toy boat sparked a device that could transform heart failure treatment for hundreds of thousands of patients.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

Liam Burns, CEO of Qaelon Medical, joins Henry Norton to talk about one of surgery's most dangerous and overlooked complications: the anastomotic leak.With leak rates in colorectal surgery now estimated at 18-20% and the standard detection method dating back to 1910, Liam explains how Qaelon is digitizing leak detection to give surgeons real-time, objective data in the OR.He also shares the personal motivation driving the mission, his son Colin's battle with Crohn's disease, the leadership lessons he carried from the US Navy into medtech startups, and why he believes your device's data belongs to the surgical community.Key Topics:Why surgical leak rates are far higher than the community historically believedHow Qaelon's gas-monitoring platform detects leaks in under 30 secondsThe case for constant flow insufflation in robotic surgeryBuilding a GI data ecosystem from pre-op through post-opCareer lessons from J&J/Ethicon, Power Medical, and ConMedWhy medtech founders should watch the full procedure, not just their product's momentRelated Insights:How capitated CMS payments are shifting the financial burden of complications back onto US hospitalsThe combination of insufflation and perfusion imaging for detecting subtler post-operative defectsWhy "give me what I want, not what I ask for" should guide every medtech product roadmapCore Challenges:The air bubble test, surgery's standard leak detection method since 1910, is a visual analog inspection that misses defects invisible to the naked eye. Yet it remains the only tool most surgeons have.Surgeons have never been able to objectively measure leak size, meaning there is no data-driven way to assess which defects are clinically significant and which are not.Tune in now to hear how Qaelon Medical is replacing a century-old test with real-time digital leak detection, and what it takes to build a medtech startup around a problem this personal.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

In this episode of the Crux of Cardio, Jordan Burgin sits down with Tarik Pacuka, former Chief Commercial Officer of Terumo Aortic, who scaled the business from a niche textile graft company into a $400M+ global cardiovascular player. Tarik shares the commercial playbook behind his 15-year rise from territory manager to CCO, the mentorship that shaped his leadership, what product recalls really do to a brand, and why he believes aortic disease is the most suppressed opportunity in cardiovascular.Key Topics:Tarik’s career trajectory from pharma to Vascutek to Terumo Aortic CCOBuilding and retaining high-performing commercial teams across three time zonesThe commercial playbook behind Terumo Aortic’s growthManaging product recalls and protecting brand confidenceDirect vs. indirect vs. OEM commercial models and where execution falls shortWhat Tarik looks for in his next move and the red flags he’s watching forRelated Insights:Why reliability, not innovation, is the real differentiator in Class III medical devicesThe role of mentorship in fast-tracking executive careers in medtechHow pharma training gives commercial leaders a competitive edge in medtechThe generational shift from radical invasive surgery to digitally supported, minimally invasive careCore Challenges:Aortic disease remains suppressed in terms of the urgency and investment needed. Despite the aorta being formally recognised as an organ, innovation is not moving fast enough to address the full spectrum of aortic conditions with minimally invasive, digitally supported solutions.Scaling commercial culture across global teams while maintaining trust, purpose and execution discipline is one of the hardest leadership challenges in cardiovascular medtech, particularly when competing against significantly larger incumbents like Medtronic, W.L. Gore and Getinge.Tune in now to hear how Tarik Pacuka built one of cardiovascular’s most formidable commercial engines, and what he thinks the industry needs next.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

In this episode, Henry Norton is joined by Neal Piper, Founder and CEO of Luminoah, the company behind the world’s smallest wearable enteral feeding pump. Neal shares the deeply personal story of how his son Noah’s cancer diagnosis exposed just how outdated tube feeding technology really is, and what he’s doing to change it.Key TopicsThe founding story behind Luminoah and Neal’s son Noah’s cancer journeyWhy enteral nutrition technology has barely changed in 20 yearsDesigning the Luminoah Flow: credit-card-sized, wearable, gravity-independentBuilding a full data ecosystem for real-time feed tracking and remote patient monitoringRaising capital and staying capital-efficient as a mission-driven medtech startupRelated InsightsHow malnourishment in chronic illness drives a 5x increase in mortalityThe role of personalised nutrition in improving drug therapy outcomesWhy early regulatory and reimbursement mapping de-risks medtech venturesHow children’s hospitals collaborate across institutions to improve paediatric careCore ChallengesCurrent enteral feeding pumps are bulky, IV-pole-based devices with six feet of tubing, no data tracking, and no mobility. Patients, including young children, are tethered for 8–10+ hours a day, impacting quality of life, socialisation, and nutritional compliance.Luminoah has built a wearable, credit-card-sized pump with a pouch-based feeding set, 360-degree nutrition delivery, and a connected data platform. Their goal: let patients live freely while giving clinicians real-time visibility into nutritional status to intervene before hospital readmission.Tune in now to hear how one father’s personal mission is reshaping the future of enteral nutrition.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

Henry Norton sits down with Todd Dunn, CEO of Accuryn Medical, for a conversation that starts on an OR floor and ends with a question about what it really means to lead with integrity. Todd didn’t come to medtech through a lab or a VC fund, he came through a hospital in Charlotte, where a CRNA pointed under a bed and showed him that the kidney, medicine’s most sensitive organ, was still being monitored by a gravity-fed bag invented in 1936. A decade on from that moment, he’s now running the company trying to fix it.Key TopicsWhy kidney monitoring hasn’t meaningfully advanced since CR Bard’s 1936 Foley catheterWhat AKI (acute kidney injury) actually is and why CMS now classifies it as a hospital-acquired harmHow Accuryn’s SmartFoley detects kidney distress up to 12 hours before blood tests canThe ‘diagnosis before prescription’ framework Todd built at Atrium HealthTransitioning from health system innovator to medtech CEORelated InsightsWhy hospital financing explains why the kidney was the last vital organ to be digitisedThe real cost of AKI: 13 million cases annually, 300,000 deaths, and $10–24bn in US healthcare spendWhy serum creatinine is the wrong marker for kidney function and what replaces itHow clinical partnership rather than conventional sales tactics is breaking through hospital inertiaCore ChallengesThe standard of care for urinary output measurement hasn’t changed since 1936. While the heart, lungs, and brain are fully digitised in critical care settings, hospitals still rely on a gravity-dependent system prone to stagnation, back-pressure, and manual error. ICU nurses carry the cognitive burden and patients pay the price when outputs go unrecorded.Creatinine blood tests only flag kidney injury once function has already dropped to 60%. By the time the lab result returns, damage is done. Urine output is the real-time vital sign — and Accuryn is the only FDA-cleared platform that automates and digitises it, giving clinicians up to a 12-hour head start.Tune in now to find out why the most sensitive organ in the body has been flying blind for nearly a century and what one former hospital innovator is doing to fix it.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

In this episode of The Crux of MedTech, Henry Norton is joined by Dr. Arun Menawat, Chairman and CEO of Profound Medical, the company behind the TULSA-PRO® system, an MRI-guided, incision-free platform that’s directly challenging robotic prostatectomy with head-to-head clinical data.Arun shares the clinical trial results that show step-change improvements in patient outcomes, the commercial lessons from building and exiting Novadaq (acquired by Stryker), and why he believes incision-free surgery isn’t just a product, it’s the next wave.Key Topics:Head-to-head clinical trial data: TULSA-PRO vs. robotic prostatectomyHow MRI-guided thermal ultrasound works and why it matters for patient outcomesThe Novadaq journey: from fluorescence imaging to a Stryker acquisitionBuilding a KOL strategy for a novel surgical platformWhy incision-free surgery is positioned to disrupt the next decade of surgical careRelated Insights:Why you can’t sell to surgeons by telling them they need to be betterThe role of AI in standardising MR imaging for surgical planningWhy CMS reimbursement for TULSA now exceeds robotic surgeryHow different KOL personas early adopters, visionaries, and conservatives each serve a commercialisation strategyCore Challenges:Robotic prostatectomy, despite being the current standard, carries a 75% risk of incontinence or erectile dysfunction. The robot mimics the surgeon’s hands with more reach, but it doesn’t address the precision problem the prostate sits in a highly congested area surrounded by nerve bundles and sphincter muscles.Profound Medical’s TULSA-PRO uses real-time MRI guidance and thermal ultrasound to ablate tissue at 57°C the lowest lethal temperature with AI-driven boundary mapping. The result: dramatically reduced side effects, no incision, and patients going home the same day.Tune in now to hear how Profound Medical is challenging the robotic surgery status quo with clinical data, MR-guided precision, and a vision for incision-free surgery across oncology and beyond.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

In this episode of the Crux of Cardio, host Jordan Burgin is joined by Martin Herman, co-founder and CEO of Powerful Medical the AI-powered cardiac diagnostics company behind PM Cardio.Martin shares how a software engineering background, a medical student brother, and a search for a truly pioneering problem led him to build an AI platform that can now diagnose 46 cardiovascular conditions from a single 12-lead ECG with over 120,000 doctors already using it in clinical practice.They cover the journey from early scepticism to clinical proof, the brutal reality of MedTech fundraising, and what FDA breakthrough designation means for Powerful Medical's imminent US commercial launch.Key Topics:How Powerful Medical identified the ECG as cardiology's biggest unsolved problemBuilding AI that outperforms experienced cardiologists on the hardest casesThe clinical and commercial case for PM Cardio in US heart attack centresFDA breakthrough designation and the road to US approval this summerRaising €46M in non-dilutive EU grant funding and what comes nextWinning MedTech Innovator and what it means for partnerships and validationRelated Insights:Why starting with the biggest clinical sceptics is actually a growth strategyHow 64 American physician-investors validated the product with $3.5M in fundingThe difference between pre- and post-ChatGPT AI fundraising environmentsWhy young founders have a structural advantage in MedTech and how to use itCore Challenges:Beyond the cardiologist, almost no clinician can reliably read an ECG creating a critical diagnostic gap at the first point of patient contact that PM Cardio is designed to close.US hospitals chasing heart attack accreditation KPIs are generating false positive rates as high as 70–80%, costing up to $15,000 per unnecessary cath lab activation. PM Cardio reduces false positives by ~90% while maintaining diagnostic sensitivity.Regulatory fragmentation across 27 EU healthcare markets and the complexity of US FDA approval has been the single biggest bottleneck to commercial scale, despite overwhelming clinical evidence.Tune in now to hear how Martin Herman turned a software engineering background and a medical student brother into a platform already saving thousands of lives and why the biggest breakthrough may still be ahead.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

Alzheimer's treatments finally exist but patients are waiting months for the brain scans they need to access them. In this episode, Jannis Fischer, CEO and co-founder of Positrigo, explains how his team built an ultra-compact brain PET scanner that fits inside a neurologist's office and cuts diagnostic timelines from months to days. From losing an investor the day before signing to FDA clearance and triple-digit patient volumes within weeks of launch, this is a founder story with real clinical stakes.Key TopicsWhy new Alzheimer's drugs have created a brain PET bottleneckHow Positrigo's NeuroLF scanner delivers diagnostic-quality imaging in a seated, 10–20 minute scanThe "land and expand" go-to-market strategy across US neurology officesNavigating FDA clearance and CE mark on ~€15M in fundingTransitioning from R&D organisation to customer-centric commercial operationFundraising a $25–35M growth round to scale from proof of concept to exit-readinessRelated InsightsRoche, Eli Lilly and Biogen are running trials on preventive Alzheimer's intervention blood tests could pre-screen patients before symptoms appearThe reimbursement landscape for brain PET is already settled existing codes apply, making the economics a "no-brainer" for neurology practicesDecentralising imaging from hospital centres to specialist offices mirrors the broader US trend in point-of-care diagnosticsStrategic acquirers (Siemens, GE Healthcare) and radiopharmaceutical synergies make trade sale the most likely exit pathCore ChallengesWhole-body PET systems are overloaded with oncology and cardiology scans, leaving neurology patients waiting months for brain imaging a bottleneck that worsens as Alzheimer's drug adoption accelerates.Positrigo's NeuroLF system addresses this by enabling in-office brain PET scans at the point of care, but scaling requires the right sales team, operational partners, and growth capital to move from 3 installations to a nationwide footprint.🎧 Tune in now to hear how a particle physicist turned CEO is putting brain scanners where they belong next to the patients who need them most.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

In this episode, host Henry Norton sits down with Bruno Dheedene, CEO and Founder of Rods&Cones, a surgical streaming platform that's solving one of the most overlooked problems in the OR - nobody can actually see what the surgeon is doing.Bruno shares how he bootstrapped the company from a 2018 incubation project to a profitable business serving customers worldwide, all without VC funding. He explains why the pandemic became their biggest accelerator, how they're democratizing surgical knowledge with POV streaming technology, and their audacious goal to enable 1 million patients to be treated with remote surgical assistance.Key Topics:The visibility crisis in modern operating roomsBuilding a capital-efficient medtech company without VC fundingHow smart glasses and streaming tech evolved from 2013 prototypes to surgical-grade solutionsCustomer-funded growth and the pandemic acceleration storyProduct suite evolution driven by surgeon feedbackRelated Insights:Why surgical knowledge remains trapped inside operating roomsThe power of bootstrapping to maintain autonomy and decision-making controlHow remote surgical assistance can address global surgeon shortagesReal-world use cases from military dermatology to African surgical trainingBuilding a "follow the sun" customer experience team with 2-minute SLACore Challenges:Even in the OR, industry reps and assistants can't see what surgeons are doing during open procedures. Surgeons work in small cavities from their own point of view, leaving everyone else in the outer circle with limited visibility.Rods&Cones captures the surgeon's exact POV using smart glasses and streams high-quality surgical footage to remote experts, enabling real-time case support, medical education, and remote assistance - turning a level 100 surgeon into a level 122 surgeon.🎧 Tune in now to hear how one founder is making surgery visible and accessible to millions who need it most.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

Jordan is joined by Andreu Climent, CEO of Corify Care, a cardiac mapping company using non-invasive, whole-heart technology to guide EP procedures in real time. Andreu brings a telecoms engineering background to a problem most cardiologists have accepted as unsolvable: that half of all AF ablations fail, because clinicians are operating without seeing the full picture.They cover how Corify's cardiac global mapping system works, how it has more than doubled ablation efficacy in pilot studies, and what a partnership with Mayo Clinic means for the future of predictive cardiac care. Andreu also gets into the realities of taking a seven-year research project to commercial launch and what it really takes to change clinical behaviour.Key TopicsHow Corify's whole-heart mapping system worksThe limitations of current EP ablation standards of careDoubling AF ablation efficacy with guided, personalised treatmentThe Mayo Clinic partnership and the AI for AF projectScaling from academic research to commercial launch and US market entryRelated InsightsWhy coming from outside cardiology helped Andreu challenge assumptions baked into the standard of careThe case for personalised, data-guided ablation over empirical, one-size-fits-all approachesHow predictive mapping could identify arrhythmia risk years before symptoms appearWhat it takes to shift VC interest as clinical and regulatory risk dropsCore ChallengesCurrent AF ablation is largely empirical, with success rates of 50-60%. Half of patients return after a failed procedure, and clinicians have no reliable way to know in advance whether a treatment will work for a given patient.Changing established clinical behaviour is slow, even when the data clearly supports a better approach. Getting buy-in requires more than proof — it requires presence in the cath lab and time.🎧 Tune in now to find out how Andreu Climent and Corify Care are replacing guesswork in the EP lab with real-time, whole-heart mapping.

In this episode, your host Henry Norton is joined by Esther Reynal de St Michel Richardot, Founding Partner at THENA Capital, to discuss why so many medtech founders are building technologies without understanding their real market challenges and how early-stage thinking about value propositions and stakeholder needs can make or break a healthcare startup.Esther shares her journey from market research and management consulting to launching THENA Capital, and explains why healthcare innovation lags so far behind sectors like fintech, despite having the same opportunity for disruption.Key Topics:Why founders often misdiagnose their biggest challengesThe gap between building technology and understanding market needsHow healthcare innovation compares to fintech disruptionTHENA Capital's investment thesis and founder selection processThe role of community building in early-stage healthcare VCSupporting founders beyond capital with strategic expertiseRelated Insights:Most technologies are built for the sake of the technology, not the problem they solveHealthcare has more stakeholders than any other sector—and founders need value propositions for all of themMarket understanding often reveals the real challenges companies face, not the ones they think they're facingVCs have a responsibility to support founders at all stages, not just those who fit their thesisBuilding a community fills knowledge gaps and creates unexpected collaboration opportunitiesCore Challenges:Medtech founders often focus on building innovative technology without early enough thinking about go-to-market strategy, stakeholder value propositions, and commercial viability.Healthcare remains one of the most traditional sectors to disrupt, lagging significantly behind fintech despite similar opportunities for innovation.THENA Capital addresses this by combining capital with strategic expertise from consumer insights, market research, and go-to-market planning helping founders identify and solve their real challenges before they waste time and resources. Tune in now to learn how to identify the challenges your medtech startup is actually facing and how to build for market success, not just technological innovation.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

In this episode, host Henry Norton sits down with Iwan van Vijfeijken, CEO of Microsure and a four-time medtech entrepreneur who's been through the full cycle of startup life.Iwan made the jump from NXP Semiconductors to medtech 15 years ago, starting as employee number one at Dermasun Medical. Since then, he's navigated three more ventures including Pulsify Medical, a cardiac monitoring startup that raised €10M before going bankrupt.Today at Microsure, Iwan leads a surgical robotics company that's 100% focused on open microsurgery with their MUSA robot. Unlike the crowded minimally invasive space, Microsure is tackling procedures that can't be done laparoscopically.This conversation goes deep on entrepreneurial resilience, the brutal statistics of failure in medtech, and what it really costs to keep going when cash is running out and families depend on you.Key Topics:Transitioning from corporate semiconductors to medtech startupsThe journey through four ventures: UV therapy, cardiac monitoring, and surgical roboticsWhy Pulsify Medical collapsed despite breakthrough technology and strong fundingMicrosure's strategic bet on open microsurgery versus minimally invasive roboticsThe harsh reality: more medtech companies fail than succeedRelated Insights:Why small medtech startups can out-innovate billion-dollar corporatesThe personal grief and emotional toll of venture failureHow to go all-in while still protecting yourself and your teamWhy encouraging your team to explore external opportunities isn't being unfaithfulCore Challenges:Pulsify Medical attempted two massive technical challenges at once: pioneering new semiconductor fabrication AND developing a wearable cardiac device. After raising €10M, European investors wouldn't fund the next stage. The company went bankrupt, a painful reality that took months for Iwan to process and move past.Microsure is carving out its niche in open microsurgery, deliberately avoiding the saturated minimally invasive market. The bet is that there's a vast, underserved market in procedures that simply can't be done laparoscopically. This requires absolute focus and the discipline to say no to adjacent opportunities.Tune in now to hear the unvarnished truth about surviving, failing, and thriving in medtech entrepreneurship.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

Wayne Paterson, CEO and Vice Chairman of Anteris Technologies, joins host Jordan Bergen for a frank conversation about pivoting a failing drug company into the structural heart space and building what may be medtech's next billion-dollar product.Wayne shares how 36 drug launches, a pharma-first lens on total disease management, and a blank sheet of paper led to the world's first biomimetic transcatheter heart valve — and why the market's two dominant players never saw it coming.Key TopicsHow a 25-year pharma career became the unlikely blueprint for disrupting TAVRBuilding the first biomimetic TAVR valve from blank sheet to 140 patientsRaising capital from scrappy warrants to a record-breaking $320M oversubscribed roundRunning the first randomised head-to-head RCT against Edwards and MedtronicWhy valve-in-valve is the next $3 billion opportunity and how DurAVR is already leading itRelated InsightsWhy total disease management thinking standard in pharma is largely absent from structural heartHow Medtronic ended up on Anteris's register, and why values drove the partner selectionWhat lifecycle management from oncology can teach the medtech industry about long-term product strategyThe difference between engineering a device and treating a disease and why it matters for patient outcomes Core ChallengesExisting TAVR valves leave patients in mild disease (20mmHg mean gradient). DurAVR targets the pre-disease state at 5–10mmHg a clinically meaningful and commercially critical distinction.Getting 140 patients to consistent, curative outcomes without a prior blueprint required breaking conventional medtech development norms and keeping lead physicians in the room throughout.Attracting institutional-grade talent to an early-stage, non-revenue public company meant years of patient execution before the brand had the equity to compete with Medtronic and Edwards for top-tier hires. Tune in now to hear how Wayne Paterson took a failing ASX-listed drug company, bet everything on a radically new valve design, and built what could be medtech's most important structural heart product in a decade.

In this episode, host Henry Norton sits down with Gautam Kainth, Partner at TCP Health Ventures, to unpack why medtech investing fundamentally differs from traditional tech and what founders need to know about positioning their companies for strategic exits.Gautam brings over 20 years of investment experience with $1+ billion in deployed capital across 30+ transactions spanning the US, Europe, Asia, and Africa. He leads TCP's medtech investments and currently serves on the boards of Tioga Cardiovascular, Adona Medical, and Plexaa, with active oversight of a 12-company portfolio.He shares TCP's playbook for deploying over $220 million across three funds, the AI-hardware integration reshaping devices, and the tactical framework for making your startup attractive to the right acquirers including why commercial infrastructure fit matters more than most founders realize.Key Topics:Why medtech allows multiple winners unlike Big Tech monopolies (the COVID vaccine thesis)TCP's fund strategy: $7 billion AUM platform with 27 years in ventureSeries A focus with $5-15M check sizes and board-level involvementThe convergence of AI models with hardware devices across cardiovascular, imaging, and diagnosticsStrategic vs ancillary product positioning for M&A conversationsThe Shifamed-style build-to-buy model that creates plug-and-play acquisition opportunitiesRelated Insights:How Gautam's financial services background (JP Morgan, EY transaction advisory) translates to medtech's regulatory complexityWhy TCP exited three companies and actively manages 12 with board seats on nineCommercial infrastructure fit as the first filter before pitching strategicsMini manufacturing facilities that enable pilot commercialization post-acquisitionThe importance of regulatory champions and clinical programs housed within startupsTCP's Northgate Capital sister company managing $5B in tech and venture investmentsCore Challenges:Founders waste time pitching strategics without commercial infrastructure alignment. If your cardiovascular device doesn't fit their existing sales team, you're pitching the wrong acquirer. Match your product to their distribution machinery first.Strategic vs ancillary positioning determines your exit path. If you're strategic to them, explore M&A immediately. If you're ancillary, pursue their venture arm for a minority investment, prove performance over time, then revisit acquisition conversations years later.Building for acquisition requires plug-and-play infrastructure. Companies need in-house regulatory teams, clinical trial execution capabilities, and pilot manufacturing facilities to enable seamless post-acquisition commercialization—this is what separates TCP's portfolio from competitors.🎧 Tune in now to learn how a Partner managing $220M+ in medtech capital evaluates deals and what makes your company acquisition-ready.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

In this episode, host Jordan Burgin sits down with Carine Schorochoff, CEO of Cardiawave, to explore Valvosoft the world's first CE-marked non-invasive ultrasound therapy for severe symptomatic aortic stenosis.With 30-plus years in structural heart across J&J, Medtronic, Edwards Lifesciences, and two startup CEO roles, Carine breaks down why the technology has delivered 0% stroke rates across 125 procedures, what it actually means to treat a calcified aortic valve without entering the body, and how Cardiawave is now navigating the FDA pathway with a €55M raise on the horizon.Key TopicsThe two patient populations Valvosoft was designed for and why neither could be helped beforeHow non-invasive ultrasound fragments calcification without damaging the leaflet tissue (the chocolate plate analogy)Safety data from 125 procedures: 0% stroke, 0% pacemaker implantation, 0% procedural mortalityCardiawave's path to CE mark under EU MDR and why their technical file passed first reviewThe FDA IDE study plan and early dialogue with CMS on reimbursementUsing Valvosoft to prep the valve before TAVR and the pull effect on patient referralsRelated InsightsWhy Valvosoft positions alongside drugs rather than against surgical or transcatheter valvesThe "lifetime management" model for aortic stenosis and why replacing a valve too early creates compounding problemsHow to attract senior talent in a cash-constrained startup: stock option pools, equity, and the pitchThe pull effect in action: why Valvosoft's presence in a centre brings in patients who were never even referredCore ChallengesFrail aortic stenosis patients too sick for TAVR, too sick for surgery have historically had no treatment option. Valvosoft was designed specifically to serve this population, with a non-invasive procedure requiring no anaesthesia, no incision, and no entry into the body.Early-stage moderate aortic stenosis is diagnosed but untreatable under current guidelines. The goal for this population is slowing disease progression not valve replacement placing Valvosoft in direct competition with drugs, where it offers comparable non-invasiveness with no side effects.Raising €55M for an FDA IDE study in a tighter VC environment requires extending runway, maintaining investor confidence, and managing burn rate without compromising the pace of regulatory execution across two continents simultaneously.🎧 Tune in now to hear why one of Europe's most experienced interventional cardiologists said he'd choose Valvosoft for his own heart and what that means for the future of aortic stenosis care.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

Raymond Cohen has spent 40+ years in medtech, never at a big company but always building. After taking Axonics from whiteboard to $500M in revenue and a Boston Scientific exit, he's now chairman of multiple high-growth ventures.In this episode, he breaks down what actually makes a company acquirable, why founders need to get over their fear of dilution, and the immigrant work ethic that's driven his entire career.Key Topics:Why Boston Scientific is outpacing every other strategic acquirer right nowThe "go big or go home" fundraising philosophy behind Spyro Medical's $67M Series AWhat "having the goods" actually means and why most founders don't know if they have themRaymond's criteria for joining a board: clinical problem, addressable market, and the right peopleHow LSI is filling the gap JP Morgan left for private medtech companiesRelated Insights:Neuromodulation as a pharmaceutical replacement: the Spyro asthma thesisCuffless ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and the BioBeat opportunityWhy the best people won't work for paper and how to structure equity properlyThe "tone from the top" principle and cutting underperformers earlyCore Challenges:Founders are paralysed by dilution fear, leading to undercapitalisation and slow execution.Raymonds's view: sell 85% on day one if that's what it takes to win.Too many startups pursue incremental innovation or enter crowded markets "the fifth person in a four-man race."Strategic acquirers beyond Boston Scientific have been passive, limiting exit options and slowing capital recycling in the ecosystem.🎧 Tune in now to hear how a 40-year medtech veteran thinks about building, buying, and betting big.

John Murphy left a corporate COO role to become employee number one at Virtual Incision then spent the next 14 years building MIRA, the world's first miniaturised soft tissue surgical robot.The pitch? A little robot on the inside, instead of a big one reaching in from the outside. The journey included five alpha iterations, a 30,000-page FDA de novo submission, remote surgery experiments from the International Space Station, and raising every dollar from Midwest investors after getting zero interest from Boston or Silicon Valley.Now advising the next generation of medtech founders, John shares the tactical, financial, and personal lessons from one of surgical robotics' longest development cycles.Key Topics:Why miniaturised surgical robotics could reshape remote and rural surgeryBreaking a 14-year R&D journey into financeable, executable chunksThe ISS experiment: remote surgery from 250 miles above EarthWhy Midwest investors backed Virtual Incision when the coasts wouldn'tRelated Insights:Medical devices is harder than aerospace, bio, and every other industry John's worked inThe "nuclear winter" of medtech financing and signs of a thawHow to think about seed through Series D as clinical and regulatory milestonesCore Challenges:Financing cycles in medtech often outlast VC fund timelines, founders must align milestones with capital strategyDifferentiation is non-negotiable: "There's 30 me-too Da Vinci players, Gary and Dave are going to win that oneThe personal toll of being a startup CEO is underestimated, founders need support beyond tactics and strategy🎧 Tune in now for hard-won lessons on building breakthrough surgical robotics, from first prototype to FDA clearance and beyond.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

In this episode of the Crux of Cardio, host Jordan Bergen sits down with Filip Peters, Co-founder and CEO of Acorai, to unpack how his team is building a non-invasive device that reads the pressures inside the heart, using machine learning inspired by oil and gas diagnostics.Filip shared the full founder journey: from garage prototypes in Sweden through COVID, to a 1,600-patient study across six countries and FDA Breakthrough Device designation.He explained why Acorai chose to focus on the hospitalised heart failure workflow over remote monitoring, and broke down the economics that make every heart failure admission a loss for US hospitals.Filip also discussed the challenges of fundraising in today's market, navigating EU MDR as an AI-enabled device, and his advice for cardiovascular founders on staying in "science project mode" for as long as possible.Key Topics:The transition from finance and ML into medtech entrepreneurshipHow non-invasive haemodynamic monitoring works and why it mattersInpatient vs. remote monitoring, why Acorai chose the hospital workflowThe economics of heart failure admissions and the 20x ROI caseNavigating FDA Breakthrough Device designation and the TAP Pilot programmeEU MDR challenges for AI-enabled medical devicesFundraising strategy – raising over $50M and the role of strategic investorsGo-to-market: selling directly to US hospital operational expense budgetsRelated Insights:Cross-industry inspiration: applying signal detection from oil & gas and engine diagnostics to cardiac dataThe "gold standard" problem: inherent measurement error in right heart catheterisation and what it means for AI validationWhy clinical workflow friction kills more medtech products than bad technologyHealth system venture funds as an emerging capital source for cardiovascular startupsThe value of the Cedars-Sinai Accelerator and EIC Accelerator for European foundersCore Challenges:Current non-invasive tools for estimating cardiac pressures (echo, biomarkers, X-ray) are subjective, often lagging, and vary significantly between clinicians – leading to suboptimal therapy decisions and premature discharge of heart failure patients with residual congestion.Acorai has developed a non-invasive, ML-powered sensing platform that measures both left-sided and right-sided cardiac pressures, giving clinicians a repeatable, operator-independent haemodynamic assessment, targeting better decongestion, shorter length of stay, and lower readmission rates.Tune in now to hear how Acorai is turning oil rig science into the next vital sign for heart failure management.

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

In this episode of The Crux of MedTech, host Henry Norton sits down with Andrew Glass, CEO of Vivasure Medical, fresh off announcing the company's acquisition by Haemonetics Corporation.Andrew shares the full journey, from his early days in drug-eluting stents at Guidant (later Abbott), to running a $10M sales territory, to making equity investments at Abbott Ventures, and finally taking the leap to lead an Irish medtech startup through a US pivotal trial and strategic exit.He discusses what it was really like to join a company with two months of cash, why products are never perfect the first time, and the best advice he ever ignored.Andrew also reveals the hard-won leadership lesson his mentor gave him: "Don't be a jerk."Key Topics:The journey from big pharma to startup CEOHow strategic investors evaluate medtech acquisitionsRunning US pivotal trials and navigating FDA/CMS challengesManaging founder dynamics when you're the incoming CEOBuilding toward acquisition with option agreementsRelated Insights:Why sales experience is essential for medtech leadersThe value of keeping talent when boards say cutHow timing and strategic fit drive acquisition outcomesLessons from raising Series D in a difficult funding environmentCore Challenges:Joining a startup only to discover there's two months of cash left and having to raise immediately while fixing product issues the board hadn't disclosed.Navigating CMS approval delays that pushed trial timelines out by 9-12 months, requiring constant execution while waiting for the acquirer's readiness.🎧 Tune in now for an unfiltered look at what it really takes to lead a medtech startup to exit.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

In this episode, Henry Norton sits down with Mark Tapsak, Chief Science Officer at Glucotrack and one of Dexcom's earliest employees.Mark Tapsak left Medtronic for a "crazy startup" called Dexcom after seeing data so compelling he couldn't say no. Two decades later, he's back in the CGM game as Chief Science Officer at Glucotrack, working on a 3-year implantable sensor that lives in the bloodstream.Key Topics:Mark's path from blue-collar Minnesota to polymer chemistry PhDThe founding days of Dexcom and the "three fathers" of CGM (Goff, Updike, Heller)Why early CGM struggled to convince endocrinologists of continuous data's valueDexcom's pivot from implantable to short-term sensorsGlucotrack's evolution from non-invasive ear clip to intravascular 3-year sensorCurrent trial progress in Brazil and Australia, and the path to US IDERelated Insights:Why implanting devices in the body is "harder than going to the moon"The business case for long-term implantables vs. wearablesHow the immune response creates a "sleep period" that tanks glucose signalsWhy timing and market readiness matter as much as technologyCore Challenges:Early CGM implantables worked in only ~50% of patients, forcing a pivot to wearables and delaying long-term solutions by decades.Glucotrack is now targeting a 3-year intravascular sensor that bypasses the aggressive subcutaneous immune response, with US trials expected in 2026.🎧 Tune in now to hear how CGM went from academic curiosity to medical device success story, and what comes next.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

In this episode of The Crux of Cardio, host Jordan Burgin sits down with Oliver Piepenstock, CEO and co-founder of Berlin-based Noah Labs, to explore how voice biomarkers could transform the way we detect and manage heart failure.Oliver shares the journey from a quant finance career to founding a company that uses AI to hear what the human ear cannot, subtle changes in voice that signal worsening heart failure up to three weeks before hospitalisation. He discusses pitching Mayo Clinic with almost no money left, why clinical evidence beats everything, and how radical transparency shapes Noah Labs' culture as they pursue dual FDA and MDR clearance.Key Topics:How voice analysis can detect worsening heart failure 2–3 weeks before hospitalisationWhy the current standard of care (weight scales) falls shortThe founding story: from Entrepreneur First to Mayo ClinicPursuing FDA and MDR clearance simultaneouslyCombining venture funding with non-dilutive grantsRelated Insights:How AI adoption differs in regulated vs. unregulated healthcareThe advantage of centralised FDA expertise over fragmented European notified bodiesWhy algorithm performance will be the deciding factor in market adoptionCore Challenges:Heart failure is the number one hospital admission reason in the elderly and the top cost driver for health insurers globally — yet detection still relies on weight scales that catch deterioration only days out, often too late to intervene effectively.Noah Labs has developed voice biomarker technology achieving close to 90% accuracy in clinical trials, giving clinicians enough lead time to adjust medication remotely and prevent hospitalisation.🎧 Tune in now to discover how your voice could become the next vital sign in cardiac care.

In this episode, Henry Norton sits down with Robert Kieval, CEO of Arctx Medical Inc, to talk about a condition that sends 300,000 Americans to the ER every year with no approved treatment options waiting for them.Robert shares how Arctx is developing a deceptively simple solution: a cooling catheter that targets pancreatic inflammation from inside the stomach. He also opens up about the hard lessons from his previous venture, including why he wishes he'd hired a marketing lead much earlier.Key Topics:- How Arctx's gastric cooling catheter targets pancreatic inflammation- The regulatory pathway: 510(k) clearance for temperature management, de novo for pancreatitis- Designing a 200-patient randomised controlled trial with FDA IDE approval- Why market development and reimbursement strategy need to start earlyRelated Insights:- The importance of building clinical champions before commercialisation- Why new technologies must fit into existing clinical workflows to gain adoption- Navigating the current medtech funding environmentCore Challenges:- Acute pancreatitis affects 300,000 US patients annually with no targeted therapies only supportive care- Arctx's cooling catheter aims to reduce inflammation, shorten hospital stays, and become a new first-line treatment option🎧 Tune in now to hear how Arctx is turning cooling into a therapeutic platform.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

In this episode of the Cruxx of MedTech podcast, host Henry Norton sits down with Ananth Ravi, founder of MOLLI Surgical and former medical physicist at the University of Toronto, to unpack the full journey from hospital research lab to acquisition by Stryker.Ananth shared the origin story behind MOLLI, a GPS-guided surgical system that replaced painful wire localisation with a tiny radioactive seed and sub-millimeter precision tracking. What started as a side project became a commercial product after inbound interest from physicians made it clear he had something worth pursuing.He discussed the challenges of spinning technology out of an academic institution, navigating FDA clearance with no regulatory background, and rebuilding a sales organisation after a painful first attempt.Ananth also opened up about the acquisition process itself: why Stryker's BD team stood out by actually showing up to watch cases in the OR, how he managed a bittersweet decision with his co-founder and investors, and what it felt like to communicate the news to a team facing uncertain futures.Key Topics:Ananth's path from medical physicist to medtech founderSpinning IP out of Sunnybrook and structuring university partnershipsNavigating FDA submissions as a first-time founderRestructuring a failing sales org around outcomes, not activityWhat made Stryker's BD approach different from other acquirersManaging team communication during an acquisitionFinding purpose and pace after a successful exitRelated Insights:The "regret framework" for making high-stakes founder decisionsWhy one cornerstone investor beats a crowded cap tableThe case against putting strategics on your cap table too earlyConsultants should check your work, not do it for youBuilding for profitability gives you optionality over building for exitCore Challenges:MOLLI replaced a painful, time-consuming wire localisation procedure with a tiny implantable marker and a digital GPS system, improving precision, patient experience, and hospital throughput. Scaling that technology required learning FDA submissions from scratch, restructuring a sales team mid-flight, and building a culture where smart people were trusted to make mistakes and learn fast.Founders face pressure to optimise for exit, but Ananth and his team built for profitability and optionality, which ultimately made the Stryker acquisition possible on their terms. For founders weighing similar decisions, his advice: keep talking to strategics, stay authentic about your limitations, and remember that the team who shows up and watches cases is the one who truly understands your value.🎧 Tune in now to hear how one founder went from tenured professor to Stryker acquisition, and why he's already back building again.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

In this Crux of Medtech crossover with the new Crux of Cardio series, Jordan and Henry sit down with Jack, his wife and caregiver Rocky, and SynCardia CEO Patrick Schnegelsberg to explore what a total artificial heart really means at the bedside and in the boardroom.Key Topics- Jack’s journey from misdiagnosis to ejection fraction of five to ten percent- ICU course, ECMO, cardiac arrest and the decision point for total artificial heart- Rocky’s lived reality as caregiver through transplant listing and repeated setbacks- How SynCardia’s pneumatic total artificial heart works as a bridge to transplant- Patient selection trade-offs between LVADs, ECMO, bivads and total artificial heart- Why SynCardia is now pursuing a fully implantable “Emperor” artificial heart platformRelated Insights- Emotional and cognitive load when a clinician becomes a critical care patient- The impact of early education and MCS teams on acceptance of advanced devices- How device simplicity and Frank–Starling physiology shape SynCardia’s design choices- Awareness gaps among cardiology and surgical teams around total artificial heart options- The role of transplant center experience and volume in total artificial heart outcomes- Long-term vision for artificial hearts as a true alternative to donor transplantation.Core Challenges- Recognising when a patient has moved beyond LVAD and inotrope support- Balancing end-organ failure risk against surgical risk and infection concerns- Managing caregiver stress during long ICU stays and on–off transplant listing- Overcoming historical perceptions and “old tech” stigma around artificial hearts- Funding and scaling class III cardiovascular hardware in a niche but severe populationTune in now to hear how total artificial hearts are reshaping advanced heart failure care, from one family’s story at the bedside to SynCardia’s plans for fully implantable devices.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

In this episode of the Crux of Medtech Henry is joined by Thomas Looby, CEO of Conavi Medical.Thomas breaks down why combining IVUS + OCT in a single catheter could change coronary interventions and how the team is pacing toward a Q3 2025 510(k) with a measured “crawl, walk, run” launch plan.Expect candid insight on evidence, pricing, commercialisation, and strategic exit logicKey TopicsThe unmet need in PCI imaging and why single-modality tools leave blind spots.Engineering IVUS + OCT into one catheter and testing lessons from v1 to next-gen.Clinical evidence momentum: meta-analysis signals ~46% reduction in post-procedure mortality and ~52% less stent thrombosis.Regulatory path: pre-sub complete; targeting a Q3 2025 510(k).Commercial strategy: price-neutral entry, razor/razor-blade model, and a staged hospital rollout.Capital story: public listing via Titan assets and a $20M raise led largely by U.S. investors.Exit thinking: platform fit with strategics that currently have either IVUS or OCT Kanavi holds both.Related InsightsMission-driven teams as a magnet for top engineers and why it mattered here.Don’t over-index on KOLs: early adopters forgive product “sins” that mainstream users won’t.Market development should run in parallel with R&D, not after it.Canada-born tech, U.S.-centric commercialisation and how ecosystems and manufacturing partners align.Core ChallengesDriving COGS down to single-modality parity at volume (supply chain, manufacturing).Building broad market awareness beyond early KOL enthusiasm.Navigating regulatory milestones cleanly to stay on a Q3 2025 filing cadence.Competing with entrenched portfolios (Abbott, Philips, Boston) that bundle cath lab solutions.Tune in now to learn how dual-modality imaging could reset outcomes, economics, and adoption in the cath lab.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

This episode of the Crux of Medtech features Sabine Bois, the former CEO of Occlutech.Sabine is a medtech leader whose career spans founding startups, steering a company through bankruptcy, driving IPO prep, and ultimately leading as CEO.Her story is raw, unfiltered, and filled with lessons about resilience, leadership, and navigating the brutal realities of medtech.Key Topics:Sabine’s leap from small-town Germany to founding her first medtech startupNavigating bankruptcy and rebuilding into a successful acquisitionThe commercial lessons that reshaped her career trajectoryTransition from CFO to CEO at Occlutech during global litigation and IPO prepThe turbulence behind IPO readiness, audits, and roadshowsWhy passion and relentlessness matter more than resourcesRelated Insights:Failure wasn’t an option for the Wright brothers or for startupsThe CEO’s ability to adapt their pitch can make or break fundingTiming and market cycles are often as critical as technologyStrategics are approachable but require careful balance in what you shareCore Challenges:Surviving insolvency while protecting IP and technologyLearning that a CEO’s first responsibility is revenue, not adminFacing last-minute IPO derailments and high-stakes investor negotiationsAdjusting from European regulatory norms to the strict demands of the FDARaising funds in today’s tougher, profitability-driven investor landscapeTune in now to hear Sabine’s unfiltered journey through medtech’s toughest challenges and what it really takes to lead with resilience.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

In this episode, Henry Norton speaks with Adrian Mendes, CEO of Perimeter, a company using AI and optical imaging to tackle one of cancer surgery’s biggest problems: re operationsAdrian shares his journey from Silicon Valley tech to medtech, and unpacks how Perimeter is using real-time imaging and machine learning to give surgeons confidence they’ve removed all the cancer the first time.They discuss the challenges of moving fast in healthcare, the value of proprietary data in AI, and how Perimeter is building for scale with a clear commercial and clinical roadmap.Key Topics:Why reoperations are such a huge problem in cancer careHow OCT and AI work together during surgeryThe culture problem slowing down medtech innovationWhat sets “real” AI apart from buzzword AICommercial rollout plans and how they’re scalingThe long-term vision to expand beyond breast cancerRelated Insights:“Clear margins” are one of the biggest unmet needs in cancer surgeryAI in healthcare is only useful if it's usable surgeon workflow mattersProprietary data is more defensible than algorithms aloneCore Challenges:Healthcare’s cautious culture often slows meaningful innovationMany “AI” medtech products are just marketingCommercial scale is hard when you’re building from a startup base🎧 Tune in now to hear how Perimeter is building medtech that actually makes surgery smarter.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

Why are so few patients accessing the care they need when the tech is already here? In this episode, Henry Norton sits down with David Pettigrew CEO at my mhealth to unpack the real reasons digital health tools succeed or fail.From overlooked rehabilitation gaps to the power of patient-first design, this conversation spotlights how we can actually get medtech into the hands of the people who need it most.David shares his career pivot from corporate dream job to healthtech entrepreneur, and what it’s really like building products that serve thousands of patients. You’ll hear why uptake often has nothing to do with clinical data… and everything to do with how a product makes someone feel. Key TopicsWhy David left a “dream job” for a mission-driven startupHow digital health tools can close the rehab gapWhat makes an app truly “sticky” for usersThe business model tensions slowing down innovationLessons from working directly with patients, not just cliniciansRelated InsightsSimplicity drives adoption more than clinical complexityPatient awareness is often the biggest bottleneckScaling isn’t just about funding — it’s about access and trust Core ChallengesOnly 3% of patients in the U.S. get the rehab they needTraditional care pathways don’t scale to meet demandMany digital tools fail due to poor design and awarenessThe 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

In this episode, your host, Henry Norton, is joined by Hannah Claridge, the Head of Neurotechnology at TTP, to talk about the incredible advancements that are being made to treat neurological conditions. Hannah points out how complex the brain and nervous systems are, with both relying on intricate connections. She also explores the new technologies that are being developed to treat nervous disorders, such as spinal cord stimulation. She also compared neurotechnologies to pharmaceuticals, highlighting the parallels and differences in how they interact with the body. Hannah also suggested that neurotherapy will be key to the advancement of treatments for conditions like depression, due to their ability to provide targeted and long-term relief of symptoms. Cybersecurity is also a major concern for neurotechnology, as any malfunction or deliberate interference could have serious ramifications for patients. Key Topics: Hannah’s current role at TTP Recent innovations in neurotechnology Policy and ethics in neurotechBarriers to market adoption Moving patient stories Related Insights: Humans use far more than 10% of the brain - this was debunked during a conversation about brain plasticity There are significant barriers to market adoption for neurosurgery, such as a lack of awareness and understanding, even among surgeons. Neurotech’s impact on patients cannot be understated, as so many conditions are currently untreatable with other intervention methods. Core Challenges:Anything that interacts with the brain in a way that changes its fundamental functions comes with huge ethical concerns and a need for heightened patient understanding and clear consent. Neurotechnology can provide relief for chronic conditions, such as long-term pain relief and the alleviation of depressive symptoms, making it a game-changing device in several areas. The challenges when it comes to developing a new neurotech product from being intuitive to miniaturisation.Tune in now to find out how neurotechnology will change healthcare for the better. 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

Raising capital in Medtech is tougher than ever. Investor expectations have shifted. Competition is up. And many founders are still pitching like it’s 2018.In this episode, Henry Norton sits down with Kiko Filipov, Partner at APPARIUS Corporate Finance and Strategic Advisor at Cruxx, to unpack the real mechanics of a successful fundraise in 2025. From first-in-human data to commercial readiness, Kiko shares what separates the rounds that get oversubscribed from the ones that stall.He also explores the changing landscape of Medtech innovation and why strategic exits take years of planning, how emerging markets are joining the race, and where VCs are placing bets across surgical robotics, neurostimulation, and digital health.Whether you're gearing up for Series A or preparing your pitch deck, this episode delivers tactical clarity from someone who’s in the room with both founders and funds.Key Topics:What VCs actually look for in a Medtech pitchBuilding an equity story that sellsWhy surgical robotics and neurostimulation are hot right nowThe key traits of an acquirable companyCommon reasons fundraises fall flatRelated Insights:Strategic hires matter just as much as the productMarket conditions now demand clearer commercial pathwaysSoftware alone isn't enough, hybrid models are risingInvestors are more risk-averse and selective than everCore Challenges:More competition than ever for VC attentionDelayed investment timing across the boardBurnout risk from unstructured fundraising effortsDifficulties scaling across fragmented EU markets🎧 Tune in now to learn what it really takes to raise and exit in Medtech.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

Join host Henry Norton in this episode of The Crux of Medtech as he speaks to Paul Roberts, co-founder of CMR Surgical and current CEO of Lupin Dental.Paul shares the journey from building surgical robots in a former pig shed to co-founding one of the most recognised names in robotic surgery. Now, he’s applying that experience to an entirely new frontier, aesthetic dental robotics.In this episode, Paul explains why dental veneers are about more than vanity, how robotic precision can eliminate outdated practices like tooth stumping, and why Lupin’s tech could completely transform smile restoration.He also opens up about his medtech philosophy, including why engineers shouldn’t build products alone, and what it really takes to move from zero to launch in a capital-intensive field like robotics.Key TopicsWhy Paul left surgical robotics for dental roboticsThe founding story of CMR SurgicalThe clinical and aesthetic importance of veneersHow Lupin reduces a 5-visit dental process into 1What medtech can learn from AlignTech and InvisalignBuilding a profitable robot company without hundreds of millionsRelated InsightsCrowns are outdated. Robotic veneers restore enamel with less damageEngineers alone don’t make great products clinicians must co-createOne robotic session at Lupin replaces five traditional dental visitsIndia is a strategic first market and a smart regulatory playFail fast, but never compromise on patient safetyCore ChallengesTooth restoration has long been inefficient: dentists rely on hand-guesswork for shaping and prepping teeth. It’s a manual, error-prone process that requires multiple appointments and can cause long-term sensitivity.Lupin Dental solves this with AI-powered planning, CAD design, and a precision robot that prepares the tooth and bonds the veneer all in one session.Tune in now to hear how surgical-grade robotics are reshaping the smile economy and why Lupin Dental could be the next CMR.*The Lupin® Robotic System is not currently approved for clinical use in USA or EU.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