63. How This MedTech CEO Built a 100+ Person Company Without Selling Out

Isa Rizk, CEO and co-founder of Reflow Medical, joins Life of Flow to share how he and his team built one of the most talked-about vascular device companies without following the usual playbook.In this episode, Isa walks us through the evolution of Reflow Medical, from its earliest days to the development of the Spur stent: a mechanical innovation designed for tibial disease. He breaks down what led them to shift from a single-product mindset to building a full-scale company, why reimbursement planning is just as important as engineering, and what it’s like to scale a team while staying independent.🎧 Tune in for a transparent conversation about innovation, growth, and long-term thinking in the world of vascular technology.00:00 – Meet Isa Rizk & how Reflow started04:45 – From engineer to CEO: lessons learned early on10:25 – How the Spur stent came to life16:40 – Feedback from physicians and the impact on design20:29 – What patency really means in clinical practice26:15 – Why reimbursement strategy is essential in MedTech34:00 – Scaling beyond 100 employees, and staying the course💡 Who Should Listen?This episode is for vascular surgeons, interventional cardiologists, cath lab teams, and professionals working in or alongside MedTech. If you’re interested in device development, clinical translation, or building a company in healthcare, you’ll take away valuable insights from Isa’s experience.It’s also helpful for founders, engineers, and anyone involved in innovation who’s thinking long-term, not just about building a product but building something that can grow and support real change in patient care.About Isa RizkIsa Rizk is the CEO and co-founder of Reflow Medical, the company behind the Spur stent. A temporary, mechanical scaffold designed to support vessel healing in below-the-knee interventions.He began his career in mechanical engineering before moving into MedTech at Baxter and Edwards Lifesciences, later co-founding Reflow to focus on collaborative device development with physicians. Today, Reflow has grown into a team of more than 100 people with a strong pipeline of innovations aimed at improving outcomes in complex vascular diseases.Connect with Isa Rizk and Reflow Medical🌐 Website: reflowmedical.com💼 LinkedIn: Isa RConnect with Life of Flow:📲 Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@LifeofFlow⁠⁠⁠⁠👍 Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Life of Flow Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠💼 LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Life of Flow Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠🐦 X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@VascularPodcast🔔 Subscribe and leave a review to support thoughtful conversations in vascular innovation.