Interviews

Under the leadership of Reinhard Krickl, Phagenesis is commercializing a neurostimulation system designed to treat dysphagia, a condition that impairs a patient's ability to swallow and prevents complications like malnutrition and aspiration pneumonia. In this interview, Reinhard shares insights on the importance of simplicity in design, what thorough market understanding truly means, and how he engages with stakeholders effectively. He also reveals the “market access checklist” he uses before entering the commercialization stage.

Sumit Nagpal is a digital health veteran who was inspired by Steve Jobs himself to become an entrepreneur. He’s now founder and CEO of Cherish Health, a company that develops intelligent radar-based sensor platforms to support proactive self-care for the elderly, frail, and those with chronic conditions. In this interview, Sumit shares his take on the importance of being stage-appropriate—both mentally and business-wise—and how to recognize patterns in the market by simply listening. Oh - and constantly learn from others because, as Steve Jobs paraphrasing Picasso put it, “great artists steal.”

Dan Nardi is known for his operational expertise, understanding of value-based care, and success in building high-performing teams. Today, as the CEO of Reimagine Care, he’s working to extend cancer care beyond the clinic, giving patients a break from the arduous treatment journey, and alleviating the strain on caregivers, clinical teams, and the broader healthcare system. In this interview, Dan shares how he forms strategic partnerships that prioritize long-term value over short-term gains, how to leverage early adopters, and how he’s positioned his company in the emerging fee-for-value healthcare model.

Conor Cullinane is an aeronautical engineer with an impressive resume that spans MIT, Harvard, and NASA. He’s the co-founder and CEO of Pirouette Medical, a startup developing a low-profile, disc-shaped injector designed to deliver medicines more easily and effectively. In this interview, Conor shares learnings from launching a community fundraising round, insights on selective innovation, identifying different value propositions for diverse stakeholders, and building strong investor relationships.

Dr. Bill Hunter, CEO of Canary Medical, is an accomplished entrepreneur who’s been intimately involved in the development of renowned devices like the TAXUS drug-eluting coronary stent, the paclitaxel-eluting balloon, the Zilver PTX peripheral drug-eluting stent, and the Quill barbed wound closure device. For over a decade, Bill and his team at Canary have developed smart, implantable medical devices that report on function, patient activity, and more. In this interview, Bill talks about his perspective on innovation in medtech, discusses what it takes for a device to be commercially viable, how Canary is alleviating the workload of healthcare professionals, and offers advice to physicians contemplating the transition to industry.

Leveraging her extensive experience in digital medicine, Beth Rogozinski leads Oncoustics, a company that uses advanced AI to analyze ultrasound data to offer a cost-effective alternative to traditional diagnostic methods. In this interview, Beth shares her insights on the importance of persistence and resilience in fundraising, the value of engaging with a diverse range of investors, and the need for a strong narrative about your technology, particularly when it involves AI capabilities.

VenoStent is developing SelfWrap, a bioabsorbable wrap to improve the success rate of vascular surgeries, starting with dialysis access creation for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. In this Interview, co-founders Geoffrey Lucks and Timothy Boire share the challenges and triumphs of their journey toward bringing this innovative product to market. We talk about understanding your end user, working collaboratively with FDA, structuring and executing large clinical trials, and staying resourceful to attract funding while developing your concept.

Mainstay Medical has developed the first restorative neurostimulation treatment that alleviates chronic mechanical back pain. In this interview, Jason Hannon, the CEO and President of the company, shares his experiences on iterative product development, considerations for clinical trial design, the importance of patient education, and why reimbursement is paramount.