How to Run Your Medtech Startup on a Budget

Ahmed Zobi, a biomedical engineer by training honed his skills in tissue engineering, micro/nanotechnology, and lab-on-a-chip microfluidics during his undergrad at the University of California, Irvine. During his time at the UCI BioEngine program, Ahmed brought together a team to work on a lab-on-chip microfluidics project that already had some IP. 

There was an existing concept, but it was facing issues like leaking, implosions, and breakage. Improving it meant a significant upgrade in the technology, particularly to be used in fat grafting. “When we took on this project, we saw a huge unmet need to truly automate this process by literally pressing a button, walking away, and coming back,” Ahmed explains. His team had some conviction so they pressed forward on the idea, which eventually became the foundation for Syntr Health Technologies. 

Syntr’s flagship product SyntrFuge System is a microfluidic channel design. The name hints at a centrifuge, the process of spinning things very fast to separate different parts of a mixture by their densities. However, SyntrFuge is not a centrifuge device. It doesn’t separate the cells, but breaks them down by passing them through different channels. It’s basically an efficient processing tool that allows clinicians to process adipose tissue quickly by breaking down fat cells to a very small size, boosting retention potential and giving practitioners confidence in transfer. “We're basically replacing other fat processing techniques that are out there that are more manual, providing an automated solution to the clinician,” explains Ahmed.

Currently, SyntrFuge is mainly focused on aesthetics and plastic surgery. Clinicians can efficiently harvest and process a patient's adipose tissue and inject it into the desired area, providing a natural alternative to synthetic fillers. Beyond aesthetics, the system also has potential to be used in surgeries in orthopedics, podiatry, dermatology, and more.

Syntr received FDA clearance and completed a clinical trial for facial fat volume loss, with results due in 2024. The team is also conducting another clinical trial in wound care to explore different applications for the device. Currently in early commercialization, Syntr is raising a Series A to fuel a full-scale launch. 

Key Learnings From Ahmed’s Experience

• Embrace a lean mentality, move forward with your available resources, and challenge every expense. Don’t let the pursuit of perfection paralyze you and don’t waste time and money over-engineering early versions. Prototype rapidly to seek real-world feedback to guide your next steps and be prepared to pivot if necessary. 

• Focus on meeting FDA’s core requirements first. Don't get bogged down trying to add extra bells and whistles to early prototypes and submit as soon as you can to kickstart a productive dialogue with the agency. Even if you don't get immediate approval, the prescriptive feedback will guide your path forward. 

• VC funding might not be an option during the early days of your startup. Explore all opportunities like grants, accelerators, and any niche programs that fit your technology. When it comes to non-dilutive funding, submit strong applications early, even if they aren't perfect. And don't be afraid to cast a wide net across relevant NIH departments. When approaching VCs, research their portfolios and track their records. Show them how investing in you fits their specific goals and strategies.