Embracing Ambition Without Arrogance

When it comes to women's health, few have as much experience or passion as Allison London Brown. After obtaining her Master of Science degree in Polymer Chemistry from North Carolina State University and an MBA from Temple University, she entered the corporate healthcare sector with industry giants like Johnson & Johnson and GE Healthcare. 

Working for these companies, she was able to hone her skills in research and development, marketing, sales, and product development, launching over 90 products and services throughout her career. But the allure of entrepreneurship soon beckoned, and Allison found herself drawn towards more innovative and nimble environments. Following her tenure at several startups, she co-founded Luminelle seven years ago.

Luminelle provides low-cost, easy-to-use endoscopy systems focused on uterine and urological health. Their flagship product, the Luminelle DTx Hysteroscopy System, is an innovative, user-friendly, and in-office solution. It simplifies 70% to 80% of the procedures that would traditionally have to be performed in a hospital setting, including visualization and diagnosis of conditions of the uterus, cervix, vagina, and bladder.

By enabling office-based procedures like hysteroscopy and cystoscopy, Luminelle’s system significantly reduces costs to healthcare providers and patients. It also decreases procedure times, increases patient comfort and recovery, and promotes early and accurate diagnosis of female health conditions.

Luminelle has 510(k) clearances on four devices, owns four patents, and is in a strong position to continue its commercial development. 

Key Learnings From Allison’s Experience

• Lean into your strengths and weaknesses as a medtech entrepreneur. It's not about being an expert in all areas but about recognizing your own gaps in knowledge and having the guts to seek out partners or team members who can fill those.

• There’s no ‘one size fits all’ strategy for gaining regulatory clearances or approvals. Look for consultants that are experienced and accomplished in your domain, but don’t expect them to be superheroes.

• Medtech breakthroughs require funding, but it's no secret that fundraising is challenging, especially in the current economic climate. That's why you need to unleash your creative genius and come up with unique, attention-grabbing ways to captivate prospective investors.