Medtech Talk

CEO Lisa Earnhardt, who appeared as the first guest on the Medtech Talk Podcast, returns in episode number 100 to share why she took the helm of the 12-person start-up 10 years ago, and how Intersect ENT has managed company culture over years of enormous growth. She also discusses where Intersect ENT is headed in the future, with new products and business development projects.

Anne Sissel, vice president of Baxter Ventures, says she followed the numbers into Medtech. Now, she enjoys using the strategic's capital to help start-ups find ways to curtail costs and create new treatments for dreadful diseases.

Jim Buck, President and CEO of Mardil Medical, shares his personal and professional Medtech stories. The common thread? He doesn't give up. One result may be Mardil pushing for the rebirth of a once high-flying Medtech technology.In this podcast you'll hear:His tragic, but uplifting path to Medtech.Where his first stint as CEO went wrong.How he came to Mardil.How he believes Mardil will succeed where others haven't.

When we last spoke with Jason Lettmann, general partner at Lightstone Ventures, he had just set up his firm's shop in Ireland. Three years later, the VC returns to Menlo Park and shares his Medtech observations from abroad. In this podcast, Lettmann compares the entrepreneurial infrastructure in the US with Ireland. He also discusses Lightstone's recent fund and tries to explain why he doesn't tweet.

John H. Stevens, MD, was too excited to sleep when he first heard what HeartFlow's technology could potentially do. Eight years later, he's sleeping a lot better, having secured $240 million to fund the company's commercial rollout of the HeartFlow Analysis system.Overview: HeartFlow has built a strong financial argument for its imaging system.Surprises: This stuff belongs on Star Trek. Very cool.Takeaway: "There are no shortcuts."

The Stanford Biodesign program created another promising start-up in Zenflow. Co-founder and CEO Nick Damiano explains how the program's fellows identified the opportunity in BPH and found the right tech to excite investors. Zenflow drew some early capital from unusual sources before embarking on an exhausting pursuit of the right Series A syndicate. Damiano shares some advice for other capital-hungry start-ups.Overview: Great to see a monster Medtech Series A!Surprises: Zenflow is working out of some offices with great karma.Regrets: None. I'm feeling good about this one. I could have asked about the broader team.

Tripp Peake co-founded Long River Ventures in 2000, just before the tech and venture capital industries took a dive. The firm survived, thrived, and is very much alive raising a $100 million fund under a new brand, LRVHealth. The new name and tight healthcare focus reflects the firm's strong connections to hospital networks and other healthcare institutions making up its limited partner base. With a broader investment team and new purpose, LRVHealth is looking to connect healthcare innovators and end-users. Overview: More money for Series A rounds. Good news!Surprises: I didn't know the origin of the Long River name.Regrets: A question or two about LRVHealth's existing portfolio would have been nice.Enjoy the podcast!

Khalid Ishaque says Bioelectronic Medicine has made great strides in treating hearing loss, depression, and other maladies and shows great promise in treating neurological disorders like Alzheimer's disease. Yet, most people still see it as more science fiction than science fact. But that's changing. "What we are demonstrating with advances in miniaturization, imaging, and increased understanding of the cellular pathways and the brain is that what was once considered impossible is becoming possible," he declares. Overview: Pixium Vision is making great progress with its PRIMA subretinal implant. Surprises: I thought the study was limited to Europe, but the company will be enrolling patients in Pittsburgh too. Regrets: I should have asked a bit more about the technology's origins.

Hard to find anyone working harder than Jonathan Norris to help us see the forest for the trees.Jon is a fixture at many conferences including – thankfully – the upcoming Medtech Conference on May 31. But we wanted to get to his insights early. In this Medtech Talk Podcast, Jon and I discuss his report, “Trends in Healthcare Investments and Exits 2018.” Overview: Jon shares some positive views for Medtech. Good to hear. Surprises: I didn’t know Jon’s initial career choice. Regrets: I didn’t get to ask how his pitching arm is doing. Jon still plays ball on a regular basis.Enjoy the podcast!

Todd Berg has a bit of a winning streak going. Berg worked at three Medtech start-ups prior to accepting the CEO post at exciting new start-up Metavention, and all three companies would be acquired including Torax Medical, the GERD company Berg led from start to finish.What led Berg to Medtech? Why did he co-found Torax? How did he find success raising capital? How is he approaching his new challenge leading Metavention, which is developing a novel, new potential treatment for type 2 diabetes?