Scott Nelson Live

In this episode, we had a chat with Tyler Melton, the co-founder and CEO of Corveus Medical, a Houston-based startup on a mission to redefine heart failure treatment. 

Tyler previously worked at Accenture, consulting for top-tier pharmaceutical companies, and at the J&J Center for Device Innovation, where he honed his skills in strategic planning and financial modeling. He then joined the Texas Medical Center Biodesign Program, where he uncovered his current mission: to treat heart failure with targeted nerve ablation. 

In this interview, Tyler shares how using off-the-shelf products for early prototypes saved him both time and money and how accelerator programs provided the networking boost his startup needed to tackle the demanding PMA regulatory pathway.

In this episode, we sat down with Angus McLachlan, CEO of Liberate Medical, a company pioneering a non-invasive neuromuscular electrical stimulator to prevent muscle weakening in patients who rely on a ventilator to breathe.

Angus has a rich academic and professional history that intersects engineering and healthcare. Originating from Scotland, Angus began his academic journey in mechanical engineering at the University of Glasgow. This laid the foundation for his PhD research focused on electrical muscle stimulation for spinal cord injuries. His innovative work gained the attention of Apellis Pharma, leading to a collaboration that propelled the launch of his own company, Liberate Medical. 

In this interview, we talk about Angus’s do-it-yourself philosophy, how a deep understanding of the technology you’re developing gives you leverage across multiple functions, and the nuances of pitching to investors.

In this episode, we sat down with Kelly Roman, co-founder and CEO of Fisher Wallace, a company spearheading the development of wearable brain stimulation technology aimed at providing relief from depression, anxiety, and insomnia. 

Kelly is a Harvard graduate with an English major who took an unconventional path to medtech inspired by his experience co-authoring the graphic novel adaptation of Sun Tzu's "The Art of War." He took a career leap from literature and marketing to pioneer a novel approach to the treatment of mental health. 

In this interview, we delve into what Kelly's learned on his journey, touching on the value of unconventional thinking, the importance of making mental health treatments more accessible and less stigmatized, and the potential of decentralized clinical trials.

In this episode, we had a chat with Dr. Alberto Rodriguez-Navarro, CEO of Levita Magnetics, a startup aiming to make surgical procedures as minimally invasive as possible with its advanced magnetic technology. 

Dr. Rodriguez-Navarro is not only a skilled surgeon but a medtech visionary with multiple patents to his name. Discover Alberto's journey spanning his childhood fascination with using magnets to clean the inside of his turtle tank to leveraging this concept into a cutting-edge magnetic surgery platform.  

In this interview,  Dr. Rodriguez-Navarro discusses what to consider when starting a new business, how to hone your framework when transitioning from the clinic, and early-stage strategies to ease the road to FDA approval. 

In this episode, we sat down with Bill Colone, the CEO and Chairman of SinglePass, a company developing an electrocautery device for deep tissue biopsies.

Bill previously headed Spinal Singularity, raising over $11 million for product and clinical development. He was VP of R&D at Direct Flow Medical and the President of Endomed, which was sold in 2005. Bill also served in multiple leadership roles at Endologix and holds 13 U.S. patents with more pending. He earned his bachelor's in Chemical Engineering from Arizona State University, where he later served as an Associate Faculty Member and sits on the advisory committee for Chemical and Materials Engineering.

In this interview, Bill shares invaluable insights and actionable strategies for building and leveraging an expansive network, optimizing fundraising, and strategically planning for both acquisition and independent growth. 

In this episode, we sat down with Shyam Natarajan, founder and CEO of Avenda Health, which utilizes artificial intelligence and cutting-edge imaging to improve the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.

After getting his PhD in Biomedical Engineering from UCLA, Shyam worked as a postdoctoral scholar in UCLA's Department of Surgery, focusing on minimally invasive surgical interventions. He also managed the UCLA Business of Science Center, spearheading initiatives to guide students toward non-academic career paths. With experiences like founding UCLA Innovation Week and the Inventathon, he is committed to pushing the boundaries of medical technology. At Avenda Health, Shyam is now leading the charge in revolutionizing prostate cancer care. 

In this interview, we talk about what it really takes to understand the market need for your product or service, how prototypes can be incredibly helpful in convincing relevant parties, how Shyam approaches fundraising, and what to expect from medtech in the future given current technological advancements in growing fields like AI.

In this episode, we sat down with Dr. David Albert, founder of AliveCor, which is pioneering the standard for personal ECG devices that extend beyond hardware and encompass services and partnerships to offer comprehensive personal cardiovascular solutions.

Dr. Albert is a multifaceted individual — a physician, scientist, inventor, serial entrepreneur, YouTube sensation, and even an adventurous surfer. His academic journey led him from Duke University, where he completed both engineering and medical graduate studies, back to his roots at the University of Oklahoma. He already had several licensed inventions when he decided to stake it all on a new cardiovascular device. The gamble led him to found AliveCor, now a frontrunner in personal electrocardiograms (ECGs) under the renowned Kardia brand. 

In this interview, we take a tour down the lanes of innovation, prototyping, fundraising, and why sometimes you have to ditch the white coat to take your ideas from the lab to the real world.

In this episode, we sat down with Parag Gad, who founded SpineX to turn cutting-edge science into life-changing devices. The FDA has granted Breakthrough Device Designation for two of SpineX's non-invasive products aimed at improving the lives of adults with neurogenic bladder conditions and children with cerebral palsy.

Parag understands both sides of the coin — the research-intensive academic world and the rigorous standards of healthcare regulation. With SpineX, he's marrying the two, aiming for a transformation in spinal healthcare. The company has raised $3.6 million in equity financing and has also secured non-dilutive funding from government agencies. With ongoing multicenter clinical trials and plans for future enrollment, Parag is steering SpineX toward a new frontier in bioelectric medicine.

In this interview, Parag delves into the intricate journey of transitioning from academia to entrepreneurship, securing non-traditional funding, and the role of regulatory milestones in building a reputable healthcare brand.

In this episode, we sat down with Kirsten Carroll, CEO of Kandu Health, and a medtech veteran specializing in neurovascular disorders with nearly 25 years of experience in the field. 

Kirsten holds a degree in biomedical engineering and dual master's degrees in business and public health. She has held strategic roles at industry leaders like Boston Scientific and Stryker before joining Imperative Care and co-founding Kandu Health. Her startup focuses on revolutionizing post-stroke care and enhancing the quality of life for stroke survivors through tech-enabled healthcare services.

In this interview, Kirsten talks about redefining post-stroke care with a comprehensive set of services to improve the well-being of stroke survivors and, consequently, their care partners. From her unique perspective on innovation to her emphasis on a multi-stakeholder approach, Kirsten shares invaluable lessons on breaking down monumental challenges and fostering a culture of teamwork.

In this episode, we sat down with Gabriel Jones, co-founder and CEO of Proprio, who has had a career spanning engineering, law, finance, and philanthropy across the world. 

Gabriel studied engineering at the University of Washington before furthering his career at Tase Kensetsu, a major civil engineering and manufacturing firm in Japan. He then moved to Wall Street to work on large-scale mergers and acquisitions for high-profile clients like AT&T and Google. After returning to Seattle, Gabriel collaborated with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on global healthcare initiatives. Today, he is the CEO of Proprio, a revolutionary medtech startup aiming to improve surgical precision with AI-powered technology.

In this interview, the eclectic Gabriel shares how his background has equipped him with a unique framework for creating a thriving startup ecosystem, tips on capital fundraising, and using public relations to his favor.