Scott Nelson Live

In this episode, we sat down with Josh Vose, CEO of Tulavi Therapeutics.

Tulavi is advancing hydrogel-based implants like the allay Hydrogel Cap, which is designed to optimize nerve injury recovery and reduce the risk of neuroma formation.

Josh is a physician, engineer, and entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience in medical devices. He has held leadership roles at Medtronic following its acquisition of PEAK Surgical and drove growth at startups including SIA Health, which he led through commercialization and acquisition by Integra LifeSciences.

In this interview, Josh shares why defining the clinical problem with absolute clarity is the foundation of medtech success, and how leaning into the harder regulatory path can create lasting moats.

In this episode, we sat down with Ahmed Elmouelhi, CEO of TRiCares.  

TRiCares is developing Topaz, the first purpose-built transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement system — a technology designed specifically for the right side of the heart, where complex anatomy has made durable solutions elusive.

Ahmed is a 20-year medtech veteran with leadership experience across electrophysiology, men’s health, neuromodulation, and structural heart. Before joining TRiCares, he helped build multiple businesses at AtriCure and held key roles at Medtronic during the early days of TAVR. He also serves as Chairman of the American Heart Association in Minnesota.

In this interview, Ahmed shares why adoption — not added complexity — is the ultimate measure of medtech innovation, how a small group of physician champions can accelerate clinical studies faster than internal resources alone, and why treating your board like collaborators in the “sandbox” leads to stronger partnerships and better outcomes.

In this episode, we sat down with Marc Penna, CEO of Voyager Biomedical. 

Voyager is a clinical-stage company tackling one of the most persistent challenges in dialysis care: reliable vascular access. 

Marc has more than 20 years of experience leading clinical research and regulatory programs across cardiology, vascular disease, and oncology. Since 2014, he has focused on early-stage ventures, with leadership roles at Intact Vascular and Vesper Medical — both acquired by Philips — as well as senior positions at Edwards Lifesciences, Boston Scientific, and AngioDynamics.

In this interview, Marc shares how to pressure-test new medtech ideas, why collaboration with regulators and trial sites builds lasting credibility, and how disciplined fundraising and smart exit planning can set startups apart.

In this episode, we sat down with Christopher Haig, co-founder and CEO of Efemoral Medical. 

Efemoral is developing bioresorbable scaffold technology for peripheral arterial disease. Chris has over 25 years of experience in cardiovascular devices, holding leadership roles at strategics including Guidant Corporation and Abbott Vascular, and driving growth at startups such as Calypso Medical and QT Vascular, where he built commercial infrastructure and launched multiple products ahead of its $55 million IPO.

In this interview, Chris shares how bioresorbable scaffold technology found new life for peripheral arterial disease — and the lessons on matching tech to significant needs and choosing trial sites for lasting data.

In this episode, we sat down with Howard Rosen, co-Founder and CEO of Evident Vascular, a company developing an AI-powered intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) platform to improve vascular imaging and intervention.

Before co-founding Evident, Howard held senior leadership roles at Intact Vascular and Vesper Medical, guiding both companies through successful acquisitions by Philips. He also served in executive roles at Haemonetics and BG Medicine, and spent over two decades at Boston Scientific, where he held a range of leadership positions across the peripheral and cardiovascular franchises.

In this interview, Howard shares why launching right — not fast — is the key to success in medtech. He breaks down how Evident built early momentum by investing in deep market validation, engaging KOLs as true collaborators, and resisting scope creep at every turn. Howard also unpacks the company’s deliberate regulatory strategy, using early FDA engagement as a tool to de-risk development. On the fundraising front, he explains why board composition matters more than valuation, and why strategic acquirers respond best to credibility, not cold outreach.

In this episode, we sat down withTracy MacNeal, President and CEO of Materna Medical. Materna is developing two devices addressing different aspects of pelvic health: Ellora, aimed at preventing childbirth injuries during delivery, and Milli, designed to treat vaginismus, a pelvic floor condition that makes intercourse painful or impossible.

Tracy is a healthcare executive and engineer with over 25 years of experience in medical devices, digital health, and women’s health, including six successful transactions. In addition to heading Materna, Tracy serves on the AdvaMed Board and leads its Women’s Health Equity Initiative, and was previously President of Diagnostics and Digital Health at Ximedica.

In this interview, Tracy shares how clinical data enabled Materna to bridge B2B and B2C channels, and why clarity of focus is essential when commercialization paths diverge. Tracy also outlines what it takes to build in undefined markets, from aligning KOLs to publishing foundational definitions, and offers a candid perspective on what investors really want: clear financial returns, backed by a founder they trust to deliver when things go sideways.

In this episode, we sat down with Joanna Nathan, CEO and co-founder of Prana Surgical — a startup developing image-guided surgical platforms for precision oncology. 

Joanna's career spans translational research at Texas Heart Institute, product development at Saranas, and portfolio management at Mercury Fund and Johnson & Johnson's Center for Device Innovation. She mentors founders through her not-for-profit organization Enventure and teaches entrepreneurship at Rice University's Jones School of Business.

In this interview, Joanna shares her framework for evaluating which medtech ideas merit pursuit, revealing three critical signals every founder should look for: clinical urgency that requires no convincing, favorable asymmetry between value and technical risk, and optimal market timing. Joanna also demonstrates how systematic grant applications and strategic resource allocation can extend runway while building investor credibility, and addresses the unique psychological challenges of building life-critical devices.

In this episode, we sat down with Greg Lipschitz, CEO of Firefly Neuroscience. Firefly’s FDA-510(k) cleared Brain Network Analytics (BNA™) technology objectively measures brain function through EEG analysis. With a proprietary database spanning twelve cognitive disorders, the company serves both clinical practitioners and pharmaceutical partners.

Greg brings extensive experience in private equity, investment banking, capital markets, and finance to his leadership role. As Managing Director of Old Stone Advisors and former Vice President of Lazer Capital, Greg has advised on over $1 billion in transactions. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

In this interview, Greg shares insights on strategic fundraising approaches, platform prioritization decisions, and building commercial momentum in healthcare through direct sales and customer feedback loops.

In this episode, we sat down with Maulik Nanavaty, CEO of Anumana. Anumana, an AI-driven health technology company focused on cardiovascular care, is taking a pragmatic approach to scaling AI in medicine.

Maulik is a seasoned healthcare executive with over 30 years of global experience in the medical device industry. He spent 18 years at Boston Scientific, where he led its $1B+ Neuromodulation division and served as President of Boston Scientific Japan. Prior to that, he held leadership positions at Baxter. Known for driving innovation in implantable and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered technologies, Maulik also serves on the board of Rani Therapeutics.

In this interview, Maulik shares why building a strong risk-benefit case and designing around real-world clinician needs are key to adoption. With data from over 20 million patients and a focus on transparency, Anumana is reshaping how AI reaches the point of care.

In this episode, we had a fascinating chat with Mary Lou Jepsen, founder and Chairman of Openwater, a medtech company developing breakthrough diagnostic and therapeutic wearables for cancer, stroke, mental illness, and beyond. Openwater is rethinking how medical devices are built — not as single-purpose machines, but as flexible platforms that function more like smartphones.

A physicist and prolific inventor, Mary Lou holds nearly 300 patents and has launched over 50 products across VR, AR, holography, and consumer electronics. Previously, she led engineering at Intel, Facebook, and Google, taught at MIT, and now serves on the boards of Lear Corporation and Luminar Technologies. She has been named to Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people. 

In this interview, Mary Lou explains why the traditional “one disease, one device” model falls short, and how her team is applying consumer electronics and open-source principles to develop scalable, software-driven tools. Backed by renowned investors including Khosla Ventures, Vitalik Buterin, and Esther Dyson, Openwater is aiming to make advanced care more accessible worldwide.