TAG'D: Beyond The Award

In this episode of TAG'D: Beyond the Award, host Justin Starbird speaks with Mike Kolberg, Vice President & General Manager of Codonics, to explore how smart design and clinician-focused technology are revolutionizing medication disposal and safety in modern healthcare environments.

Codonics was recognized as a two-time consecutive TAG Award winner for its groundbreaking Safe Waste System, a solution engineered to automate waste tracking, reduce drug diversion risk, and seamlessly enforce hospital compliance standards.

Listen in to learn about the technology behind their award-winning solution, how simple design addresses complex healthcare challenges, and what drives innovation in medtech!

Celebrate innovation at its finest with us on this episode of TAG’D: Beyond the Award! 

We sit down with Gabe Lazarus, Vice President of Marketing for Renal Denervation at Medtronic, following their massive win as Top Innovator at the inaugural TAG Awards for B2B Innovation. 

Over a decade in the making, Medtronic’s FDA-approved Symplicity system is revolutionizing high blood pressure treatment and transforming lives worldwide. Dive into an inspiring, behind-the-scenes conversation about staying the course through clinical setbacks, overcoming treatment inertia, and what it truly takes to bring breakthrough medical technology to market. 

Tune in to hear how passion, persistence, and a patient-first mission led to top industry recognition!

Bringing a breakthrough medical device or therapy to market requires serious operational prep and regulatory foresight, qualities essential for both commercialization and judging top-tier life science innovations.

In this episode of TAG’D: Beyond the Award, host Justin Starbird sits down with Tony Lopez, CEO of AVS Life Sciences and a TAG Awards judge. Tony shares how his real-world operational work and hands-on experience at AVS Life Sciences inform his perspective as a judge, shaping how he evaluates top-tier life science innovations across FDA requirements, quality systems, and patient safety.

Key Topics Covered:

• Early Regulatory Strategy: Why bringing regulatory and validation teams into R&D on day one saves time and capital.

• Avoiding the "Boil the Ocean" Trap: How smart founders phase product rollouts to protect runway and momentum.

• AI in Validation: Addressing the "black box" challenge when integrating AI into MedTech while meeting FDA standards.

• Building Real Operational Partnerships: What true long-term collaboration looks like in pharma, biotech, and device manufacturing.

What does real B2B innovation look like when you peel back the marketing jargon?

We sat down with TAG Awards Judge Tim Parrish (CEO of Sagemont Advisors) to talk about what shocked him during the judging process, why medtech took center stage, and how true innovation impacts real lives, not just tax strategy or balance sheets.

Whether you're planning to submit for future TAG Awards or building the next big B2B solution, Tim shares some great takeaways on how to clearly articulate your competitive advantage, prove market differentiation, and tell a story that resonates with judges and investors alike.

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What does it take to turn a city into a powerhouse for health tech innovation? Host Justin Starbird sits down with Craig Scharton, Director of Connect Labs Charlotte by Wexford Science & Technology, to talk about building ecosystems where startups and established giants collaborate under one roof.

In this episode, Craig breaks down how Connect Labs connects innovators directly with health systems, investors, and IP experts. By bridging these critical gaps, the hub helps early-stage teams streamline their path to commercialization and scale more effectively.

He also pulls back the curtain on his role as a judge for the inaugural TAG Awards for B2B Innovation, explaining why healthcare efficiency tech, the behind-the-scenes systems making operating rooms, hiring, and supply chains run smoother, is quietly driving the biggest impact in the market today. 

Plus, Craig shares his tough-love approach to evaluating startups on real market fit and scalability. 

Tune in for an honest look at what real B2B innovation looks like on the ground.

Imagine surgeons getting real-time confirmation that all the cancer is gone. 

Right in the operating room! 

This week, Justin Starbird sits down on TAG’D Beyond the Award with Adrian Mendes, CEO of Perimeter Medical Imaging AI, to talk about their game-changing, award-winning Claire system. 

He explains how this AI-enabled imaging tool is tackling the massive problem of repeat surgery, which currently affects one in four women after breast cancer removal. Adrian shares the company's 11-year journey, the challenges of normalizing AI in the OR, and what it means to be a TWO-TIME TAG Award winner! 

This is surgical intelligence, upgraded. Tune in!

Forget everything you think you know about robotics in dentistry! 

We’re diving deep with Alon Mozes, CEO and Co-founder of Neocis, on the TAG’D: Beyond the Award podcast to hear the backstory, challenges, and the path forward for the revolutionary Yomi S Dental Robot!

Robotics and precision surgery are not just hospital tech. The Yomi S is precision guidance brought directly to everyday dental implant surgery at scale. Find out how the platform is shattering the old mold, enhancing the doctor’s workflow, and changing patient expectations for predictability and precision. 

Plus, hear what it means to the team to win the prestigious 2026 TAG Awards in Robotic & Procedural Innovation!

Getting hit with a surprise medical bill is the worst. But what if the confusing world of healthcare pricing could be simplified to a single "Easy Button"? 

Justin Starbird sits down on TAG’D Beyond the Award with BJ Maack, Senior Director of Healthcare Solutions at Enovis, the TWO-TIME TAG Award winner behind VeriPro, to dive into how VeriPro is revolutionizing patient price transparency for durable medical equipment (DME). 

Find out how this platform removes the fear, confusion, and negative reviews, and helps clinics get paid upfront over 80% of the time! Hit play to hear how Enovis became a SaaS pioneer, prioritizing trust and clarity over complexity.

They did it! 🎉 Aqua Medical's Dr. Raj Nihalani joins us on TAG'D: Beyond the Award to celebrate the team’s TAG Award win in the Medical Device category for Endoscopic Therapeutic Innovation.

Raj talks about how their game-changing Radiofrequency Vapor Ablation Platform is revolutionizing the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes. 

Find out why their "if you can scope it, you can treat it" philosophy is simplifying complex procedures, dramatically reducing recovery time, and finally tackling metabolic disease with a minimally invasive approach. Hear the story behind the innovation, the tough questions from critics, and what’s next for this trailblazing startup. 

Congrats to the whole Aqua Medical team!

On this episode of TAG’D: Beyond the Award, Justin Starbird sits down with Dr. Helen Reeve Stoffer, Chief Operating Officer of Recor Medical's, to unpack the extraordinary 14-year journey behind the Paradise™ Ultrasound Renal Denervation System, winner of the 2026 TAG Award for Cardiovascular Therapeutic Innovation.

What began as a bold idea to treat hypertension with ultrasound technology became one of the most resilient comeback stories in modern MedTech. After a devastating industry-wide clinical trial failure nearly derailed renal denervation entirely, Recor refused to walk away. Instead, the team rebuilt the clinical playbook from the ground up, partnered with leading hypertension experts, and helped prove that device-based therapy could become a viable new option for millions of patients living with uncontrolled high blood pressure.

The conversation dives into the realities of bringing category-defining technology to market, the persistence required to survive in MedTech, and why hypertension remains one of the world’s most urgent healthcare challenges. With more than 100 million Americans affected by high blood pressure, Recor’s mission extends far beyond innovation. It is about giving patients another path forward against one of healthcare’s most dangerous “silent killers.”

Released alongside World Hypertension Day on May 17, this episode is also a reminder of the importance of awareness, prevention, and expanding access to new treatment options for patients worldwide.

From startup uncertainty to commercial success, this is a story about science, resilience, leadership, and the long road to changing patient lives.