Project Medtech

In this episode, trauma surgeon and EndoShunt's co-founder Milad Behbahaninia and CEO Tyler Zanon share how the company was born from frontline frustration: critically injured patients bleeding out before surgeons can reach hard-to-access injuries. They explain why endovascular innovation is the next horizon in trauma care, how the team engineered a solution that fits existing clinical workflows, and why incremental, surgeon-built improvements can drive outsized impact. They walks through EndoShunt’s rapid maturation since 2023, including multiple preclinical models, meaningful non-dilutive funding, a shrinking catheter profile toward a 7 French design, and plans toward an FDA submission next year. Milad Behbahaninia LinkedInTyler Zanon LinkedInEndoShunt LinkedInEndoShunt Website“The House of God” by Samuel Shem“ The Power of Full Engagement” by Jim Loehr & Tony SchwartzDuane Mancini LinkedInProject Medtech WebsiteProject Medtech LinkedInThank you to our sponsors: Ward Law, Wheelhouse DMG, and JumpStart Inc.

Stephen Ippolito shares his path from $5B+ in investment banking M&A to founding Veritus and launching the Human Health Platform, an ecosystem focused on shaping investable healthcare companies earlier than traditional VC. Stephen breaks down the stark differences between PE-backed and family-owned transactions, why founder psychology and identity can make or break outcomes, and what he looks for in first-time leaders—especially the balance of EQ and IQ, coachability, and healthy co-founder dynamics. The conversation dives into why too much healthcare innovation dies in academia, the need for better IP audits and university commercialization programs, and the case for combining complementary startups to unlock disproportionate value. Stephen also offers a blunt reality check on succeeding in U.S. healthcare: know your true customer, distribution, and incentives—then build accordingly.Stephen Ippolit LinkedInHuman Health Platform LinkedInHuman Health Platform Website“Good to Great” by Jim CollinsDuane Mancini LinkedInProject Medtech WebsiteProject Medtech LinkedInThank you to our sponsors: Ward Law, Wheelhouse DMG, and JumpStart Inc.

Melissa Muller, Founder and Principal Consultant at Muller Advisory Company, joins Duane Mancini for a practical conversation on what medtech founders must know before scaling beyond early adopters. Melissa breaks down why FDA clearance is only the starting line and why true growth depends on adoption readiness across clinical, financial, and commercial stakeholders. They dive into mapping the full clinical workflow end-to-end (including setup, IT, biomed, and reprocessing), identifying who must say yes (and who can still veto) through contracting and value analysis realities, and clarifying exactly how customers pay across hospitals, ASCs, and other sites of care. The conversation closes with how to drive repeat use, build advocates, and avoid “scaling assumptions” as care shifts and teams beyond the founder must carry the story.Melissa Muller LinkedInMuller Advisory Company LinkedInMuller Advisory Company WebsiteDuane Mancini LinkedInProject Medtech WebsiteProject Medtech LinkedInThank you to our sponsors: Ward Law, Wheelhouse DMG, and JumpStart Inc.

Staci Miller, founder of Gen UX Consulting, joins Duane Mancini for a rapid-fire rundown of the first five things you need to know about human factors validation testing, from the risk documents nobody prioritizes but everyone needs, to the razor-thin line between a task sheet and a leading question that could invalidate your study, to why a 300-page report might be doing you more harm than good. Packed with hard-won insight from nearly 15 years in the field, this episode gives you a practical playbook for getting your validation study and your FDA submission right.Staci Miller LinkedInGen UX LinkedInGen UX WebsiteDuane Mancini LinkedInProject Medtech WebsiteProject Medtech LinkedInThank you to our sponsors: Ward Law, Wheelhouse DMG, and JumpStart Inc.

What if the biggest barrier to medtech innovation isn’t the technology, buti fear? In this episode, Merom Klein explores how entrepreneurs can recognize hesitation, build trust, and move investors, customers, and teams from “wait and see” to active champions of innovation. From raising capital to changing the standard of care, Merom shares practical insights on building courage, understanding incentives, and creating the conditions for meaningful adoption. Tune in for a conversation about the human side of medtech innovation and what it really takes to change the game.Merom Klein LinkedInCourage Growth Partners LinkedIn Project Medtech Podcast Episode 249"Biotech in the Balance: Saving a Strategic Industry in an Age of Distrust" by Jeremy M. Levin "Leadership the Hard Way" by Dov Frohman and Robert Howard "Start-Up Nation: The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle" by Daniel Senor and Saul Singer Duane Mancini LinkedInProject Medtech WebsiteProject Medtech LinkedInThank you to our sponsors: Ward Law, Wheelhouse DMG, and JumpStart Inc.