Dr. David Albert has built a career at the intersection of cardiology and technology. Best known as the founder of AliveCor and the creator of KardiaMobile, he shares the story of how a viral YouTube video launched a global digital health company.

In this episode, he joins Omar Khateeb to discuss lessons from building multiple startups, the impact of Apple Watch, working with Qualcomm and Vinod Khosla, and what the future of AI-driven cardiology could look like.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 – Opening: Every patient is a consumer; AliveCor overview

01:17 – Introduction to Dr. David Albert and background

03:10 – Early life & education: Harvard, Duke, biomedical engineering

09:26 – Mentorship: ECG & cardiology experts guiding career

10:26 – Early heart rate monitor development & biomedical engineering training

12:03 – Creation of wrist-based heart rate monitor & Doppler ultrasound

14:06 – Personal life: meeting future wife

15:17 – Early startup: CES presentation, patent challenges

18:11 – Family context & balancing entrepreneurship

19:02 – Dropping out of training to start a company; first prototype

21:03 – Company growth & sales to major medical centers

22:31 – Patent litigation & selling company to suing company

25:01 – Founding Data Critical & first wireless ECG concept

26:07 – Proof of concept & 510(k) clearance

27:04 – Sale to GE Healthcare

30:03 – Role at GE Healthcare in cardiology

34:03 – Founding LiveCor; assembling international team & manufacturing

36:45 – YouTube demo video goes viral

39:36 – Media coverage: Good Morning America, Fox & CES

41:04 – Live demonstration of ECG device

42:35 – YouTube success & Eric Topol endorsement

44:08 – Early funding & incubation in Silicon Valley

47:01 – First-year revenue via veterinary sales to bypass 510(k)

48:10 – Regulatory challenges & early adoption

48:34 – Continued growth & competition with Apple Watch

49:44 – Peer-reviewed publications & clinical validation

52:05 – Product evolution: 12-lead & 6-lead devices

53:12 – AI integration: ECG cloud & data collection

53:45 – Pandemic impact: doubled sales & distribution channels

56:04 – Driving adoption: accessibility, pricing, and consumer strategy

58:27 – Product adoption, partnerships & global scale

59:30 – Future healthcare vision: patient empowerment & preventative focus

1:02:02 – AI as essential for continuous health data

1:03:33 – Wearables & credit card-sized ECG device

1:06:15 – Seamless patient experience & management team

1:08:03 – Continuous innovation & blood pressure integration

1:08:33 – Cardiovascular prevention mission & strategic partnerships

1:10:16 – Advice for entrepreneurs: persistence & problem focus

1:15:59 – Early adopters & spreading ideas

1:16:34 – Recommended books

1:18:17 – Episode closing remarks & call to action

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