Send us a text

Welcome to another episode of The Uprising Show! In this episode, host Vivek sits down with Tom Ross, a veteran sales and marketing leader in the medical device startup world, also known as “The Device Doctor.” With over 30 years of experience in Silicon Valley’s medtech scene, Tom shares fascinating insights from his journey, from his early days in critical care devices to helping startups with go-to-market strategies and fundraising today.

Tom discusses how the medtech landscape has evolved, especially with the rise of digital health, and why true commercial success requires both solid technology and a deep understanding of the clinical problem at hand. He explains what makes a medtech product stand out, the often underestimated investment needed for market breakthrough, and the essential relationship between sales and marketing in this industry.

Tune in for wisdom on building impactful startups, fostering realistic optimism, embracing innovation, and a few personal reflections on lessons learned as a founder, mentor, father, and grandfather. Whether you’re a medtech founder, investor, or just passionate about healthcare innovation, you’ll find plenty of practical takeaways and inspiration in this episode.

Timestamps:

00:00 Southern California Education Journey

06:06 "Keys to Successful Company Breakthrough"

08:14 Digital Health Revolution and Investment Trends

12:22 Sales-Marketing Lead Dispute

14:13 Sales Reps' Evolving Role in Healthcare

18:44 Leveraging LinkedIn for Career Growth

21:26 Tracking Employee Digital Productivity

24:02 Tech-Driven Medical Solutions

29:45 Balancing Realism and Optimism

33:20 Tailoring Pitches to Investment Interests

35:51 Optimistic Realism in Investment Pitches

40:02 Balancing Treatment Safety and Efficacy

42:18 Commercial Success Requires Significant Investment

46:31 Learning to Let Go

48:34 "Podcast Links and Insights"

The Uprising Show Website: https://theuprisingshow.com/

Vivek Nanda's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/viveknanda1/

Vivek Nanda's Twitter: https://x.com/vickks

TopHealth Media Website: https://tophealth.care/

Send us a text

Welcome to a brand new episode of The Uprising Show! In this episode, host Vivek Nanda sits down with Dr. Jacob Kantrowitz, internal medicine physician, entrepreneur, and co-founder of River Records. Dr. Kantrowitz shares his journey from an early fascination with computer science at Milton Academy to pursuing both medicine and technology through an MD/PhD program at Boston University. Together, they unpack the genesis of River Records, a healthcare tech startup on a mission to transform how clinicians manage and access patient information using natural language processing and AI.

Dr. Kantrowitz dives into the complexity of healthcare information systems, explaining how current electronic health records often fall short for physicians and how River Records is flipping the script to build truly clinician-friendly workflows. He talks candidly about the challenges of bringing new tech to such a regulated, tradition-bound industry and why starting with smaller practices, rather than giant health systems, is a smarter path for disruptive startups.

The discussion also takes a forward-looking turn as Dr. Kantrowitz and Vivek explore the future of medical education in the age of AI, the changing role of physicians, and how new technology can empower, rather than replace, human connection in patient care. Dr. Kantrowitz even shares a few lighter personal insights, including his passion for bread baking and his favorite college squash memories.

Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation about medicine, entrepreneurship, and the human side of healthcare innovation!

Timestamps:

00:00 Inquisitive Family Man

06:10 Automating Clinical Data Summarization

08:24 Startup Pursuing Medical Data Solutions

12:26 Diverse Clinician Support Vital

14:53 Creating Generalized Clinical Tools

19:23 Streamlining Patient Records by Problem

23:47 Flaws in Problem-Oriented Charting

27:59 EHR: Challenges in Patient Engagement

30:17 "Communication Failure in Health Records"

32:15 Healthcare Data Management Challenge

36:24 Improving Patient Communication System

39:17 Evolving Medical Knowledge Evaluation

44:29 AI in Medicine: Human Touch Essential

46:11 "Guiding Medical Trainees with AI"

50:09 College Squash Varsity Experience

The Uprising Show Website: https://theuprisingshow.com/

Vivek Nanda's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/viveknanda1/

Vivek Nanda's Twitter: https://x.com/vickks

TopHealth Media Website: https://tophealth.care/

Send us a text

In this episode of The Uprising Show, host Vivek sits down with Manush Saydmohammed, Ph.D., MBA, co-founder and CEO of ZEGENEX Inc., a Pittsburgh-based startup developing innovative wound healing solutions. Manush shares his remarkable journey from humble beginnings in Kerala, India, through a career in biomedical research across India, Japan, and the US, to becoming an entrepreneur driven by the desire to translate cutting-edge science into real-world medical solutions.

The conversation dives into how the COVID-19 pandemic inspired Manush to transition from academic research to the world of startups, and explores the science behind ZEGENEX’s groundbreaking small-molecule cream designed to accelerate healing in chronic wounds like diabetic foot ulcers. Manush candidly discusses the challenges of moving novel therapies from the lab to the clinic, the importance of patents and collaboration, and the regulatory hurdles unique to new drug entities.

They also touch on the exciting future of health tech, from AI-accelerated drug discovery to gene editing and personalized medicine. Manush closes by sharing personal insights on entrepreneurship, including the importance of mindset, adaptability, and the inspiration he draws from innovators like Mark Cuban. Whether you’re passionate about science, startups, or healthcare innovation, this episode offers an inspiring look into the entrepreneurial journey and the potential to make a real impact in patient care.

Timestamps:

00:00 From Kerala to the US: Research Journey

04:24 Navigating Transitional Unlearning

07:08 Pioneering Treatment for Chronic Wounds

11:44 Product Success: Feasibility and Viability

16:04 Zebrafish: Ideal Heart Regeneration Model

19:45 Patents Ensure Product Credibility

22:43 New Drug Device Regulatory Pathway

26:46 AI in Drug Discovery

30:27 Stem Cell Industry Exploration

31:33 Diabetic Foot Ulcer Study Phases

36:50 Change Habits, Mark Cuban Inspiration

38:30 "Challenging Fundraising, Hopeful Future"

The Uprising Show Website: https://theuprisingshow.com/

Vivek Nanda's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/viveknanda1/

Vivek Nanda's Twitter: https://x.com/vickks

TopHealth Media Website: https://tophealth.care/