I'm joined by Santosh Iyer, Founder and CEO of Moonshot, as we explore the mission to train the modern healthcare workforce in emerging technologies, the true potential of AI in medtech, and strategies for innovating within highly regulated healthcare environments.

In this episode, we dive deep into:
Moonshot's Mission and Vision
→ Training healthcare professionals to leverage AI, advanced imaging, and robotics
→ Creating hands-on experiential learning to drive skills retention and enthusiasm
→ Serving learners from high school students to seasoned healthcare executives

The Reality of AI in MedTech
→ Where AI will truly make an impact (hint: it's not where you think)
→ Back office operations as the first true breakthrough applications
→ Why corporate policies may be limiting innovation and productivity

Healthcare's Innovation Paradox
→ How the most innovative industry can simultaneously resist change
→ Why startups outside the traditional venture model have the advantage
→ Partnering strategies that leverage the high velocity of medtech sales

The Future of Healthcare Training
→ Why traditional educational approaches fall short for emerging tech
→ The power of contextualized, hands-on learning in just one day
→ How Gen Z's hunger for AI mastery offers lessons for executives

First-Principles Redesign of Healthcare
→ Three fundamental changes to reimagine healthcare systems
→ Breaking distribution strongholds and creating healthcare "app stores"
→ Why hospital innovation sandboxes need more favorable terms

AI Implementation & Regulation
→ Navigating FDA oversight of AI and robotic technologies
→ The need for expert-driven regulatory frameworks that move at technology speed
→ Using AI to help regulate AI more effectively

Best Quotes:
"People don't buy AI. They're buying a solution to a problem. The real value comes from businesses with a core product that's not AI-focused but solves a very niche, high pain point—and then AI is integrated in a very seamless way."

"In healthcare, we're in the business of caring for patients. If it doesn't move outcomes, it doesn't matter. You could talk all the AI fluff you want, but if you're not moving outcomes, no one really cares."

"Moonshot programming is one day, team-based, and hands-on because that's where the fun and retention comes in. Learning should not be boring. Our education system is broken where they make it feel like a drag."

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Press the subscribe button to unpack hot takes and insider tactics from the trenches of medtech startups.

📈 My FREE 5-day course for Medtech Innovators to create successful ventures: https://xomedtech.com/free-course

🤝 Join the #1 network for medtech innovators on the internet. Become a member to accelerate your journey, collaborate and build valuable ventures.

Try 7-days completely free: https://xo-medtech.circle.so/checkout/xo-membership

FIND SPENCER JONES ON SOCIAL
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/medtech-innovation/
XO Medtech LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xo-medtech

FIND SANTOSH IYER ON SOCIAL
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/santoshliyer/
Moonshot: https://www.moonshothealth.org/

Episode Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to Santosh Iyer and Moonshot
02:00 - Moonshot's mission to train the modern healthcare workforce
06:00 - The real breakthrough applications of AI in healthcare
11:00 - Corporate policies blocking AI tool adoption
15:00 - State economic development and workforce training
20:00 - Avoiding "AI washing" in medtech marketing
26:00 - Healthcare's innovation paradox and startup strategies
30:00 - Marketing challenges specific to healthcare
36:00 - First principles redesign of healthcare systems
38:20 - The FDA's handling of AI and robotic technologies
42:09 - Using AI to help regulate AI more effectively
44:20 - Lessons from high school students that executives should learn

In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Oke Anakwenze, CEO of SutureTech and Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Duke University, as we explore his journey from practicing surgeon to medtech entrepreneur and the development of RapidFix - the world's first all-suture staple for tendon repair.

In this episode, we breakdown:

The Surgeon's Path to Innovation
→ First-generation journey into orthopedic surgery
→ Identifying critical problems in rotator cuff repairs
→ Developing a passion for medical innovation

Developing Revolutionary Technology
→ Creating the world's first all-suture staple
→ Addressing the high 30-80% failure rate in rotator cuff repairs
→ Designing for surgeon efficiency, patient outcomes, and health system value

Navigating the Regulatory and Testing Landscape
→ Strategic approach to FDA submissions
→ Planning post-approval clinical studies to validate outcomes
→ Balancing biomechanical testing with clinical validation

Building the Right Partnerships
→ Finding and vetting development partners
→ Overcoming product design challenges
→ The critical importance of early collaboration

Funding Strategy for Medtech Success
→ Milestone-based funding approaches
→ Targeting different investor groups with tailored messaging
→ Managing dilution while maintaining competitive valuation

Best Quotes:
"There's gotta be a better way to do this... from a first principle standpoint, I just felt that fixing a tendon to a bone should not be that hard."

"For investors, it's more focused on the opportunity, the revenue targets, how we separate ourselves from other competitors in the market and our unique advantages."

"I think the next 12 months are going to be very exciting. And I have a strong feeling that we're going to impact how we think about tendon repairs permanently."

Want more insights on medtech innovation?

Press the subscribe button to unpack hot takes and insider tactics from the trenches of medtech startups.

📈 My FREE 5-day course for Medtech Innovators to create successful ventures: https://xomedtech.com/free-course

🤝 Join the #1 network for medtech innovators on the internet. Become a member to accelerate your journey, collaborate and build valuable ventures. Try 7-days completely free: https://xo-medtech.circle.so/checkout/xo-membership

FIND SPENCER JONES ON SOCIAL
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-jones-5a008672/
XO Medtech LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xo-medtech

FIND DR. OKE ANAKWENZE ON SOCIAL
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/oke-a-anakwenze-md-mba-1a5b677a
SutureTech: https://www.linkedin.com/company/suturetech/

Episode Timestamps:
0:00 - Introduction to Dr. Oke Anakwenze
2:43 - Journey into Medicine and Orthopedic Surgery
5:38 - The Origins of Innovation in Tendon Repair
8:18 - Introducing RapidFix: The World's First All-Suture Staple
10:34 - Building the Economic Value Proposition for Hospitals
14:49 - Planning Clinical Studies and FDA Submission Strategy
18:28 - Overcoming the Darkest Moments in Product Development
21:28 - Finding the Right Manufacturing and Development Partners
24:32 - Balancing a Surgical Career with Entrepreneurship
27:13 - Navigating Intellectual Property and Academic Institutions
32:13 - Crafting Effective Investor Pitches for Different Stakeholders
38:29 - Strategic Funding Approaches for Medical Device Startups
42:56 - Key Advice for Aspiring Medtech Entrepreneurs

I'm joined by Dr. Joshua Liu, Co-founder and CEO of SeamlessMD, as we explore the journey from practicing physician to digital health entrepreneur and the strategies behind building a successful patient engagement platform that enhances care journeys through innovative technology.

In this episode, we dive deep into:

The Digital Patient GPS
→ How SeamlessMD guides patients through complex healthcare journeys
→ Automating patient education, reminders, and symptom monitoring
→ Creating a "GPS for healthcare" that reduces readmissions and costs

From Physician to Digital Health Innovator
→ Dr. Liu's entrepreneurial journey from medical school to startup founder
→ The decision to pursue innovation over traditional medical practice
→ Finding the right engineering co-founders with complementary skills

Platform vs. Point Solution Strategy
→ Navigating the healthcare technology ecosystem
→ Finding the sweet spot between specialized tools and comprehensive platforms
→ Why health systems prefer solutions that work across multiple service lines

Implementing for Measurable Outcomes
→ The evolution from pilots to full implementations
→ Why 100 patients is the magic number for meaningful data analysis
→ Strategies for proving ROI in healthcare implementations

Healthcare Equity and Accessibility
→ Designing for the lowest common denominator to ensure broad accessibility
→ Adapting reading levels and interfaces for different populations
→ Balancing innovation with equitable access to care

The Future of AI in Healthcare
→ Taking a measured approach to AI implementation
→ Why basic symptom monitoring can be more effective than complex predictive analytics
→ The importance of clinical protocols for AI-generated insights

Best Quotes:

"The analogy I like to use for seamless is travel. Imagine you're traveling from point A to point B. In the past you had paper maps, but now folks have gone digital because GPS is faster, safer and better."

"If you're going to overcome the inertia that an incumbent has like an EHR and a large health system, your solution has to be 10 times better than the incumbent, but it has to be 10 times better on metrics that they actually care about."

"Building in healthcare is very hard, but super rewarding... if you're crazy enough to do this, then you're in the right space."

Want more insights on medtech innovation?

Press the subscribe button to unpack hot takes and insider tactics from the trenches of medtech startups.
📈 My free 5-day course for Medtech Innovators to create successful ventures: https://xomedtech.com/free-course
🤝 Join the #1 network for medtech innovators on the internet. Become a member to accelerate your journey, collaborate and build valuable ventures. Try 7-days completely free: https://xo-medtech.circle.so/checkout/xo-membership

FIND SPENCER JONES ON SOCIAL
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-jones-5a008672/
XO Medtech LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xo-medtech

FIND DR. JOSHUA LIU ON SOCIAL
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuapliu/
SeamlessMD LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/seamlessmobilehealth/
SeamlessMD Website: https://www.seamless.md/

Episode Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction to Dr. Joshua Liu and SeamlessMD
06:00 - The transition from physician to digital health entrepreneur
13:30 - Platform vs. point solution strategy in healthcare
20:00 - Implementation strategy and measuring outcomes
30:00 - Health equity and designing for accessibility
38:00 - The future of AI in healthcare patient journeys
50:00 - Adapting to population differences and reading levels
55:00 - Final thoughts on healthcare innovation