Great Entrepreneurs is pleased to announce The Top 50 MedTech Entrepreneurs of 2024. MedTech, or medical technology, is a rapidly evolving field that encompasses a wide array of devices, tools, and systems designed to diagnose, treat, and improve patient health. From life-saving surgical instruments and advanced imaging systems to non-invasive therapies that enhance patient recovery and comfort, MedTech is revolutionizing modern healthcare, bridging the gap between patient care and technological innovation.
The global MedTech industry, valued at over $600 billion annually, continues to grow as the demand for cutting-edge medical solutions increases. These entrepreneurs are at the forefront of addressing key challenges facing the healthcare industry, such as improving surgical precision, enhancing patient recovery, and developing non-invasive treatments. By combining technological expertise with entrepreneurial vision, these leaders have successfully navigated the complex process of product development, regulatory hurdles, and commercialization to bring transformative medical technologies to the global market, improving healthcare outcomes for millions of patients worldwide.
Among this year’s awardees, Charles Taylor, Co-Founder of HeartFlow, stands out for his pioneering use of computational fluid dynamics and advanced imaging to create personalized cardiovascular care, revolutionizing how coronary artery disease is diagnosed and treated. Gabriel Jones, Co-Founder and CEO of Proprio, is pushing the boundaries of AI and virtual reality in surgery, significantly enhancing surgical precision and improving patient outcomes. Finally, Bill Niland, Founder of Vapotherm, has transformed respiratory care with his high-velocity therapy innovations, providing more effective and comfortable solutions for patients with breathing disorders.
This year’s honorees were chosen based on their exceptional contributions to the MedTech industry, as well as their track record of innovation and leadership. Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of The Top 50 MedTech Entrepreneurs of 2024.
1. Joe Kiani
Founder, Chairman and CEO, Masimo
Joe Kiani has over 30 years of experience as an engineer and entrepreneur, focused on improving patient safety through medical technology. He is the co-inventor of Masimo SET® technology, which has become a standard in pulse oximetry. Kiani founded Masimo in 1989, growing the company from a start-up into a publicly traded entity with numerous patents. Masimo’s technologies are used to monitor over 200 million people annually, and the company continues to develop innovations in healthcare and consumer wearables.
In addition to Masimo, Kiani is CEO of Cercacor, a spinoff company that focuses on health and wellness innovation. He is also a Co-Founder of A Starting Point, a civic engagement media platform aimed at creating a more informed electorate. Kiani holds both bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering from San Diego State University.
2. Paul DiPerna
Founder, Tandem Diabetes Care
Paul DiPerna founded Tandem Diabetes Care in 2003 and served as its CTO for over eight years. Tandem Diabetes Care, a global insulin delivery and diabetes technology company, manufactures and sells advanced automated insulin delivery systems that reduce the burden of diabetes management. The company’s pump portfolio features the Tandem Mobi system and t:slim X2 insulin pump, both of which feature Control-IQ advanced hybrid closed-loop technology.
Previously, DiPerna spent over 14 years at Baxter Healthcare, where he advanced through a series of management roles. He began as a Technologist for cell separation systems, then served as Program Manager for the company's largest and most complex project, before taking on the roles of Director of Business Development and General Manager of Digital Dental Sciences, a startup within Baxter. DiPerna holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Massachusetts Lowell and a master’s degree in engineering management from Northeastern University.
3. Gabriel Jones
Co-Founder and CEO, Proprio
Gabriel Jones is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Proprio, a medical technology company based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 2016 alongside Seattle Children's Hospital neurosurgeon Dr. Samuel Browd, University of Washington Professor Joshua Smith, and computer vision specialist James Youngquist, Proprio aims to revolutionize surgery by enhancing precision and exponentially increasing surgical accuracy and efficiency through a proprietary platform that integrates artificial intelligence, computer vision, and virtual reality.
Jones is a seasoned technology leader with over a decade of experience in emerging technology and intellectual property law, with a particular focus on AI and healthcare. His career began in international trade in Japan and Washington, DC, followed by work in large-scale mergers and acquisitions on Wall Street.
Prior to founding Proprio, Jones helped clients like Bill Gates and the leadership of Microsoft evaluate and develop emerging technologies while working with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on global initiatives in health and technology. Seeking to create a more direct, positive societal impact, his work eventually led him to technology ventures. He has assisted several successful startups on their commercialization path, spanning biotech, medtech, AI, and proptech.
Jones graduated from UW Foster School of Business with an MBA in marketing and entrepreneurship and from the University of Washington with an undergraduate degree in international relations, economics, technical communications, and Japanese.
4. Thomas Sandgaard
Founder, Chairman and CEO, Zynex Medical
Thomas Sandgaard has been the Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Zynex, Inc. since founding the company in 1996. Zynex, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells medical devices used for pain management and rehabilitation as well as non-invasive fluid, sepsis, and laser-based pulse oximetry monitoring systems for use in hospitals.
Sandgaard has previously held management positions with companies such as ITT, Siemens, GN Danavox, Dataco, and Philips. Most of his work has been in the areas of international sales and distribution, technology transfers, mergers, and marketing management in the semiconductor, telecommunications, data communications, and medical equipment industries. Sandgaard holds a degree in electronics engineering from Denmark’s Odense University of Engineering and an MBA from Copenhagen Business School.
5. Patrick Donnelly
Founder, Chairman and CEO, Veranex
Patrick Donnelly is the Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Veranex, the provider of the first purpose-built, global service platform for the medtech industry. Veranex supports companies of all sizes from concept to commercialization, enabling accelerated speed to market, controlled development costs, risk mitigation, and market viability assessment. Donnelly brings over 25 years of experience as a Founder and executive in the pharmaceutical services sector.
Previously, Donnelly was the Chairman and CEO of Advarra, Inc. and before that a Chairman and CEO of Aptiv Solutions from its initial formation through its sale. Earlier in his career he worked with PRA International, now PRA Health Sciences, as CFO, COO, and CEO over the span of 14 years, taking the company public in 2004. Donnelly earned an MBA from Pennsylvania State University and an undergraduate degree in business and journalism from the University of Missouri.
6. Raymond Cohen
Co-Founder and CEO, Axonics
Raymond Cohen has served as Chief Executive Officer and member of the board of directors of Axonics since co-founding the company in October 2013. Axonics is a global medical technology company that is developing and commercializing novel products for adults with bladder and bowel dysfunction. Cohen is an accredited public company director with over 40 years of experience in leading medical device companies and serving as a board member at a number of private and publicly traded life science companies.
From 2010 to 2012, Cohen served as CEO of Vessix Vascular, a venture capital-backed renal denervation company that was acquired by Boston Scientific in November 2012. Previously, Cohen spent nearly a decade as Chairman and CEO of Nasdaq-listed Cardiac Science Inc. Cohen currently serves as a Chairman of the board of BioVentrix Inc., a privately-held transcatheter ventricular restoration company focused on treating patients with congestive heart failure. Cohen graduated from Binghamton University with an undergraduate degree in business management.
7. Charles Taylor
Founder and Board Member, HeartFlow
Charles Taylor co-founded HeartFlow, Inc. in 2010, a company at the forefront of personalized medicine. HeartFlow provides physicians and patients with quantitative data generated by image-based computer models of blood flow, aimed at maintaining and restoring cardiovascular health.
Before founding HeartFlow, Taylor was an Associate Professor of Bioengineering and Surgery at Stanford University. At Stanford, he focused on the development of computer modeling and imaging techniques for cardiovascular disease research, device design and surgery planning. His early research contributions included the first three-dimensional simulations of blood flow in the human abdominal aorta and the first simulations of blood flow in vascular models created from medical imaging data.
Taylor started the field of predictive, simulation-based medicine by describing the application of computational fluid dynamics to predict outcomes of cardiovascular interventions in individual patients. He graduated from Stanford University with a PhD in mechanical engineering, and from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a master’s degree in mathematics and mechanical engineering as well as an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering.
8. Jane Chao
President, CEO and Co-Founder, Ceribell
Dr. Xingjuan (Jane) Chao is the Co-Founder of Ceribell, Inc., where she has served as Chief Executive Officer since October 2015 and as President since July 2016. Ceribell is a developer of AI-powered point-of-care electroencephalography (EEG) technology, dedicated to improving the detection and treatment of neurological conditions. The company aims to revolutionize brain health by making EEG diagnostics widely available, more efficient, and cost-effective.
Prior to joining Ceribell, Dr. Chao served as Principal Manager of Portfolio Management Strategy at Genentech, Inc., and as Senior Strategy Manager at Novartis AG. Dr. Chao also previously served as a management consultant at McKinsey and Company. Dr. Chao has served on the board of directors of Magnus Medical, Inc., since November 2021. Dr. Chao received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Peking University and a PhD in biophysics from Cornell University.
9. John Treace
CEO, Founder and Board Member, Treace Medical Concepts
John T. Treace is the Founder, CEO, and a Board Member of Treace Medical Concepts, a company he established in January 2014. With over 25 years of experience in medical device marketing, sales, and general management, Treace has guided the company to advance the standard of care for the surgical management of bunion and related midfoot deformities.
Prior to founding Treace Medical Concepts, Treace served as Senior Vice President of U.S. Sales and Global Marketing at Wright Medical Group, Inc., where he held several senior management roles over a 12-year tenure, including Vice President of Biologics and Extremities and Senior Director of Biologics Marketing. Wright Medical was later acquired by Stryker Corporation in November 2020.
Earlier in his career, Treace held positions at Xomed Surgical Products, Inc., including as Director of Marketing and as Senior Product Manager, and with TreBay Medical Corp as Advertising and Marketing Director. Treace also served on the board of directors of ENTrigue Surgical, acquired by Arthrocare Corporation in July 2013. Mr. Treace holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Seattle University.
10. Moshe Mizrahy
Co-Founder and CEO, Inmode
Moshe Mizrahy co-founded InMode in 2008 and has served as the company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors since its inception. InMode is a leading global provider of innovative medical technologies, developing, manufacturing, and marketing devices that utilize novel radio frequency (RF) technology. The company focuses on enabling emerging surgical procedures and improving existing treatments.
Before founding InMode, Mizrahy was the Co-Founder and CEO of Syneron Medical Ltd., a medical aesthetic device company based in Israel. He also served as CEO of Home Skinovations Ltd., an international medical aesthetic consumer devices company, where he has been Chairman of the Board since 2007. Mizrahy currently sits on the board of directors of several companies. He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Tel Aviv University and an MBA from Pace University in New York.
11. Tony Chou
Co-Founder and Board Member, Silk Road Medical
Dr. Tony Chou co-founded Silk Road Medical in 2007 and has served on its board of directors since its inception. Silk Road Medical, Inc., a medical device company with locations in Sunnyvale, California, and Plymouth, Minnesota, is dedicated to reducing the risk of stroke through its pioneering treatment for carotid artery disease, TransCarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR).
Dr. Chou served as the company’s Chief Executive Officer until November 2010. In addition to his role at Silk Road Medical, Dr. Chou has been a General Partner at The Vertical Group, a healthcare-focused venture capital firm, since 2006, and has served as Chief Executive Officer of Route 92 Medical, Inc. since 2015.
Before founding Silk Road Medical, Dr. Chou held significant leadership roles at Abbott Laboratories' Vascular Division, where he was Division Vice President and General Manager of Vascular Closure. In this role, he managed the FDA approval and global launch of the Perclose and Starclose products.
Dr. Chou also has an academic background as the former Director of the Adult Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at the University of California, San Francisco, where he is currently an Associate Professor of Medicine. He received a bachelor’s degree in physics and electrical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and an MD from Case Western Reserve University.
12. Scheffer Tseng
Founder and Chief Scientific Officer, BioTissue
Dr. Scheffer Tseng co-founded BioTissue and currently serves as its Chief Scientific Officer. BioTissue is an emerging biotechnology company that is leading the way in utilizing the unique properties of human birth tissue to support regenerative healing for ocular surface disease and in surgical, chronic wound, and musculoskeletal applications.
Dr. Tseng is a world-renowned surgeon in ocular surface reconstruction and a widely published physician scientist with more than 380 peer-reviewed clinical and scientific papers. He pioneered limbal stem cell transplantation and developed and commercialized the CRYOTEK process to preserve the natural therapeutic properties of amniotic membrane.
His research focus for the past 35 years has been to identify the active biological components of human placental tissues, to develop alternative products to deliver their therapeutic properties, and to expand their clinical applications.
Dr. Tseng holds a medical degree from National Taiwan University and a doctorate in experimental pathology from the University of California. He completed his residency in ophthalmology at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins, and his fellowship in cornea and external diseases at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. Prior to co-founding BioTissue, Dr. Tseng was a Chair Professor at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
13. Fred Khosravi
Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO, Imperative Care
Fred Khosravi is the Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Imperative Care, a commercial-stage medical technology company researching and developing connected innovations to elevate care for people affected by vascular diseases such as stroke and pulmonary embolism.
For more than 30 years, Khosravi has held management and executive positions in both large and small medical technology enterprises. He is the inventor or co-inventor on over 200 US and worldwide granted and patent applications and serves on multiple boards, contributing his expertise to organizations focused on strategic national security, innovation, and public-private collaboration. Khosravi holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Tennessee Tech University.
14. Peter Arn
CEO, Founder and Chairman, ROMTech
Peter Arn is the CEO, Founder and Chairman of ROMTech, a medical technology company focused on revolutionizing orthopedic rehabilitation care to achieve unparalleled patient outcomes. Based in Brookfield, Connecticut, and founded in 2013, ROMTech delivers enhanced diagnostics and quicker postoperative recovery at a decreased cost, remotely connecting clinicians and patients across the country.
As an experienced entrepreneur, Arn has driven ROMTech’s core initiatives from day one, including product development, hiring, fundraising, and more. Prior to ROMTech, Arn served in various executive roles at four early stage companies. Through his energetic and forward-looking leadership, Arn has raised more than $20 million dollars in startup funding, developed robust sales channels, and has piloted multiple startups to profitable exits.
15. Lee Hartley
Founder and CTO, Nalu Medical
Lee Hartley co-founded Nalu Medical and has served as its Chief Technical Officer since October 2014. Nalu is a Carlsbad, California-based medical technology company focused on developing and commercializing innovative and minimally invasive solutions for patients with chronic neuropathic pain. The Nalu Neurostimulation System delivers gentle electrical pulses to the nervous system to modulate pain signals before they get to the brain.
Hartley previously served as Vice President of Research and Development at Intersection Medical Inc. Prior to that, he served as the Vice President of Research and Development and held various leadership and engineering positions at Advanced Bionics and at IBM Research and Manufacturing. Hartley holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from Queens University and both a master’s degree and PhD in electrical engineering from the University of Calgary.
16. Adam de la Zerda
Founder and CEO, Visby Medical
Adam de la Zerda is the Founder and CEO of Visby Medical, a company revolutionizing the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. Visby Medical’s proprietary technology platform is the world’s first instrument-free, single-use PCR platform that fits in the palm of your hand, enabling clinicians to rapidly test for serious infections, talk with, and treat patients in a single visit.
In addition to his role at Visby Medical, Dr. de la Zerda is an Associate Professor at the Stanford University School of Medicine. He has extensive experience in basic and translational research in molecular diagnostics, with biomedical engineering training during his PhD studies at Stanford University, chemistry and biochemistry postdoctoral training at the University of California, Berkeley, and electrical engineering, computer science, and physics training in his undergraduate studies at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology.
17. Kate Rosenbluth
Founder, President and Chief Innovation Officer, Cala Health
Kate Rosenbluth is Founder, President, and Chief Innovation Officer at Cala Health, a bioelectronic medicine company transforming the standard of care for chronic disease through wearable neuromodulation therapies. These therapies combine neuroscience and technology to deliver individualized peripheral nerve stimulation, and its direct-to-home digital durable medical equipment platform aims to reshape the delivery of prescription therapies. Previously, Rosenbluth served as CEO, where she raised over $80 million in financing across three rounds.
As an engineer and neuroscientist, Rosenbluth has previously worked on advanced neurotherapies at Stanford Biodesign, UCSF Neurosurgery, Brainlab, Autonomic Technologies, and Genentech. Rosenbluth graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a PhD and from Stanford University with an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering.
18. Sandeep Akkaraju
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Exo
Sandeep Akkaraju is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Exo, his fourth startup organization. Akkaraju is a seasoned entrepreneur with extensive experience in leading interdisciplinary technology and business teams, successfully bringing complex hardware and software products to market.
Prior to founding Exo, Akkaraju was Founder and President of Jyve Inc. acquired by a major semiconductor corporation at an exit valuation of more than $60 million. Previously, he was CEO of IntelliSense, a leading provider of micro-mechanical integrated circuits and nanotechnology-based software and solutions.
Under his guidance, IntelliSense expanded its physical presence into China and India and its sales presence into over 30 countries. Akkaraju helped the company rapidly grow from a startup to its eventual acquisition at a valuation of $750 million. In 2003, he led the re-acquisition of IntelliSense from Corning. Akkaraju holds a bachelor’s degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, a master’s degree from Louisiana State University, and an MBA from INSEAD.
19. George Picha
Founder and CEO, Applied Medical Technology Inc.
Dr. George J. Picha is the Founder and CEO of Applied Medical Technology, Inc. (AMT), a leading manufacturer of medical devices with a strong emphasis on patient care, safety, quality, and education. Under Dr. Picha’s leadership, AMT has become a key player in the medical device industry, particularly in the field of enteral nutrition.
Dr. Picha co-invented and manufactured the first low-profile gastrostomy button, a groundbreaking innovation that revolutionized the enteral nutrition community. This innovation has had a lasting impact on patient care, providing a more comfortable and effective solution for individuals requiring enteral feeding.
20. James Min
Founder and CEO, Cleerly
James Min is the Founder and CEO of Cleerly, a company dedicated to eliminating heart attacks by establishing a new standard of care for heart disease. Cleerly uses FDA-cleared, AI-driven solutions to support comprehensive phenotyping of coronary artery disease through advanced non-invasive CT imaging.
With a clinical and research focus on coronary artery disease, Min has published over 500 peer-reviewed manuscripts, supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health and the Dalio Foundation. He has served as Principal Investigator on numerous landmark clinical trials and registries, including ACCURACY, CONFIRM, CONSERVE, CREDENCE, ICONIC, and PARADIGM. Min also directs a core laboratory for coronary computed tomography in several multicenter trials, such as PACIFIC and ISCHEMIA.
Min is the past President of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography and has served in leadership roles within the American College of Cardiology, contributing to various task forces and editorial boards. He has held significant editorial positions at major medical journals and continues to influence the field through his research and leadership. Min earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago and his medical degree from Temple University Medical School. He completed his internship, residency, and cardiovascular medicine fellowship at the University of Chicago Hospitals.
21. Sigurjon Kristjansson
Founder and CEO, Nox Health
Sigurjon Kristjansson is the Founder and CEO of Nox Health, a company dedicated to promoting sleep as a fundamental necessity of life. Nox Health is passionate about the transformative power of healthy sleep and understands the profound impact that sleep disorders can have on individuals with chronic diseases.
With over 30 years of experience in the field, Kristjansson’s commitment to sleep health began as a young engineer in Iceland. He was part of a pioneering startup that revolutionized sleep diagnostics by developing groundbreaking mobile testing devices, enabling sleep testing to be conducted in the comfort of patients’ homes.
Before founding Nox Health, Kristjansson served as CEO of FusionHealth and as Executive Vice President and CTO at Medcare Flaga. Earlier in his career, he worked as a software developer at Markpoint AB. Kristjansson holds an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering and signal processing from the University of Iceland.
22. Brian Fowlkes
Founder, HistoSonics
Brian Fowlkes is the Founder of HistoSonics, a privately held medical device company that is pioneering non-invasive platforms and proprietary sonic beam therapy. The company leverages the science of histotripsy, a novel mechanism of action that uses focused ultrasound to mechanically destroy and liquefy unwanted tissue and tumors.
HistoSonics is currently focused on commercializing its Edison System in the US and select global markets for liver treatment, while also expanding histotripsy applications to other organs, including the kidney, pancreas, prostate, brain, and others. Fowlkes holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Central Arkansas, as well as a master’s degree and PhD in physics from the University of Mississippi.
23. Harry Rowland
Co-Founder and CEO, Endotronix
Harry D. Rowland is the Co-Founder and CEO of Endotronix, a company that innovates at the intersection of medtech and digital health to improve care for people living with heart failure (HF). The company’s comprehensive Cordella solution enables proactive, data-driven HF management, engaging patients, reducing and preventing congestion, and ultimately improving outcomes. Since the company's inception, Dr. Rowland has led its operations, strategy, and technology development. His vision has been integral in raising $100 million in venture capital and strategic financing, and in building the company to over 70 employees.
Rowland holds a PhD in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, and a master’s degree in economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He has authored and presented numerous papers in internationally recognized peer-reviewed publications, with his work referenced in nearly 500 scholarly articles. Dr. Rowland has more than 15 issued patents, with several pending applications.
24. Andy Leopold
Co-Founder and CEO, Medical Murray
Andy Leopold co-founded Medical Murray with his father, Phil Leopold, in 1996 and currently serves as CEO. In this role, he oversees research and development, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance across the company’s three nationwide facilities. Leopold brings over 25 years of medical device expertise, with 12 patents issued in various catheter technologies.
Medical Murray is a privately-owned medical technology innovator specializing in designing, developing, and contract manufacturing unique complex catheter systems, permanent implants, and bioabsorbable devices for less invasive vascular, urology, and surgical applications.
Prior to Medical Murray, Leopold served as Engineering Group Leader at Guidant Corporation where he led the design team and initiated the development of many new products to treat coronary artery disease. He was also instrumental in creating novel balloon technology including material and process development. Prior to his tenure at Guidant, Andy served as an engineer for Sterling Drug where he was responsible for the development and production of new biosynthetic skin substitutes. Leopold holds a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Iowa.
25. Michael Monovoukas
CEO and Co-Founder, AcuityMD
Michael Monovoukas is the Co-Founder and CEO of AcuityMD, a leading technology partner to the commercial medical technology industry. AcuityMD’s intelligence platform is utilized by thousands of sales and marketing professionals to identify target markets, uncover top opportunities, and drive business growth. Serving customers ranging from pre-commercial startups to large enterprises, AcuityMD is dedicated to integrating detailed, multifaceted insights into daily workflows to accelerate the adoption of medical technology.
Before launching AcuityMD, Monovoukas was a medtech entrepreneur and held a leadership role at PatientPing, a provider of care coordination software. He began his career as a management consultant at Bain and Company, where he advised life sciences companies on growth and commercial strategy. Monovoukas holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a bachelor’s degree in public policy and finance from Princeton University.
26. Leo Mavely
Founder and CEO, Axio Biosolutions
Leo Mavely is the Founder and CEO of Axio Biosolutions, a deep-science medical technology company specializing in biomaterials-based medical devices designed to address pre-hospital, intra-operative, and post-operative clinical needs. Axio focuses on innovative solutions for the management of trauma, surgical, and chronic wounds.
Mavely founded Axio Biosolutions during the final year of his undergraduate bioengineering degree, driven by a commitment to addressing unmet healthcare needs through medtech innovations. Mavely holds a bachelor’s degree in bioengineering from Maharshi Dayanand University.
27. Jennifer Ernst
Founder and CEO, Iradimed Corporation
Jennifer Ernst is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Tivic Health, a commercial health tech company focusing on advancing the field of bioelectronic medicine. Tivic Health’s technology platforms leverage stimulation of the trigeminal, sympathetic, and vagus nerve structures.
Before founding Tivic Health, Ernst served as CEO and Chief Strategy Officer of the US subsidiary of Thin Film Electronics ASA. She spent over 20 years at Xerox PARC in multiple go-to-market roles, including Director of Business Development. Ernst also served as a Director at FlexTech Alliance, the US national consortium for flexible and printed electronics, including one year as the Chair. She holds an MBA from Santa Clara University.
28. Roger Susi
Founder and CEO, Iradimed Corporation
Roger Susi is the Founder of the Iradimed Corporation and has served as a member of the Board since the company’s inception. Susi initially served as Chief Executive Officer and President until August 2019, when he took the role of Chief Technology Officer. In May 2020, Mr. Susi resumed his duties as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company. Iradimed Corporation is a leader in developing innovative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compatible medical devices, designing, manufacturing, marketing, and distributing MRI-compatible medical devices and accessories, disposables, and related services.
Susi has over 25 years of management experience in the medical device industry, including as a Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Invivo Research Inc., a medical device company and the predecessor to Invivo Corporation, which established MRI–safe patient monitoring. Susi served as a Director of Invivo Corporation and as President of Invivo Research Inc. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from Case Western Reserve University.
29. Sacha Loiseau
Founder, Chairman of the Board and CEO, Mauna Kea Technologies
Sacha Loiseau is the Founder of Mauna Kea Technologies, a global medical device company that manufactures and markets Cellvizio, a real-time in vivo cell imaging platform. This technology provides unique in vivo cellular visualization that allows physicians to monitor disease progression over time, assess responses as they occur, classify areas of uncertainty, and guide surgical interventions.
Loiseau is the co-inventor of the probe-based Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy technology and played a key role in developing the Cellvizio product line. He successfully raised over €120 million from private and public investors, including €56.5 million through an IPO on the NYSE Euronext Paris in July 2011.
Loiseau began his career at the National Center for Space Studies in Toulouse and the Paris Observatory before joining NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory as a research scientist. He holds a PhD in astrophysics and optical instrumentation from the Paris Diderot University and is a graduate of Ecole Polytechnique.
30. Gregory Bullington
CEO and Co-Founder, Magnolia Medical Technologies
Gregory Bullington is the CEO, Co-Founder, and a board member of Magnolia Medical Technologies, a company that develops and markets innovative blood and bodily fluid collection devices to improve the accuracy and consistency of critical laboratory tests. Since the company’s inception, Bullington has led all aspects of its development, including clinical trial design, product portfolio expansion, commercialization, and intellectual property strategy. He has successfully raised over $125 million to establish and grow the novel ISDD market.
Bullington began his career at Deloitte and Touche LLP and later worked as a management consultant at Lake Partners. In 2006, he founded Forum Ventures, a consultancy focused on accelerating the growth of early and mid-stage companies. Over the past 22 years, Bullington has worked with senior executives at more than 50 companies, ranging from Fortune 100 corporations to startups. He is also the first named inventor on over 100 issued patents and has more than 50 pending US and international patent applications.
31. James Mault
Founder and CEO, Biointellisense
Dr. James Mault is the Founder and CEO of BioIntelliSense, a Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) platform company that delivers breakthrough medical-grade biosensor technology for scalable remote patient monitoring.
Before founding BioIntelliSense, Dr. Mault served as Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Qualcomm Life, a position he held for over five years. He joined Qualcomm Life through its acquisition of HealthyCircles, a Care Coordination and Remote Patient Monitoring platform company that Dr. Mault founded in 2009. His previous roles include Medical Director of the Health Solutions Group at Microsoft and CEO of Microlife.
With over 35 years of experience in the health IT and medical device industries, as well as clinical medicine, Dr. Mault has founded five health IT and medical device companies, raised over $150 million in capital, and led these companies to successful exits through M&A or IPOs. He holds over 80 issued and pending patents for health IT and medical device innovations.
Dr. Mault is board-certified in general surgery and cardiothoracic surgery, having specialized in heart and lung transplantation, thoracic oncology, and critical care. He has authored more than 60 scientific articles, chapters, and books. He received his bachelor’s degree in biology and MD from the University of Michigan and conducted his general surgery and cardiothoracic surgery residency training at Duke University Medical Center.
32. Robin Liu
Co-Founder, Chairman and President, Hochuen Medical
Dr. Robin Liu is the Co-Founder Hochuen Medical, one of the largest OEM manufacturers for in vitro diagnostics (IVD), medical disposables and devices, and wearable medical products. Hochuen Medical offers comprehensive turnkey services for IVD customers, supporting everything from the R&D and prototyping phases to low- and high-volume OEM manufacturing on microfluidic chips and biomedical consumables.
With nearly 20 years of industrial experience in medical IVD and microfluidics, Dr. Liu is recognized as a leading expert in the field. Prior to Hochuen, Dr. Liu held various management positions at Beckman Coulter, GenMark Diagnostics, Combimatrix, Motorola, and others. He is the author of two books in microfluidics and DNA microarrays and has published 30 peer-reviewed papers in scientific journals. Dr. Liu received his PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
33. Sameer Jafri
Co-Founder and CEO, Avive Solutions
Sameer Jafri is a Co-Founder and the CEO of Avive Solutions, Inc., a Bay Area-based medtech company that has developed a next-generation automated external defibrillator (AED) and software solutions aimed at significantly increasing survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest.
Before founding Avive, Jafri was the Founder and President of Saving Hearts Foundation, a Los Angeles-based non-profit dedicated to preventing sudden cardiac death. The foundation provides free heart screenings for youth and works to place AEDs throughout the community, supported by hundreds of volunteers and leading cardiologists from institutions like UCLA, Kaiser Permanente, and HCA. Jafri received his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles.
34. Uzma Samadani
Founder and Scientific Advisor, Oculogica
Uzma Samadani founded Oculogica in 2013, a medical device manufacturing company that specializes in the fields of neuro-diagnostics, brain injury, TBI, concussion, and eye-tracking. The company's EyeBOX device is the only baseline-free test authorized by the FDA as an aid in the diagnosis of concussion, also known as mild traumatic brain injury.
In addition to her role at Oculogica, Samadani is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology at the University of Minnesota, with a graduate faculty appointment in neuroscience. She is also an attending neurosurgeon at the Minneapolis Veterans Administration Medical Center. Samadani graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago with a PhD and MD and from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with an undergraduate degree in molecular biology and English literature.
35. Ron Goldman
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Accuvein
Ron Goldman is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Accuvein, a global leader in vein visualization. AccuVein is the world’s only hand-held, non-contact vein visualization solution, enabling healthcare professionals to see a map of peripheral veins on the skin’s surface with the goal of accessing or avoiding veins.
Goldman brings 35 years of experience to his current role. Before joining Accuvein, Goldman was an SVP and GM at Symbol Technologies. Earlier in his career he worked with Robin, Blecker, Daley and Driscoll as an attorney. Goldman graduated from the St. John's University School of Law with a JD in patent law and from the University at Buffalo with an undergraduate degree in electrical and computer engineering.
36. Bill Petty
Co-Founder, Exactech
Bill Petty is the Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of Exactech, Inc., a company based in Gainesville, Florida that develops and markets orthopedic implant devices, related surgical instruments, and biologic materials and services to hospitals and physicians. The company manufactures many of its orthopedic devices at its Gainesville facility, with these orthopedic products widely used in the restoration of bones and joints that have deteriorated as a result of injury or diseases such as arthritis.
Since founding the company in 1985 alongside his wife Betty and biomedical engineer Dr. Gary Miller, Dr. Petty has overseen Exactech's growth into an international business with 650 employees, including 350 in Gainesville and 25 in Sarasota.
37. Eamonn Hobbs
Co-Founder, AngioDynamics
Eamonn Hobbs co-founded AngioDynamics, a leading medical technology company focused on restoring healthy blood flow in the body’s vascular system, expanding cancer treatment options, and improving quality of life for patients. Over his 21-year tenure, Hobbs built AngioDynamics into a leading medical technology company with an international market presence and a highly diverse product line. Hobbs led the company's efforts in marketing, strategic planning, product development, and general management.
In addition to AngioDynamics, Hobbs was the President and CEO of Delcath Systems, Inc., Director of Marketing and Product Development at NAMIC, Vice President of Business Development at E-Z-EM, Inc., Founder, President, and CEO of Hobbs Medical, Inc., and started his career as a Product Development Engineer at Cook Incorporated. Hobbs received a bachelor’s degree in plastics engineering with a biomaterials emphasis at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
38. Irene Waldridge
Founder, Tactile Medical
Irene Waldridge is an entrepreneur and Founder of two medical device companies, Eva Medtec and Tactile Medical, and inventor of the Neuroglide and Flexitouch systems. Eva Medtec’s innovation is a new patented, FDA-cleared, over the counter medical device that simulates and automates manual lymphatic drainage therapy and myofascial manipulation to bring about pain relief and reduce inflammation.
In June 2022, Waldridge launched the Neuroglide brand under Eva Medtec, designed to ease pain, promote deep relaxation, improve sleep quality, and enhance recovery. Her innovative Neuroglide MLD-like pressure technology aims to revolutionize pain treatment by stimulating the lymphatic and central nervous systems, thereby reducing inflammation. Waldridge currently holds two patents, with two additional patents pending for the Neuroglide pain relief and recovery system. She is a former board member of SOMAVAC Medical Solutions, Inc.
39. Olav Bergheim
Co-Founder, Glaukos
Olav Bergheim is the Founder of Glaukos Corporation, an ophthalmic medical technology company focused on developing and commercializing breakthrough products and procedures to transform the treatment of glaucoma, one of the world’s leading causes of blindness. Bergheim has over 30 years of experience in creating and managing life science companies.
Bergheim is also the founder of Fjord Ventures LLC, a life science accelerator located in Laguna Hills, California. Previously, Bergheim was the Chairman of Vessix Vascular, Inc., acquired by Boston Scientific. Prior to starting Fjord Ventures, he spent 10 years at Domain Associates as a Company Creator and General Partner. Prior to Domain, Bergheim spent 18 years with Baxter Healthcare at US and international locations, where he held various leadership and operating roles including Corporate VP as well as President of Baxter Germany, President of Baxter’s Cardiovascular Group, and General Manager of the Nordic area.
40. Byron Myers
Founder, Inogen
Byron Myers co-founded Inogen, a respiratory technology company that went public in 2014 and is now valued at over $1.5 billion. Inogen is recognized for disrupting the oxygen therapy industry with its direct-to-consumer approach, which improved quality of life for patients and profitability for home healthcare providers.
Myers played a key role in the company’s growth, leading its sales and marketing strategies across consumer, B2B, and physician channels. He has extensive experience in market and technology assessment, product management, and business development, both domestically and internationally. Myers holds an MBA from the University of California, San Diego Rady School of Management, and a bachelor’s degree in economics and mathematics from UC Santa Barbara.
41. Martin Frost
Co-Founder, CMR Surgical
Martin Frost co-founded CMR Surgical in 2014 with a mission to help millions of people around the world to benefit from keyhole (minimal access) surgery and its advantages. CMR Surgical is a global medical devices company dedicated to transforming surgery with Versius, its next-generation surgical robot. Frost has an extensive background in starting and leading technology and life science companies, including the Cambridge-based technology consultancy Sagentia.
In addition to his current role as a Non-Executive Director at CMR Surgical, Frost actively mentors young leaders and purpose-driven companies in the diagnostics, medical devices, and energy sectors, including Cyted, CB2tech, and Creavo. In 2020, he became the Chair of Peek Vision, a social enterprise focused on providing sustainable access to eye health globally, which was spun out from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Frost graduated from the University of Cambridge with a master’s degree and an undergraduate degree in history.
42. Gerald McMorrow
Founder, Verathon
Gerald McMorrow founded and led Verathon Inc., where he served as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman. Under his leadership, he guided the company’s transformation from a start-up into a major international medical device corporation, ultimately overseeing its successful sale to Roper Industries. Verathon is recognized for its high-quality medical devices that provide enduring clinical and economic utility, solidifying its reputation as a trusted partner to healthcare professionals.
Leveraging his early engineering background, McMorrow advanced into the upper echelons of corporate management. He holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Washington, Seattle.
43. Jonathan Rothberg
Founder, Butterfly Network
Jonathan Rothberg is the Founder of Butterfly Network, a digital health company focused on democratizing medical imaging by making high-quality ultrasound affordable and accessible globally. Dr. Rothberg serves as an Independent Director on Butterfly's Board of Directors, Chair of the Board's Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and a member of the Technology Committee.
In addition to his work with Butterfly Network, Dr. Rothberg is the founder of the 4Catalyzer medical technology incubator and has founded and chaired several other innovative companies, including Quantum-Si, Hyperfine Research, and Tesseract Health. His ventures focus on leveraging advanced technologies like deep learning and next-generation sequencing to address global healthcare challenges. Dr. Rothberg received his PhD, master of philosophy, and master’s degree in biology from Yale University and his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.
44. Robert Grubbs
Co-Founder, RxSight
Robert Grubbs is the Co-Founder of RxSight, Inc., established in 1997, and Contour Energy Systems, Inc., founded in 2007. RxSight, headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California, is an ophthalmic medical technology company known for commercializing the Light Adjustable Lens (LAL/LAL+), the world’s first and only adjustable intraocular lens (IOL) that can be customized after cataract surgery.
Grubbs has held the titles of Director at both RxSight, Inc. and Contour Energy Systems, Inc. In addition to his entrepreneurial ventures, he is a faculty member at the California Institute of Technology and a Professor at Caltech Group, Inc. Grubbs is also the Founder of several other companies, including Symyx Technologies, Inc., Pharmacopeia LLC, Coelacanth Corp., Cyrano Sciences, Inc., and Insert Therapeutics, Inc.
45. Bill Niland
Founder, Vapotherm
Bill Niland founded Vapotherm, Inc. in 1999, inspired by a bold idea to adapt a technology originally used in horse racing for human medical use. He envisioned that high-velocity therapy could provide a gentler and more efficient solution for the most vulnerable patients—those who are sick, weak, or struggling to breathe.
Today, Vapotherm is a publicly traded company based in Exeter, New Hampshire, specializing in the development and manufacturing of advanced, non-invasive respiratory technologies designed to support patients with chronic or acute breathing disorders.
Before Vapotherm, respiratory tools for the smallest patients often obscured their faces and required a tight seal on their fragile noses. Niland’s innovation brought a more comfortable and effective alternative to the field. Prior to founding Vapotherm, he served as President and Founder of National Sleep Technologies and as President of Mobile Metabolic Associates. Earlier in his career, he worked as a Sales Representative for Becton Dickinson Respiratory Systems. Niland holds an undergraduate degree in law and justice from Rowan University.
46. Rodney Perkins
Founder, Pulmonx Corporation
Rodney Perkins is the Founder of Pulmonx Corporation, a global leader in minimally invasive treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Pulmonx’s Zephyr Endobronchial Valve, Chartis Pulmonary Assessment System, and StratX Lung Analysis Platform are designed to assess and treat patients with severe emphysema and COPD who, despite medical management, are still profoundly symptomatic.
Dr. Perkins is also the Founder of GN Hearing Care Corp., California Ear Institute, ReSound Corp., and Collagen Corp. and is currently a Director at RELIGN Corp. He holds a doctorate degree from Indiana University.
47. Norman Weldon
Co-Founder, Neuronetics
Norman Weldon co-founded Neuronetics, Inc. in 2001, leading the development of NeuroStar Advanced Therapy, the market leader in transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for treating major depressive disorder and other mental health conditions. Based in Malvern, Pennsylvania, Neuronetics is a publicly traded medical device company with a strategic vision of transforming patient lives through world-class neurohealth therapies delivered whenever and wherever they are needed.
Previously, Weldon was a President at Corvita Corporation and before that a President at Cordis Corporation. Earlier in his career he worked with CTS Corporation as President. Weldon holds a PhD, an MBA, and an undergraduate degree in biochemistry and economics from Purdue University.
48. David Trogden
Founder, Probo Medical
David Trogden is the Founder and former Chairman of Probo Medical, a refurbished medical imaging equipment company. After founding Probo in 2014, David led the company through 12 strategic acquisitions and two private equity exits before transitioning roles after the company’s second exit.
Prior to founding Probo, David was engaged in multiple operating roles, including President of Ultra Solutions, a refurbished medical equipment business, and Director of Business Development for E&A Companies. David holds an MBA from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in economics from DePauw University.
49. Raphael Michel
Co-Founder, Eargo
Raphael Michel co-founded Eargo and has over 20 years of experience in technology and business innovation, with a proven track record of building industry-changing companies. He led Eargo, the first vertically integrated, direct-to-consumer hearing aid company, from inception through commercialization, raising $70 million in financing. Eargo became the first-ever hearing aid company to go public through an IPO in the United States.
Most recently, Michel worked at Google's X, where he led the transition of breakthrough technical projects into commercial companies, with a focus on go-to-market, commercialization, and strategic partnerships. Michel graduated from the University of California, Berkeley Haas School of Business with an MBA and from Stanford University with a master’s degree in mechanical engineering.
50. Kevin Goodwin
Founder, EchoNous
Kevin Goodwin is the Founder of EchoNous, a medtech company that specializes in medical devices, ultrasound, point-of-care ultrasound, machine learning, deep learning, and artificial intelligence. EchoNous is at the forefront of integrating artificial intelligence into ultra-miniaturized ultrasound products.
Goodwin has an extensive background in the ultrasound industry, with 28 years of executive experience. He previously served as Chief Executive Officer at EchoNous and as CEO and President at Sonosite Inc., a point-of-care innovator and multinational company that he founded. During his 17-year tenure at Sonosite, Goodwin was credited with creating new markets, achieving remarkable long-term sales growth, and establishing an innovative philosophy and reputation. He also held the role of CEO and President at FujiFilm.
