MedTech Business Academy

In this episode of the MedTech Business Academy, Scott Alexander, Barbara Strain, and Mike Sperduti sit down with Frank Jaskulke of Avio Medtech for a practical conversation on what really separates successful medtech startups from the ones that stall. From credibility and execution to commercialization, networking, market fit, and the hidden costs of scaling sales, Frank shares clear, experience-based advice for innovators trying to move from concept to adoption.
The discussion also covers common startup blind spots, why solving a real market need matters more than falling in love with a solution, how to think about value analysis and workflow improvement, and where Frank sees some of the most exciting opportunities in medtech today.
Whether you're building, launching, investing in, or advising medtech companies, this episode is packed with insight you can put to work right away.
#MedTech #MedicalDevice #HealthcareInnovation #StartupStrategy #Commercialization #ValueAnalysis #MedTechBusinessAcademy

Healthcare value is changing fast in 2026. Cost pressure, CMS policy shifts, and the move toward value-based care are forcing hospitals, suppliers, and value analysis teams to rethink how value is defined and measured.

In this kickoff episode of the Creating Value Series, host Skender Daerti is joined by value analysis experts Barbara Strain, Jenell Robinson, and Terri Nelson to break down the evolving value equation in healthcare.

They discuss the classic formula Value = Quality ÷ Cost, why that equation is becoming more complex, and how hospitals are increasingly evaluating outcomes, efficiency, patient experience, and operational impact when making purchasing decisions.

This episode explores:
• How value analysis teams actually evaluate clinical products
• Why the lowest cost product is not always the highest value
• How CMS changes influence hospital purchasing decisions
• The role suppliers play in demonstrating meaningful value
• Why future value decisions may become more theoretical and outcomes-driven

If you work in medtech, hospital supply chain, clinical leadership, or healthcare strategy, this episode provides a practical look at how value analysis is evolving and what it means for product adoption.

This episode launches our new Creating Value series, where we will explore conversion compliance, supplier collaboration, value analysis processes across different healthcare systems, and more.

Subscribe for more conversations on healthcare value analysis, medtech strategy, and hospital decision-making.

Medtech’s New Battleground

In this episode of the Medtech Business Academy, Skender Daerti, Barbara Strain, and Scott Alexander discuss the forces shaping the medical device industry today. With strong earnings and renewed M&A activity, capital is flowing back into medtech. At the same time, hospitals continue to face staffing shortages, labor pressures, and operational constraints.

The conversation explores why workflow and operational efficiency are becoming critical factors in technology adoption. As providers try to do more with fewer resources, medtech companies that simplify processes and integrate into clinical workflows may have the greatest competitive advantage.

This episode examines the intersection of industry consolidation, AI-driven investment trends, and hospital operational realities, and what it means for medtech leaders navigating the next phase of the market.

How do you build advisory boards that actually change your commercialization trajectory instead of checking a box? The panel breaks down who to invite, what to ask, and how to turn insight into action.
In this episode of the Medtech Business Academy, host Scott Alexander sits down with Skender Daerti, Barbara Strain, and Mike Sperduti to go deeper on voice of customer by focusing on one of the most underused tools in medtech: advisory boards.
They unpack what a modern advisory board really is, how it differs from one-off focus groups, and why the best boards are “snowflakes” that look different for each product, market, and objective. Skender introduces the idea of “closing the circuit” across all personas who touch a product, from physicians and nurses to EVS, biomed, IT, and quality leaders.
The group explores how to avoid the trap of getting “say” data that never turns into “do,” why you should pay advisors to tell you what you do not want to hear, and how to balance gray-bearded experts with emerging clinicians who understand today’s channels and behaviors. They wrap with practical steps for building your first advisory board, setting objectives, holding advisors accountable, and knowing when the right move is to kill a project.
If you are in medtech leadership, product management, marketing, or sales, this episode will give you a concrete playbook to design advisory boards that create a real unfair advantage in your market.

In Episode 7 of the Value Analysis Expert Series, Skender Daerti sits down with Barbara Strain, Terri Nelson, and Jenell Robinson to unpack indirect spend and why it belongs inside the value analysis conversation. From rentals and courier services to waste, valet, instrument repair, and placement agreements, the panel shows how these choices shape patient flow, compliance, budgets, and outcomes. Learn the questions value analysis teams ask, the metrics that matter, and how to engage supply chain early so departments avoid hidden costs and lost leverage.