Building Innovation Beyond Capital
In the rapidly growing MedTech industry, successful MedTech partnerships are formed by more than just funding. Today’s investors also help MedTech ventures by providing expert guidance, industry insights, and ongoing support; these factors assist MedTech startups in overcoming obstacles and achieving their goals.
Christina Vallgren and Marta Zanchi spoke at LSI Europe 2026 about the realities of working with investors and founders within the healthcare space.
From CERN Research to Real-World Healthcare Solutions
Founded as a spin-out company from CERN, Terai (now Terapet) aims to develop technologies that allow better accuracy when delivering proton beam therapies for cancer treatment. In particular, the focus is on improving a large barrier in cancer treatment: delivering accurate treatment doses using proton therapy. While proton therapy remains among today’s most precise treatments for cancer patients, there remains substantial uncertainty surrounding effective doses delivered to patients with proton therapies. Vallgren and her team at CERN recognized this barrier existed and created Terapet to fill this gap between research within the scientific community and clinical applications for patients.
The combination of these technologies has impressed several Medical Device Investors and MedTech Innovators interested in technology that can increase patient outcomes and further precision medicine.
Lessons in Flexibility and Market Expansion
During the medical technology conference in Europe, adaptability was identified as one of the essential takeaways. Terapet began as a proton therapy company but, through expansion, has developed other areas of nuclear imaging and theranostics that will provide a much broader range of healthcare services and treatment options. This illustrates how many companies in the medical technology startup market will need to adjust their business models to accommodate changing marketplace opportunities, customer needs, and growth potential.
The competitive nature of this industry requires a flexible business model for companies to compete with one another and, ultimately, to develop collaborative efforts with external shareholders such as investors who provide them with capital to continue to pursue these types of opportunities. Supportive investors played an important role throughout the transition from being a single product company to assessing the emerging opportunities in which they could capitalize while continuing to operate in accordance with the vision they established.
The Importance of Strong Investor-Founder Communication
Vallgren pointed out that having efficient communication has been a key factor leading to successful MedTech partnerships. Vallgren elaborated by saying that frequently communicating with investors before formalised Board meetings creates alignment and enhances the decision-making process.
By focusing on communicating openly and sharing ideas early rather than solely using meetings for presenting, Vallgren built a sense of trust between founders and investors, as well as reducing miscommunication.
MedTech Innovators rely heavily on effective communication during times of uncertainty, fundraising tension, and during product development phases.
The Evolving Role of Medical Device Investors
The LSI Europe discussion highlighted the change in the nature & roles of medical device investors over time. Medical Device investors are expected to provide more than just funding; they also add value with strategic business advice, industry connections, support for regulatory approval, assisting with preparation for fundraising, offering leadership advice, and assisting with commercialization.
All these types of contributions from medical device investors can help improve the chances that a medical technology company will be successful in a complicated healthcare marketplace.
Why Board Leadership Matters in MedTech
One significant point of discussion at the MedTech Conference centered around board governance. Vallgren discussed how selecting independent board members with relevant experience and a long-term outlook is critical.
Effective board members can provide MedTech start-up companies with valuable insights and advice regarding clinical strategy, operational processes in healthcare, regulatory strategy, and innovative growth of the company. Additionally, appropriate dynamics of the board may enable companies to successfully scale up while keeping their overall mission intact.
Staying Focused on the Mission
The speakers focused on remaining “mission-driven” in order to overcome operational and financial hurdles to successfully build a healthcare company. When founders and investors collaborate on addressing healthcare issues, they position themselves for successful MedTech partnerships.
The story of Terapet highlights just how important it is for MedTech innovators to leverage collaboration, perseverance, and strategic partnerships in order to convert scientific concepts into useful healthcare solutions.
MedTech partnerships between founders and investors are at the heart of every LSI Europe Summit. Connect with the clinicians, investors, and innovators building the next generation of medical technology. Learn more at lsieuropesummit.com.