MedTech at the Margins
Despite decades of promise, much of the med-tech innovation ecosystem continues to fall short when it comes to reaching the last mile. This session explored the core challenges faced by entrepreneurs, funders, and government partners in building accessible, affordable, and impactful health technology, especially in the face of climate-linked health threats. From broken procurement systems and sluggish regulatory pipelines to poorly designed incubation models, the discussion pulled no punches in unpacking why many innovations never leave the lab.
Speakers shared hard-earned lessons from years of trial and error. Remidio’s journey with portable eye-care devices revealed the massive disconnect between engineering breakthroughs and systemic readiness. C-CAMP and Social Alpha reflected on how many startups crumble not due to bad science, but from lack of planning, poor funding structures, and unrealistic expectations. The panelists called out these roadblocks openly, underlining the critical need for empathy, strategic design, and honest self-audits in every innovation cycle.
But this wasn’t just about critique, it was about redesign. Innovations must begin with a deep understanding of end users and the public health system, not in isolation. The discussion pointed to ways forward: building mission-driven funding pools, simplifying regulatory pathways, embedding health equity into design thinking, and aligning incentives across the state, market, and society.
