Medtech Series: How Can I/Should I Work With a Large Medical Device Company

October 13, 2022 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM (EDT)

Description

Your startup is exploring working with larger medical device companies. Where do you start? Who are the cast of characters that you need to know to get deals done? And what kind of deal structures do you need? Before you start to feel overwhelmed, this program will have representatives from established companies both large and small to help you navigate the process of building these relationships and deals important to your business.

Topics will include:

• Understanding the various roles (business development, finance, and commercial)
• Types of deal structures (such as licensing, joint ventures, distribution, equity investment, asset sale, etc)
• The pros and cons of working with a strategic planner

Moderator:

• Troy Wilford, Assistant Vice Provost for Entrepreneurial Development, Drexel Applied Innovation, Drexel University

Speakers:

• Carol Burns, Chief Executive Officer, Cagent Vascular
• Jeff Thomas, Managing Director, Piper Sandler
• Gwen Watanabe, Managing Director, H.I.G Capital
  
  

Thank you to sponsors Baker Tilly, Duane Morris, and Fox Rothchild.

Moderator:

Troy Wilford
Assistant Vice Provost for Entrepreneurial Development
Drexel Applied Innovation
Drexel University

Troy is a thinker, a doer and a connector who brings decades of commercialization experience to the startup and early-stage companies with whom he has the pleasure of working. An engineer turned marketer, Troy combines the art and science of both disciplines to provide a unique perspective and methodical approach to crafting strategies for company success. Troy was formerly the Director of Commercialization Solutions at the University City Science Center where he is responsible for engagement and outreach initiatives that will position the Science Center prominently as a partner for entrepreneurs and startups. Before joining the Science Center, Troy spent eight years as an independent consultant supporting the commercialization efforts of healthcare early-stage and startup companies. Prior to that, Troy built a career working for a variety of MedTech companies, including Johnson & Johnson and Stryker.

Speakers:

Carol Burns
Chief Executive Officer
Cagent Vascular

Carol Burns is the founding Chief Executive Officer of Cagent Vascular. She has led the company from its inception in 2014 to commercialization. Prior to founding Cagent Vascular, Ms. Burns served as the founding CEO of Intact Vascular which was later sold to Philips Healthcare.  She has played integral roles in multiple innovative medical device companies, all of which have had lucrative exits– Embrella Cardiovascular (Edwards LifeScience’s), Animas Corporation (Johnson & Johnson), Ventrica (Medtronic) and Intact Vascular (Philips).  Prior to involvement with these companies, she spent many years working at Guidant Corporation in various marketing roles. Her early background in hospital-based critical care setting and medical device sales have served her well to identify, develop, finance and build innovative medical device companies. Currently, she serves on the Penn Health-Tech Strategic Advisory Board. Ms. Burns received a BSN degree from The College of New Jersey.

Jeff Thomas
Managing Director
Healthcare Investment Banking

Jeff Thomas is a managing director in the Piper Sandler healthcare group and a senior partner of the medical technology team. Thomas has 23 years of healthcare experience, including roles in investment banking, corporate development and research & development (R&D). Thomas advises clients across a full range of investment banking services, including sell-side, buy-side and cross-border M&A, corporate carve-outs, public and private equity, and debt financings.

Prior to joining Piper Sandler, Thomas was chief corporate development officer for Laborie, where he was responsible for strategy and M&A. Earlier in his career, Thomas worked at GE Healthcare and Banc of America Securities in both executive corporate development and investment banking roles, and at Eli Lilly & Company on the cardiovascular R&D team.

Thomas received a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Michigan. He also earned a Master of Business Administration degree from University of North Carolina, Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Gwen Watanabe
Managing Director
H.I.G Capital

Gwen has more than 28 years as an investor, entrepreneur, executive and board member in the medical device industry. Most recently, Gwen was the Vice President and General Manager for Smith & Nephew’s U.S. Robotics business unit. Prior to that, Gwen served as the Corporate Vice President of Global Corporate Development, Strategy and Strategic Relationships at Teleflex. Gwen joined Teleflex as a result of its acquisition of Hotspur Technologies, a company that Gwen co-founded and where she served as President and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to this, she also served as a cofounding team member at Nellix Endovascular, Bacchus Vascular and AneuRx, all three of which were medical device start-up companies acquired by larger strategic players. In addition, Gwen has been a general partner of several private equity entities.

Gwen holds an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University, as well as an MBA from Harvard Business School. She also holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.