Episode 5: Avoid the Dumb Tax: Cybersecurity Lessons for MedTech Startups with Steve Bell

What are the most common mistakes medtech startups make in cybersecurity, and how can founders avoid them?

In this episode, Christian Espinosa and Trevor Slattery dive into the challenges medtech startups face with their guest, Steve Bell, a 35-year veteran of the industry. They explore the critical importance of integrating cybersecurity from the start, managing regulatory hurdles, and focusing on commercialization to avoid the “dumb tax” (paying for costly mistakes).

Key points:

• The “dumb tax” too many startups pay for avoidable mistakes in planning and execution.
• Why medtech startups fail: lack of cybersecurity integration, poor communication, and insufficient preparation.
• The importance of understanding investor expectations.
• How to raise money effectively and why it’s the CEO’s most crucial role.
• Cybersecurity should be incorporated during the requirements phase, not as a last-minute fix.
• Why commercialization, not R&D, is the greatest challenge for medtech startups.
• How poor design decisions early on can derail regulatory approval timelines.
• Fractional cybersecurity and regulatory experts as valuable resources for startups.