Starting a MedTech with Your Friends: What’s the Best and Worst That Can Happen (and Everything in Between)?

Starting a company is hard. Starting one in healthcare is harder. And doing it with your friends? That’s a whole other level. In this session, we’ll dive into the real-world highs and lows of launching a MedTech startup with people you care about—and the lessons learned along the way.

Led by Anthony Dann, CEO of Biometrica Health, this session will explore the unique challenges of building a company in a highly regulated industry while navigating personal relationships, equity splits, founder expectations, and investor dynamics. Whether you're in the early stages of building a startup, working with friends, or just curious about the MedTech space, you’ll walk away with stories, strategies, and some cautionary (and encouraging) tales.

We’ll cover:

The good: trust, shared values, and the creative energy that can come from building something with people you know well.

The bad: what happens when visions diverge, timelines stretch, or roles become unclear.

The ugly: how to handle fallout, protect the business, and preserve friendships (when possible).

The real: navigating HIPAA, FDA pathways, investor expectations, and burn rate—all with a small, tight-knit team.

There will be time for Q&A, so bring your questions, stories, and war wounds. This is an open, honest look at what it takes to build something meaningful in healthcare—and still want to grab a drink with your co-founder after.

• Startups