Clinical Capital Conversations

EP18 - FemTech Is Not a Trend, It Is a Clinical Correction

FemTech is often framed as a market trend. In this episode of “Clinical Capital Conversations”, Dr. Peter M. Kovacs explains why it is actually a long-overdue clinical correction. Together with Roswitha Verwer, Founder and CEO of “YON E”, and Muskaan Bhan, Chief Clinical Officer, this conversation explores why women were historically excluded from clinical trials, how biased data still shape healthcare AI, and why continuous measurement is changing medicine. This episode is for investors, founders, and healthcare leaders who care about execution, responsibility, and long-term impact, not shortcuts. Timecode: 00:00 Welcome and Introduction 00:50 Progress and Achievements in FemTech 02:16 Strategic Planning and Teamwork 05:18 Challenges in FemTech and AI Development 08:42 Importance of Continuous Data Tracking 12:49 Ethical Considerations and Long-Term Goals 16:20 FemTech Industry Trends and Future Outlook 20:29 Navigating Advisory Roles in a Regulated Era 20:48 The Rise of FemTech and Female Health Initiatives 22:38 Building a Supportive FemTech Community 23:19 Challenges in FemTech Investment 24:34 Investor Conversations and Strategies 30:21 The Importance of Team and Personal Connections 33:08 Future Plans and Closing Remarks Subscribe to Clinical Capital Conversations for unfiltered discussions at the crossroads of science and capital. Investors, founders, and operators welcome. Links: Peter M. Kovacs LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petermkovacs/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/petermkovacs/] Peter M. Kovacs Personal Website:https://www.petermkovacs.com/ [https://www.petermkovacs.com/] PMK Group Website: https://www.pmk-group.com/ [https://www.pmk-group.com/] Guests: Roswitha Verwer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roswitha-verwer-b2b636137/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/roswitha-verwer-b2b636137/] Roswitha Verwer Personal Website: https://www.roswithaverwer.com/ [https://www.roswithaverwer.com/] Dr. Muskaan Bhan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-muskaan-bhan-9b7123120/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-muskaan-bhan-9b7123120/]

EP17 - The Real Risk Is Execution: What Investors Miss When They Fund Science Without Systems

In this episode of Clinical Capital Conversations, Dr. Peter M. Kovacs sits down with Roswitha Verwer (YONE) and Karoly Szanto to unpack what most investors miss in early-stage health innovation: execution is the moat. YONE delivered the majority of a 12-month roadmap in 6 months. We break down how it happened, what systems made it possible, and why femtech fundraising is still biased even when the operating metrics are strong. What we cover: * How to build vendor communication into contracts and timelines * Running a high-performance global team without losing control * Meritocracy, KPIs, and having hard performance conversations with facts * Why female founders and femtech still face access barriers to capital * The gap stage problem in medtech funding, and why value-driven partners matter * Why many accelerators create noise, not outcomes * The next milestones for YONE, including the 600,000 co-investment raise and the seed round plan This is a conversation for investors, founders, and operators who want clinical innovation that scales, de-risks, and reaches patients. Timecode: 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:21 Achievements and Progress 01:38 Lessons for Startup Founders 02:56 Building a Strong Global Team 04:44 Handling Underperformance 09:36 Future Challenges and Milestones 13:28 Fundraising Challenges for FemTech 27:36 The Importance of Value-Driven Partnerships 31:29 Conclusion and Gratitude Subscribe to Clinical Capital Conversations for unfiltered discussions at the crossroads of science and capital. Investors, founders, and operators welcome. Links: Peter M. Kovacs LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petermkovacs/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/petermkovacs/] Peter M. Kovacs Personal Website:https://www.petermkovacs.com/ [https://www.petermkovacs.com/] PMK Group Website: https://www.pmk-group.com/ [https://www.pmk-group.com/] Guests: Roswitha Verwer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roswitha-verwer-b2b636137/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/roswitha-verwer-b2b636137/] Károly Szántó: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karolyszanto1/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/karolyszanto1/]

EP16 - The Co-Investor Question That Determines Everything in Biotech and Medtech

This is a continuation of our main conversation on what it takes to turn medical innovation into scalable impact. In this episode, Dr. Peter M. Kovacs sits down with Károly Szántó and Thijmen Meijer to unpack the co-investor question that determines everything in biotech and medtech. If you are building or funding early-stage life sciences, this is the uncomfortable truth: the cap table is a governance system. The wrong co-investors can slow execution, distort milestones, and burn capital. The right co-investors create speed, trust, and real de-risk. What we cover: * Why investor labels matter less than incentives and behavior * Skin in the game, and why it changes decision quality * Two co-investor archetypes that create real synergy * How family offices think, and why relationships and values come first * Europe versus Asia: differences in investor mindset and culture * Why smaller, domain-specific funds are gaining momentum * Practical questions founders and investors should ask before partnering Who this is for: Founders in biotech and medtech, healthcare VCs, family offices, corporate venture teams, private equity, and operators building clinical infrastructure. Timecode: 00:00 Introduction to Key Stakeholders 00:22 Types of Co-Investors 01:09 Value Proposition and Commitment 02:10 Investor Specialization and Synergies 03:26 Role of Angel Investors 04:02 Corporate Venture Capital 04:44 Family Offices and Personal Touch 08:56 Challenges in Different Regions 09:32 Building Relationships with Investors 10:34 High Net Worth Individuals 18:02 Micro Funds and Emerging Managers 19:51 Conclusion and Future Outlook Subscribe to Clinical Capital Conversations for unfiltered discussions at the crossroads of science and capital. Investors, founders, and operators welcome. Links: Peter M. Kovacs LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petermkovacs/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/petermkovacs/] Peter M. Kovacs Personal Website:https://www.petermkovacs.com/ [https://www.petermkovacs.com/] PMK Group Website: https://www.pmk-group.com/ [https://www.pmk-group.com/] Guests: Károly Szántó: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karolyszanto1/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/karolyszanto1/] Thijmen Meijer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thmnmr/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/thmnmr/] UniPrisma: https://uniprisma.com/ [https://uniprisma.com/]

EP15 - Europe Has the Science. Asia Has the Capital. The Missing Layer Is Execution.

Europe has elite science. Asia has a capital. So why do so many European university spinouts never reach venture readiness or exits? In this episode, Dr. Peter M. Kovacs speaks with Károly Szántó and Thijmen Meijer about the real gaps that block deep tech startups, especially in Central and Eastern Europe, and what a modern support model looks like. What we cover: * Why most spinouts never become VC fundable * The commercialization gap between research and markets * Mindset, team design, and why the founder is not always the CEO * IP clarity and why it is the first gate to investability * Milestones that remove ambiguity and build investor trust * Smart money versus dumb money in biotech and medtech * How to bridge Europe’s science with Asia’s capital through operators and partnerships Key takeaway: funding is not the goal. Value creation is the goal. Subscribe for more conversations at the crossroads of science and capital. Timecode: 00:00 Introduction and Meeting the Guests 00:16 Challenges Faced by European Startups 04:44 The Importance of Mindset in Commercialization 07:43 Building Effective Teams for Startups 14:04 Investment Challenges and Opportunities 17:15 The Role of Clear Goals and Milestones 21:40 The Investor's Perspective 25:26 Introduction to Portfolio Companies 25:45 The Need for New Investment Models 26:05 Technological Boom and Efficiency 26:29 Building Companies for Impact 27:30 Challenges in Deep Tech Investment 27:50 Value-Driven Founders 29:12 Operational Models and Risk Mitigation 30:50 Identifying Good Partners 32:55 Scaling Up and Future Goals 33:43 Investor and Founder Dynamics 37:09 Cultural Differences in Startups 46:40 Lab Space and Resource Challenges 49:39 Networking and Collaboration 51:57 Preparing for Global Markets Subscribe to Clinical Capital Conversations for unfiltered discussions at the crossroads of science and capital. Investors, founders, and operators welcome. Links: Peter M. Kovacs LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petermkovacs/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/petermkovacs/] Peter M. Kovacs Personal Website:https://www.petermkovacs.com/ [https://www.petermkovacs.com/] PMK Group Website: https://www.pmk-group.com/ [https://www.pmk-group.com/] Guests: Károly Szántó: https://www.karolyszanto.com/ [https://www.karolyszanto.com/] Thijmen Meijer: https://www.thijmenmeijer.com/ [https://www.thijmenmeijer.com/] UniPrisma: https://uniprisma.com/ [https://uniprisma.com/about/]

EP14 - The Operating System Behind Breakthroughs: Why Venture Studios, Focus, and Execution Decide Outcomes in Healthcare

In this episode of Clinical Capital Conversations, Dr. Peter M. Kovacs speaks with Károly Szántó about venture studios, calculated risk, and what it really takes to turn promising innovation into execution. We cover: * How a non-linear career becomes a competitive advantage * Why focus beats speed in early-stage venture building * The difference between high risk and calculated risk * What university spinouts are missing, and how to fix it through market partnership * How ecosystems change through examples, not speeches * What investors should do diligence to avoid science-driven capital burn Subscribe to Clinical Capital Conversations for unfiltered discussions at the crossroads of science and capital. Investors, founders, and operators welcome. Timecode: 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:26 Karoly's Career Journey 01:16 Discovering Sales and Business Development 03:46 Embracing Entrepreneurship 07:55 Building Uni Prisma Venture Studio 08:49 Venture Capital Experience 13:57 Focus on Healthcare and Impact 18:09 Challenges and Future Vision 22:49 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Subscribe to Clinical Capital Conversations for unfiltered discussions at the crossroads of science and capital. Investors, founders, and operators welcome. Links: Peter M. Kovacs LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petermkovacs/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/petermkovacs/] Peter M. Kovacs Personal Website:https://www.petermkovacs.com/ [https://www.petermkovacs.com/] PMK Group Website: https://www.pmk-group.com/ [https://www.pmk-group.com/] Guests: Károly Szántó: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karolyszanto1/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/karolyszanto1/]