Willem Baralt: what an Independent Board Director contributes to a company | Eps. 7

Willem Baralt: what an Independent Board Director contributes to a company | Eps. 7

Intro: We all know that scaling a healthcare business at the growth stage is incredibly challenging. Resources are limited, priorities compete for attention, and every growth opportunity comes with a price. So how do companies scale thoughtfully—without losing focus or momentum? Today, Willem Baralt joins us for a conversation on exactly that. With more than 25 years of leadership experience spanning investment banking, CEO and CFO roles across healthcare, medtech, tech, and AI, Willem brings a uniquely cross-functional perspective on what it takes to navigate growth. He currently serves as Chairman of Synthace, a life sciences lab automation platform company, and Adaptix, a low-dose 3D X-ray imaging company, while also sitting on the boards of several growth-stage companies across medtech, biotech, and technology. In this episode of Medtech Circle, we explore scaling through a governance lens—one that is often overlooked, but can quietly shape whether a company succeeds or struggles. Willem shares lessons from his own journey into healthcare, from an international background in finance to eventually calling healthcare home, including his experience joining Quanta as CFO and navigating firsthand the realities of scaling through different stages of growth. As he puts it, startups are fundamentally about de-risking—and when done well, investors begin coming to you. We also dive into some practical and highly relevant topics on how good governance can shape a company’s trajectory: When should a company bring in independent board members? What happens when a scientific founder no longer fits the CEO role for the company’s next phase? As healthcare enters the AI era, how are boards preparing themselves to guide companies through change when many organizations were built in the pre-AI era? And for companies looking to scale commercially, we discuss why entering the U.S. market should never view FDA clearance as a standalone milestone—and how experienced board members can help leadership teams gain early clarity on what it truly takes to commercialize successfully, building the right strategy even before clearance is secured.  Whether you’re a founder, operator, investor, or simply curious about what good governance actually looks like in practice, this conversation offers practical lessons that go far beyond the boardroom. To reach out to Willem: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wgbhome/; To connect with the host Tiffany: tiffanyxu@seasaltpartnersllc.com Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or investment advice. The host and guests make no representations or warranties regarding accuracy and accept no liability for errors or omissions. All rights reserved. This podcast and its content, including audio, text, and show notes, may not be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission.

Ofir Hazut: an operator’s edge in VC - from building startups to backing them | Eps. 6

Intro: In this episode of Medtech Circle, I sit down with Ofir Hazut—a neuroscientist turned venture capitalist at Shoni Health Ventures, whose approach to investing is deeply shaped by a true “maker mentality.” Ofir’s journey is anything but conventional. From his early career in neuroscience to founding MEway Pharma—and experiencing both its successes and setbacks—he has developed a uniquely empathetic, hands-on approach to investing. Over more than a decade with firms like Agate and Trendlines, he has gone well beyond traditional venture roles—actively incubating companies, building products, and working side by side with founders. In this conversation, he shares how he has helped build companies from the ground up, including a cross-border “cluster investment” strategy spanning the U.S., Israel, and Singapore. His builder-first mindset brings a refreshingly practical perspective to early-stage investing. We also explore the broader landscape of Israel’s healthcare innovation ecosystem—its strengths, its funding gaps, and the uniquely collaborative environment that drives it. Ofir offers an inside look at Shoni Health Ventures, an early-stage fund focused on medical devices and digital health, where investment decisions start with clinical need and the people behind the idea. With founding partner Eran Leer bringing deep experience across venture and medtech corporates, the team is well positioned to help fill critical gaps in the ecosystem. Shoni also benefits from deep integration with Sheba Medical Center—one of the world’s leading hospital systems. From how Shoni evaluates opportunities to what it truly means to support founders from day one, this episode offers an operator-level view into early-stage healthcare investing. Whether you’re a current or aspiring entrepreneur, this conversation is packed with insights from an investor who has been a builder himself. To reach out for this episode: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ofir-hazut-63819161/; tiffanyxu@seasaltpartnersllc.com Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or investment advice. The host and guests make no representations or warranties regarding accuracy and accept no liability for errors or omissions. All rights reserved. This podcast and its content, including audio, text, and show notes, may not be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission.

Ray Yang: pioneering China’s digital health—and what comes next | Eps. 5

Intro: In this episode of Medtech Circle, I sit down with Ray Yang, founder of Marathon Venture Partners—a fund that was early to digital health in China, launching nearly a decade ago at a time when the sector was just beginning to take shape. Long before “digital health” became an investment theme in China, Ray was already building one of the few funds solely dedicated to this space, backing the conviction that healthcare delivery, financing, and access would be fundamentally transformed by technology. At Marathon Venture Partners, Ray and his team focus on three core pillars that define their investment strategy: improving access to care, driving efficiency across healthcare systems, and innovating around payment models. These pillars not only reflect the structural challenges within China’s healthcare system, but also serve as a lens through which to evaluate digital health opportunities. What makes this conversation particularly compelling is Ray’s deep, cross-border perspective. Having closely observed both the U.S. and China healthcare ecosystems, he breaks down how differences in payer structures, and data environments shape the adoption of digital health in each market. From the rapid rise of digital health adoption in the U.S., to China’s advantages in digital access, data aggregation, and implementation speed, Ray offers a nuanced view of how two fundamentally different systems are evolving—and what each can learn from the other. We also dive into one of the most debated topics today: whether China’s digital health companies will follow a similar path to biotech in contributing to the global ecosystem. Ray brings a fresh perspective, arguing that while commercialization pathways differ, the underlying dynamics—particularly around partnerships and “out-licensing”—are more similar than they appear. Drawing from the history of Chinese pharma, he emphasizes channel capability, rather than innovation itself, often determines global success. Finally, we explore how leading Chinese digital health companies are thinking about international expansion today, and what they look for in U.S. partners—from clinical validation to commercialization. Ray remains deeply optimistic that, much like biotech, China’s digital health sector will increasingly play a meaningful role on the global stage. This episode is a thoughtful and strategic look at where digital health stands today in China—and where it’s heading to next. To reach out for this episode: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ray-yang-11018a/; tiffanyxu@seasaltpartnersllc.com Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or investment advice. The host and guests make no representations or warranties regarding accuracy and accept no liability for errors or omissions. All rights reserved. This podcast and its content, including audio, text, and show notes, may not be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission.

Sai Zhou: Forbes 30 Under 30 Honoree building a wearable ultrasound company | Eps. 4

Intro: In this episode, I’m joined by a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, Dr. Sai Zhou, the CEO and founder of Circucare. Behind Sai’s calm and soft-spoken demeanor is an entrepreneur building one of the most creative innovations in ultrasound today. In our conversation, he shares not only the vision behind Circucare, but also how he navigated the transition from PhD researcher to startup founder—multitasking throughout his doctoral program to prepare for entrepreneurship upon graduation. Sai and his team have developed Cynova, a wearable ultrasound device designed to be compact, easy to wear, and capable of providing stable, continuous monitoring. Its design opens the door to a wide range of clinical applications. But what makes Cynova particularly interesting is how it integrates AI. The system can automatically adjust the device’s field of view, helping simplify ultrasound acquisition. In the long run, this could not only improve workflow for trained sonographers but also enable less-experienced operators—or even patients themselves—to capture usable ultrasound data. Recently, Sai presented this technology at the American Society of Echocardiography’s Echo Hawaii meeting, where Cynova won first place. Toward the end of our conversation, Sai also shared Circucare’s plans to raise a pre-seed round, with ambitious milestones the team hopes to achieve with that capital. To reach out for this episode: sai@circucare.com; tiffanyxu@seasaltpartnersllc.com Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or investment advice. The host and guests make no representations or warranties regarding accuracy and accept no liability for errors or omissions. All rights reserved. This podcast and its content, including audio, text, and show notes, may not be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission.

Yossi Mazel: treating an underserved neurovascular disease with a novel delivery system | Eps. 3

Intro: Today, we’re diving into an exciting area of neurovascular innovation with Yossi Mazel, CEO of VFLOW. VFLOW is a clinical-stage medtech company developing a dedicated venous stent designed to treat transverse sinus stenosis — one of the major causes of pulsatile tinnitus. In this conversation, we’ll explore the unique design of the Viva Stent and its delivery system, and how it improves vascular access while eliminating the need for an intermediate catheter. It’s an elegantly engineered solution aimed at improving outcomes for a large, underserved patient population. We’ll also discuss the broader challenges of raising awareness around this condition — both among patients and physicians — and what it takes to bring a novel neurovascular therapy from concept to clinical reality. To reach out for this episode: yossi@vflow21.com; tiffanyxu@seasaltpartnersllc.com Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or investment advice. The host and guests make no representations or warranties regarding accuracy and accept no liability for errors or omissions. All rights reserved. This podcast and its content, including audio, text, and show notes, may not be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission.