Do Young Medtech Entrepreneurs Have It Easy?

"It's becoming increasingly easier for young people to have an impact in medical technology, and that is a beautiful thing. Opportunities like the CBID (Center for Bioengineering Innovation and Design) master's program at Johns Hopkins expose young innovators to the medical device industry earlier in their careers and help lower the barriers to make an impact. We currently find ourselves in an era where technology is not only advancing at an inspiring rate, but it's also becoming more accessible to the masses. To think that a teenager with an Internet connection and a considerable amount of drive can develop a smartphone application that can affect the lives of millions is truly remarkable . . ."

". . . The internet has opened the floodgates of knowledge and sharing. The medical field is moving towards a much more connected state with the rise of the Internet of Things. Sensors and data [are] becoming much more important to monitor patients and improve care. This is a skill that young people grasp quickly, and [they] can use to their advantage to have a positive impact on the medical field."

"Fortunately, I think it is becoming easier for young people to have an impact in medical technology. More and more universities are implementing design thinking principles into their curriculum and starting programs that focus on entrepreneurship, which are instrumental in preparing students to be successful medtech entrepreneurs . . . Healthcare Accelerators and programs like Biodesign are becoming more and more popular, and we are seeing major medtech players, like J&J for example, funding and supporting innovation initiatives, which is playing a huge roll in allowing young entrepreneurs to make a large impact in medical technology. Without this kind of support and training, it would be so much more of a challenge to get an idea off the ground and commercialize it in such a complex industry . . ."

"I think it's becoming easier for young people to have an impact in medical technology. Computer science courses are becoming increasingly popular in both universities and high schools across the nation, and the Internet has made it much easier to learn how to code. Almost all of the largest healthcare challenges in the world--curing diseases, preventing illnesses, etc.--require novel technological approaches, so there's certainly a demand for fresh and original ideas in the health tech space."  

"I think it's becoming easier, at least in the area I work in, global health technologies. There's a growing awareness of the need for low-cost, robust medical devices in developing countries, which many undergraduate students and early-career engineers can become involved in." 

"I personally think it is becoming easier for young people to have an impact in the field of medical technology. The ability to freely access information all around the world and network with leaders in medical technology provides a basis upon which young people can think of and build new solutions that never existed before. Medical technology is an ever-growing field- not only are there many new areas to explore, but there are also gaps in the dissemination and accessibility of existing technology. Today, millennials have more tools at their disposal than ever before to address these challenges."

"I believe it is becoming more difficult for young people to have an impact on medtech, because there is a growing façade that there is a high barrier to entry (PHD, MD, MS even) to design, test, and introduce new therapy solutions and products. The answer is that anyone can become a medtech innovator if they are willing to go above-and-beyond to learn, devise solutions with a hands-on approach, can work with others effectively, and strive to get the best results possible. Look at Earl Bakken--an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering and built one of the largest medtech companies in the market today."

". . . It's harder for young people to make an impact in medical technology because we lack the clout and experience to be taken seriously. Take away that conceit, approach the problem statement with an open mind, and you will have an army of adaptive and fiercely intelligent individuals working against problems that have existed for as long as we've been alive. We offer new perspectives and since many of the variables that are inherent to these [medical] problems have already been identified, we can focus our efforts into solving for them."