# #423: Inside the Investor's Mind: What VCs Look For in MedTech

- Show: [Global Medical Device Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast)
- Published: 2025-09-08
- Length: 1h 11m
- Episode: 423
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2025-09-08-423-inside-the-investors-mind-what-vcs-look-for-in-medtech
- Listen: https://podcast.greenlight.guru/episode/423-inside-the-investors-mind-what-vcs-look-for-in-medtech

## Summary

Josh Eckelberry, Principal at Solas BioVentures, explains the firm's operator-led investment philosophy and its 'DOTE, GOAT, FLOAT, MOAT' framework for evaluating early-stage MedTech startups. He details how founders can de-risk their companies by securing strong management teams, proving therapeutic efficacy, and engaging with the FDA via pre-submissions. Eckelberry also discusses the importance of advisory boards, equity compensation norms, and the growing role of AI in medical devices, citing examples like IO Urology and Vector Medical.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2025-09-08-423-inside-the-investors-mind-what-vcs-look-for-in-medtech#t=0) Introduction and Josh's Background
- [9:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2025-09-08-423-inside-the-investors-mind-what-vcs-look-for-in-medtech#t=595) Solas BioVentures' Operator-Led Approach
- [14:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2025-09-08-423-inside-the-investors-mind-what-vcs-look-for-in-medtech#t=868) The DOTE, GOAT, FLOAT, MOAT Framework
- [24:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2025-09-08-423-inside-the-investors-mind-what-vcs-look-for-in-medtech#t=1455) De-risking Clinical and Regulatory Pathways
- [30:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2025-09-08-423-inside-the-investors-mind-what-vcs-look-for-in-medtech#t=1845) Advisory Boards and Compensation
- [34:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2025-09-08-423-inside-the-investors-mind-what-vcs-look-for-in-medtech#t=2084) Equity, Valuation, and Founder Mindset
- [56:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2025-09-08-423-inside-the-investors-mind-what-vcs-look-for-in-medtech#t=3366) AI in MedTech: Integration vs. Bolt-on
- [1:07:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2025-09-08-423-inside-the-investors-mind-what-vcs-look-for-in-medtech#t=4025) Networking Events and Contact Info

## Topics

- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Intellectual property](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/intellectual-property)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Solas BioVentures (company)
- IO Urology (company)
- Vector Medical (company)
- Pathware (company)
- Green Light Guru (company)
- FDA (other)
- LSI (other)
- JP Morgan (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [S5E8 Aaron Call | How to Find Money for MedTech Startups](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2024-02-23-s5e8-aaron-call-how-to-find-money-for-medtech-startups) (Being an Engineer)
- [S6E35 Spencer Jones | AI for Engineers, Finding Venture Capital, & Accelerating Medtech Development](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-08-29-s6e35-spencer-jones-ai-for-engineers-finding-venture-capital-accelerating-medtec) (Being an Engineer)
- [S4E47 Mark Byrne | Startup Engineering, Funding, & Assumptions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-12-08-s4e47-mark-byrne-startup-engineering-funding-assumptions) (Being an Engineer)
- [S6E19 Stuart Grant | MedTech Innovation](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-05-09-s6e19-stuart-grant-medtech-innovation) (Being an Engineer)
- [S2E40 Voice of the Customer, Using Questions, and the Technology Adoption Life Cycle Curve | Ted Newill](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-09-17-s2e40-voice-of-the-customer-using-questions-and-the-technology-adoption-life-cyc) (Being an Engineer)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2025-09-08-423-inside-the-investors-mind-what-vcs-look-for-in-medtech. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Global Medical Device Podcast.