# #455: MedTech Founder 101: Shifting from Corporate to Startup with John Schindler

- Show: [Global Medical Device Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast)
- Published: 2026-04-13
- Length: 39m
- Episode: 455
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2026-04-13-455-medtech-founder-101-shifting-from-corporate-to-startup-with-john-schindler
- Listen: https://podcast.greenlight.guru/episode/medtech-founder-101-shifting-from-corporate-to-startup-with-john-schindler

## Summary

John Schindler, CEO of Liquet Medical, discusses the transition from corporate roles at Atrium and Merit Medical to founding a startup, emphasizing the 'novel but simple' philosophy for vascular drug delivery devices. He explains how Liquet leverages its 510(k) clearance for pulmonary embolism treatment while planning an IDE trial, advocating for limited market releases to build strategic enterprise value through intentional clinical data. Schindler also covers the challenges of fundraising, negotiating with regulatory service providers, and the importance of early FDA engagement to avoid timeline resets.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2026-04-13-455-medtech-founder-101-shifting-from-corporate-to-startup-with-john-schindler#t=0) Introduction: John Schindler and Liquet Medical
- [1:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2026-04-13-455-medtech-founder-101-shifting-from-corporate-to-startup-with-john-schindler#t=107) Corporate vs. Startup Reality and Fundraising
- [3:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2026-04-13-455-medtech-founder-101-shifting-from-corporate-to-startup-with-john-schindler#t=198) Simplicity vs. Complexity in MedTech
- [6:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2026-04-13-455-medtech-founder-101-shifting-from-corporate-to-startup-with-john-schindler#t=365) Lessons from MedTech Innovator and Unlearning Silos
- [11:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2026-04-13-455-medtech-founder-101-shifting-from-corporate-to-startup-with-john-schindler#t=665) Clinical Data Strategies and Soft Endpoints
- [15:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2026-04-13-455-medtech-founder-101-shifting-from-corporate-to-startup-with-john-schindler#t=935) Negotiation and Regulatory Strategy
- [19:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2026-04-13-455-medtech-founder-101-shifting-from-corporate-to-startup-with-john-schindler#t=1196) FDA Pre-sub Meetings and 510(k) vs. IDE
- [24:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2026-04-13-455-medtech-founder-101-shifting-from-corporate-to-startup-with-john-schindler#t=1471) Commercialization and Distribution Risks
- [32:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2026-04-13-455-medtech-founder-101-shifting-from-corporate-to-startup-with-john-schindler#t=1946) Product Design Philosophy and Conclusion

## Topics

- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Liquet Medical (company)
- Atrium (company)
- Merit Medical (company)
- MedTech Innovator (company)
- Greenlight Guru (company)
- EuroFense (company)
- ICAS Cottage (product)
- The Mom Test (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)
- [S6E19 Stuart Grant | MedTech Innovation](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-05-09-s6e19-stuart-grant-medtech-innovation) (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)
- [017 - "Feet First" with Ahmed Zobi](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2022-01-26-017-feet-first-with-ahmed-zobi) (Let's Combinate)
- [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

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