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Interested in Med-Tech?

The LSI USA '26 Emerging Medtech Summit in Dana Point CA just wrapped (March 16–20, 2026), and while detailed post-event reports are still trickling out, there's already a clear pattern from agenda themes, session topics, and industry chatter. Learn more here….

1) "Build-to-buy" is now the dominant exit strategy

Repeated emphasis on build-to-buy deal structures (vs. IPO or standalone scaling). 

Strategics are engaging earlier, often shaping product development pre-approval.

For startups:

→ You're increasingly building toward a specific acquirer thesis, not a broad market.

Implication (VC lens):

More structured syndicates + tighter alignment with strategics earlier in Series A/B.

2) AI is everywhere—but now it's about workflow, not algorithms

Heavy focus on AI in imaging, diagnostics, and procedural guidance

The conversation has shifted from:

"Does AI work?" → solved

to "Can it integrate and get reimbursed?"

What stood out:

AI embedded into clinical workflows (radiology, cardiology)

Less hype around standalone AI companies; more around AI-enabled devices/platforms

Implication:

The winners are workflow + economics + regulatory clarity, not pure AI tech.

3) Robotics: from "cool" to "scalable economics"

Sessions emphasized "scaling smarter" in robotics

Key shift:

Away from large capital systems

oward soft robotics, endoscopic robotics, and lower-cost platforms

Theme:

Procedure-specific robotics > general-purpose platforms

Capital efficiency and adoption pathways matter more than technical novelty

4) Cardiovascular remains the capital magnet

Multiple sessions on:

Cardiac wearables

Hypertension device therapies

AI in cardiovascular imaging

Why:

Clear regulatory pathways

Large patient populations

Strong historical M&A appetite (Boston Sci, Medtronic, etc.)

Implication:

Cardio is still the "default safe zone" for medtech investors

5) Shift toward "therapy platforms" vs single devices

Emerging companies pitching:

Combination approaches (device + biologic + data)

Platform technologies (e.g., neuromodulation, immunotherapy-enabling devices)

From presenter examples:

Closed-loop neurostimulation

Immunotherapy-enabling interventional tech 

Implication:

Higher upside—but requires:

more capital

more clinical proof

tighter strategic alignment

6) Reimbursement and adoption = the gating factor

Key topics:

"Approval isn't adoption"

Coverage, coding, payment strategy 

Core message:

FDA approval is necessary—but not even close to sufficient

Implication:

Early-stage companies increasingly need:

reimbursement strategy by Series A

not as an afterthought post-approval

7) Big Tech / Big Pharma convergence with medtech

Explicit discussion of:

medtech as a bridge between pharma and tech

What's happening:

Pharma wants device-enabled therapies

Tech wants clinical entry points

Medtech is increasingly the integration layer

8) High-value remote monitoring (clinical, not wellness)

What works:

Data → actionable clinical decision

Direct link to intervention or reimbursement

What doesn't:

"Interesting data" with no payer or physician action

Example thesis:

Closed loop sensing, monitoring and dynamic real time dose adjustment

Radiation dose monitoring & oncology pathways

Drug therapy delivery

occupational health compliance

→ it becomes investable

What to AVOID right now from an investor perspective

❌ 1) Standalone digital health apps

No moat

Weak reimbursement

Limited M&A appetite

❌ 2) Platform tech without a defined buyer

If you can't answer:

"Who buys this and why?"

...it's a pass.

❌ 3) Early science without a reimbursement path

Chris Japp

Managing Partner at Tramway Venture

NMBio Board member

Curia expansion

Did you know that Curia is expanding? While this will not occur right away, the expansion may create the need for additional staff. An estimated 600 staff when the plant is fully loaded. Learn more about the expansion here…

Curia Global, Inc. operates 20 pharmaceutical research and manufacturing sites worldwide, including its Albuquerque, New Mexico facility, which is completing a $200 million expansion investment. The site specializes in sterile fill-finish, one of the final and most critical stages of pharmaceutical manufacturing, and the expansion adds two new manufacturing lines along with more than 70,000 square feet to the existing 200,000-square-foot campus. Home to more than 400 employees, Curia Albuquerque is positioned for continued growth, supported by its on-site Sterile University™, a hands-on training center that builds essential biomanufacturing skills across washing, preparation, compounding, filling, capping, sanitation, and lyophilization. “This multi-year project has brought leading pharmaceutical vendors and engineers from around the world to Albuquerque,” said Jon Shoemaker, Vice President and General Manager of Curia’s Albuquerque site. “From local utility partners to global equipment suppliers, this expansion underscores the collaboration required to strengthen domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing, and we look forward to showcasing these advanced capabilities in New Mexico during our ribbon-cutting later in 2026.”

SBIR/STTR is funded!

The SBIR/STTR program is back but with a new focus on compliance and commercialization planning. Learn more here…

Here are the 5 changes that matter most:

1. Security Review. Agencies must evaluate whether applicants represent a security risk in terms of foreign affiliations, investments, licensing, joint ventures, business relationships, and/or ties to certain restricted-entity lists.

➡️Audit your ownership structure, cap table, foreign relationships, licensing arrangements, and key-person affiliations now.

2. Proposal Caps. Each agency will limit how many Phase I and direct-to-Phase-II proposals a company can submit.

➡️Be more selective rather than taking a shotgun approach.

3. Strategic Breakthrough Awards. New awards of up to $30 million apiece will require matching funds from private capital, non-SBIR/STTR government funding, or a combination.

➡️Start thinking about commercial traction, investor alignment, and how you would support a larger transition-scale case.

4. Technical and Business Assistance. TABA will now include cybersecurity assistance, screening for potential foreign involvement, staffing support, and I-Corps participation.

➡️Treat TABA as part of your commercialization and compliance plan, not as an afterthought.

5. Phase III. Reauthorization has increased emphasis on moving technologies into Phase III (i.e., commercialization).

➡️Make the path to market clearer: Who is the buyer, and what milestones get you from Phase II to procurement, partnership, or follow-on funding?

If you are planning to apply this year, now is the time to get organized!

Let me know if you have any questions, and thank you!

All best,

Sarah E. Soliz

Founder/CEO of Labyrinth Consulting, LLC

NMBio Board member

April Lunch & Learn 

Did you miss the April Lunch & Learn? No worries, take a look at the summaries provided here…

Jukka Jumisko, President of WSI Web Enhancers, shared how his Albuquerque-based office has grown into a top-performing global franchise while bringing world-class digital expertise to New Mexico businesses. He highlighted how AI is transforming search behavior, emphasizing the shift from traditional SEO to AI-driven discovery and the importance of credibility signals like experience, authority, and trust. Through real-world examples, he demonstrated how AI automation is streamlining operations—saving significant time and improving efficiency across industries. Jukka also stressed that widespread team training is critical for successful AI adoption, noting that organizations thrive when their entire workforce is equipped with AI skills.

Visit the link to learn more about AI Corporate Training for professional teams and how to elevate your organization's capabilities.

https://wsiwebenhancers.com/ai-corporate-training/

Recap: The Human Side of Agentic AI Transformation

Presented by Paul D'Souza (Enterprise Minds - www.eminds.ai), this session moved past the "if" of AI to the "how" of architecting safe, human-centric systems for biotech.

Key Takeaways

• The 80/20 Goal: Currently, scientists spend 70% of their time "data wrangling.". By connecting data and intelligent systems, organizations can flip that ratio to spend 80% of their time on discovery.
• Agentic AI vs. Traditional Tools: Unlike static calculators, Agentic AI acts like an autonomous employee. Success requires a "Data First" foundation; industry research shows that for every $1 spent on AI, $3 is needed for data governance.
• The "Flight Simulator" Strategy: Using the TwinARC Causal Digital Twin, teams can run 10,000 simulations to identify a 100% safe path before touching a single lab station.
• Upskilling Talent: This transformation shifts staff from passive process followers to Agent Orchestrators—the highest-leverage role in an AI-augmented organization.
• Compliance by Design: Digital Twins create a single source of truth for FDA submissions, providing automated audit trails and proactive process surveillance.

Next Steps for Leadership

The shift to a Self-Learning Organization is a leadership decision. To begin:

1. Start with Data: Ensure all task-related data is clean and connected.
2. Orchestrate AI Flows: Test agent efficiency and safety in a Digital Twin sandbox.

Go Live: Use the Digital Twin as a Prescriptive Intelligence dashboard for real-time optimization.