You Have a Great Idea—Now What? How to Build, Fund, and Scale Breakthrough Medical Devices

Say you could be taught to create incredible medical devices, the kind that save lives. And you could learn exactly what it takes to get them across the finish line, funded and FDA approved. Would you say count me in? In this episode, Dr. Scott Sigman connects with the brilliant Dr. Josh Makower, serial entrepreneur, ExploraMed founder, and innovation professor at Stanford University, to talk about what it really takes to bring groundbreaking medical ideas to life. From his childhood obsession with The Six Million Dollar Man to building companies across cardiology, orthopedics, and women’s health, Josh has spent his career turning big ideas into real solutions for patients. He shares how his path through MIT, NYU, and Pfizer shaped his thinking, why he believes innovation isn’t magic but teachable, and what he looks for in the next generation of physician-entrepreneurs. They dig into the hard truths behind medical device commercialization, including hidden hurdles, the F-word every founder faces (financing), and why dilution is part of the deal. Josh also shares what’s coming next, from AI in the clinical space to robotic surgery, and why your healthcare journey might soon start with your phone. Whether you’re a practicing physician, an aspiring founder, or someone who just wants to understand how great ideas become real, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.