Venture Leaders Medtech 2023: Captain’s blog by Siew-Veena Sahi, CEO of Testmate Health

10.10.2023 11:00, Rita Longobardi

End of September, the Venture Leaders Medtech 2023 set out on an exciting journey to Boston. Their mission was clear: to tap into the wisdom of renowned investors and experts in one of the world's foremost life sciences hubs. Today, we have the pleasure of inviting Siew-Veena Sahi, the Team Captain of Venture Leaders Medtech 2023, to share her firsthand experiences and provide us with an insider's view of the action-packed week-long roadshow.

Monday, September 25th
The sun barely rose, and the team was already buzzing with energy, some even hitting the gym at the crack of dawn! Our first day began with a delightful breakfast at the Cambrian Hotel, opening the way to our exciting week ahead. Our destination? Swissnex Boston, where Benjamin Bollman, Consul of Swissnex Boston & New York, extended a warm welcome.



The day was a whirlwind of insights. Talal Ali Ahmand, a seasoned entrepreneur who'd ventured on both sides of the Atlantic, engaged us in a dynamic session. We explored the nuances of fundraising in Europe versus the USA and learned the art of conversing with American investors.

Lunch took us to Harvard Square before we returned for a session on pitching to VCs. Split into small groups, we presented our ideas to Boston-based VCs, receiving precious feedback. Our value propositions and go-to-market strategies were stress-tested, providing us with lots of useful insights.

The evening brought us to Lexington, where Consul Benjamin Bollman hosted a warm reception at his residence, uniting diverse players from the Boston ecosystem – investors, academics, and fellow entrepreneurs.

Tuesday
The previous day had charged us up for another day of adventure. Gathering at Swissnex Boston, we went on a morning stroll on the way there, bonding with the team as we exchanged thoughts and shared feedback on our pitches.

The morning continued with an enlightening session by MCRA, a DC-based regulatory consultant for MedTech startups. We explored the intricacies of the US reimbursement pathway, receiving personalized advice. 



Our day concluded with a visit to Portal Instruments, where we had candid conversations with Patrick, the CEO, and a tour of their facility. Witnessing a late-stage medical device startup with in-house prototyping resources was truly inspiring.



We capped off the evening with a spontaneous gathering over Boston's delicious burgers, really building the community among us Venture Leaders.

Wednesday
The much-anticipated Pitch Cruise day arrived! Armed with feedback from the past two days, we fine-tuned our pitches. MedScience Ventures provided further pitch feedback, enhancing our storytelling skills.



Nicolas Mossiman from Kellerhals Carrard shared insights on building strategic partnerships and seamless governance for M&A situations. The day culminated with a cruise on Boston Harbor, where the stakes were high – ten Swiss startups and three Boston startups competing for residency at Swissnex Boston. It was a moment of pride for the team as we showcased the incredible improvements in our pitches, a testament to our collective hard work.

Thursday
Our day began with a warm welcome at Swiss Engineering house Helbling Technik's Boston office. Some of us had already collaborated with our Swiss counterparts, making the visit all the more meaningful. We exchanged experiences related to building medical devices and shared our product development journeys and roadmaps.



Friday
Time flew by and the final day arrived. The morning was spent meeting investors and potential partners independently. We regrouped at Boston Harbor for a long-awaited sailing trip, although the weather decided not to cooperate. Ponchos became our trusty companions as we sailed through a light drizzle, using the time to debrief and share trip highlights.

Despite the rain, our excursion was a memorable one. We reflected that we were all leaving with not only valuable knowledge and connections for our startups but also the priceless camaraderie we'd built among ourselves.

Our journey came to a close at The Oyster House, one of Boston's oldest restaurants, where we indulged in clam chowder and lobster. We raised our glasses to a successful trip and the dedicated teams at Venturelab and Swissnex Boston, who organized this unforgettable experience!