How does vital signs monitoring address neonatal mortality in low-income countries? What challenges do medical device startups face, especially in regulated healthcare environments? In this interview, Sona Shah, CEO of Neopenda, walks us through her personal journey from studying chemical engineering at Georgia Tech to creating impactful healthcare solutions while navigating the complexities of medical device development. She shares her experiences teaching in Kenya, working in pharma, and meeting her co-founder Tess at Columbia University. The conversation delves deep into the challenges of launching a healthcare startup, the importance of culturally sensitive design, and critical business decisions such as choosing a for-profit model and restructuring the team during COVID-19. Sona provides valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs driven to solve urgent healthcare problems.Takeaways:<ul><li> Sona Shah's journey from engineering to healthcare highlights the importance of cultural sensitivity in medical device design. </li><li> Neopenda was founded to address neonatal mortality in low-income countries with innovative monitoring solutions. </li><li> The challenges of launching a healthcare startup include navigating regulatory hurdles and securing funding. </li><li> COVID-19 opened opportunities for Neopenda to adapt its device for adult and pediatric patients. </li><li> Creating a sustainable business model is crucial for balancing profitability with social impact in healthcare. </li><li> Restructuring during tough times can lead to stronger teams and better company performance in the long run. </li></ul> Links referenced in this episode:<ul><li><a href="https://neopenda.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">neopenda.com</a></li></ul> ______Support the Podcast: <a href="https://ko-fi.com/globalhealthpursuit" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Click here to send in a one-time or monthly donation</a>Submit a Question: <a href="https://airtable.com/app4m1QsTuAPGimXb/shrLlSESJq5SLcVkh" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Click here to send in a question!</a>Join the Podcast Mailing list: <a href="https://www.globalhealthpursuit.com/mailing-list" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.globalhealthpursuit.com/mailing-list</a>Make sure to follow me on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/hetalbaman/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hetal.baman/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/globalhealthpursuit" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook</a>!Email me at hetal@globalhealthpursuit.com______Thank you to our partners at <a href="https://shopchimuk.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CHIMUK</a>: A sustainable and ethical handmade fashion brand transforming women's lives through knitting. Purchase one of a kind, high quality baby alpaca, and cotton handmade <a href="https://shopchimuk.com/collections" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">scarves, hats, and more</a>! Each product comes with a special QR code linking you to a photo/bio of the artisan who handmade your product! <a href="https://shopchimuk.com/pages/impact" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Click here</a> to see the impact you can make by shopping with Chimuk. >>Use the code GHP10 for 10% off at checkout!<<

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66. Challenges of Building a Medical Device Startup for Underserved Populations w/ Sona Shah

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