I remember the "Good Old Days." In that era, the blueprint for an orthopedic startup was as predictable as a Texas sunset. You had a spark of an idea for a slightly better pedicle screw or a marginally smoother hip stem.
You’d find a heavy-hitting Key Opinion Leader (KOL), spend a few weekends in a cadaver lab, freeze the design, and waltz through the FDA.
The KOL didn't just design the product; they were your built-in revenue engine. They’d call down to the hospital purchasing department and say, "I’m switching to this. Order ten trays." And just like that, you had early traction. The surgeo...
