Walk the Valley

Katalin Vikuk and Will Gray
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The podcast that breaks barriers to healthcare innovation

  1. 12/22/2025

    Martin Broch Pedersen and Nicolas Bouchet Health Thech Hub Copenhagen

    In this episode of Walk the Valley, we do something a little different. A round-table discussion with two guests who approach healthcare innovation from distinct but connected perspectives.We’re joined by Martin Broch Pedersen, Business Development Director at Health Tech Hub Copenhagen, who works closely with early-stage healthtech startups on regulation, reimbursement, and commercialisation through programmes like Health Tech Pathways. Martin focuses on building the support structures that help founders learn faster, adapt earlier, and survive the valley of death.We’re also joined by Nicolas Bouchet, Investment Manager at Health Tech Hub Copenhagen, who brings the investor lens. Nicolas explores how startups can turn attention into actual investment, what makes a company investable, and why strong business models matter more than visibility alone.Together, we unpack what it really takes to move from innovation to investment:* Why saving money long-term often means investing earlier* Why building product and market in parallel beats waiting for a “finished” product* What builds investor credibility, and why fitting into existing budget streams matters* Why knowing what you don’t know is one of a founder’s strongest assetsThis episode is for founders who want to understand the system they’re building in, and how working with it can be more powerful than trying to disrupt it. Links: https://healthtechhub.org/ http://healthtechhub.org/investor-survey-2025/

    35 min

  2. 12/02/2025

    Cathrin Johansson CEO MedVasc

    In this episode of Walk The Valley, Will talks to Cathrin Johansson CEO of Medtech company MedVasc. We learn about her companies work to bring a catheter device to market, their decision to focus on the US market, and why starting early with regulatory is critical for startups.We dig into the challenges of fundraising in 2025, building long-lasting trust with investors, and keeping the balance of clinical need, regulatory timing, and commercial urgency. Cathrin also breaks down how she approaches leadership in a small team, how MedVasc is preparing for market entry, and what founders often underestimate when bringing a device from prototype to patients.

    31 min

  3. 11/11/2025

    Zdravko Obradovic CEO Clinical Trials Bid

    In this episode of Walk the Valley, Kata talks with Zdravko Obradović, CEO and founder of Clinical Trial Bid and EBS Clinical Research, about how the Balkans are reshaping the landscape of clinical trials.Zdravko takes us from the fax-machine era to the rise of AI-driven trials, showing how automation and smart systems can cut timelines from years to months without compromising safety. He shares how Serbia offers a compelling edge (shorter approvals, stronger investigator networks, and 30–40% lower costs) backed by a story of boosting recruitment from 42 to 126 patients in just nine weeks.We also dive into his mission to make clinical research more accessible through Clinical Trial Bid, an AI-powered platform that helps startups plan, connect, and execute trials faster and smarter.The takeaway? The future of clinical research isn’t just faster, it’s fairer. When technology removes barriers, even small innovators can bring life-changing ideas to market. Clinical Trials Bid https://ctb.health/ EBS Clinical Research https://ebscro.com/ Zdravko's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zdravko-obradovic-md-813218a6/

    33 min

  4. 10/22/2025

    Prof. Elisabeth Carlson Department of Care Science, Malmö University

    In this episode of Walk the Valley, Will sits down with Professor Elizabeth Carlson, Head of Research and Education at Malmö University’s Department of Care Science. With a background as both a nurse and academic, Elizabeth offers a grounded yet forward-looking perspective on how healthcare is evolving. They discuss how the pandemic reshaped healthcare education, forcing a rapid shift to digital learning, and how that momentum continues to influence care delivery today. The conversation explores the promises and limitations of AI in healthcare, the rise of decentralised care, and the challenges of balancing innovation with human connection. Elizabeth also reflects on what healthcare might look like 50 years from now, from robotic assistance to precision health. And why, despite all the technology, relationships between caregivers and patients will always remain the heart of healthcare.

    28 min

  5. 09/23/2025

    Sarah Morgan, Founder & CEO, Nano-Lit Technologies

    In this episode of Walk the Valley, Kata sits down with Sarah Morgan, industrial designer turned healthtech entrepreneur and founder of NanoLit Technologies. Unlike many healthtech founders who come from medical or technical backgrounds, Sarah applies design thinking to healthcare, using light to support recovery, sleep health, and quality of life in hospitals and senior care.Sarah takes us on a journey from the quantum physics of light to the practical barriers of healthcare supply chains, showing how even simple interventions like better lighting can profoundly impact patient outcomes, dementia care, and recovery environments. Along the way, she explains how design thinking - empathising with users, defining problems, prototyping, and iterating - can unlock innovation in one of the hardest industries to change.Her insights connect with the findings of the recently published Health Pays Back report from the International WELL Building Institute, which underscores the economic and health benefits of healthier environments.Whether you’re a founder, clinician, or innovator, this episode is a reminder that real healthcare impact comes from looking beyond technology, digging deep into the system, and designing solutions that people can truly adopt.

    25 min

  6. 09/03/2025

    Mads Vad Kristensen Innovation Partner at DTU SkyLab

    In this episode of Walk the Valley, Kata talks with Mads Vad Kristensen, a central figure in Denmark’s innovation ecosystem with a background in venture capital and university spinouts. Mads shares hard-earned insights on why so many health tech startups get stuck in the valley of death, and what could be done differently. From the importance of building multidisciplinary teams early, to avoiding the trap of sequential development, he explains why working on R&D, regulatory, and commercialisation in parallel is key to survival. The conversation also dives into the funding gap that leaves startups stranded between early angels and cautious VCs, and why resilient, well-prepared teams are ultimately the biggest predictor of success. Whether you’re a founder, researcher, or part of the innovation support system, this episode offers practical wisdom on how to strengthen teams, extend runway, and increase the odds of making it to market. DTU SkyLab - https://www.skylab.dtu.dk/ Open Entrepreneurship Program - https://open-entrepreneurship.com/about-oe/

    38 min

  7. 06/02/2025

    Tomas de Souza former CEO of Ablemind

    In this episode of Walk the Valley, Tomas shares an honest and reflective conversation on what it means to lead a startup when things don’t go as planned.From dealing with the emotional toll of uncertainty to understanding the importance of early scenario planning, Tomas opens up about the unseen challenges that many founders face but rarely talk about.We explore:- How to manage emotions when the pressure mounts- Why acknowledging blind spots and asking questions early can be a strength- The role of founder alignment and scenario planning from day one- The leading causes of startup failure- How leadership must evolve as a company grows- And why the popular "fail fast" narrative may do more harm than goodWhether you’re leading a startup or thinking of launching one, this episode offers practical wisdom, emotional honesty, and valuable takeaways from someone who’s been in the middle of it.The article I mention in this episode:https://hbr.org/2007/01/becoming-the-bossMinc, the startup incubator in Malmo: https://www.minc.se/

    29 min

  8. 05/15/2025

    Jule Dalsgard CEO of Lifeline Robotics

    In this episode Will talks with Julie Dalsgaard, CEO of Lifeline Robotics, a Danish MedTech startup born at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Julie shares what it was like to build a company in the middle of a global crisis, and how Lifeline Robotics navigated the difficult shift from emergency pandemic use to long-term clinical relevance. From pivoting toward general practice to operating in the grey zone between robotics and medical devices, her journey offers a grounded and honest look at the messy reality of healthcare innovation. She also reflects on the emotional toll of leadership in uncertain times and why finding mentors and taking things one step at a time might be the most underrated survival strategy in the valley of death. This is a must-listen for anyone building in MedTech, wondering how to lead with resilience, or trying to find clarity in the fog of innovation.

    21 min
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About

The podcast that breaks barriers to healthcare innovation

Information

  • Creator
    Katalin Vikuk and Will Gray
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Katalin Vikuk and Will Gray
  • Show Website
    Walk the Valley