Taking Ideas
TO Impact
Innovate Medtech is a global medtech advisory and product development company. We pair engineers and scientists with experts in intellectual property and product design to ensure your product is unique, patentable, and well-designed.
With years of experience in the medtech space, our experts can bring your ideas to life, bringing your product from a concept to fully functional prototype, whilst building your regulatory and intellectual property strategy.
Mission
Our mission is to take medical devices from concept to reality, providing you the tools you need to gain investment and build your business.
Vision
To provide high-quality medical device development services, assisting founders in growing their business. By providing all aspects of medical device development, from intellectual property to engineering to market analysis, ensure your product and your business is ready for the world stage.
Our team
Dr Michael Challenor is a founder and consultant scientist with a PhD in nanotechnology and neuroscience. He specialises in biosensors, wearables, and medical devices, with experience spanning research, commercialisation, and international industry.As CTO of VC-backed startup VitalTrace, he grew the team from 2 to 50, raised $14M in investment, and led development of next-gen transdermal biosensors through to clinical trials. Michael is also an Honorary Research Fellow at UWA and is passionate about advancing innovation in Medtech and biotechnology.
Dr. Aarti Gautam is an electrochemical biosensor specialist with expertise in immunosensing, screen-printed electrodes, and voltammetry techniques. Her research at ANU focuses on point-of-care diagnostics for neuroimmune disorders. At Innovate Medtech, she supports sensor development, prototyping, and early-stage electrochemical validation for diagnostic platforms.
Carly Hardy is a dual-qualified chemical and biomedical engineer with deep expertise in medical device and pharmaceutical development. She has led cleanroom builds, quality systems implementation (ISO 9001/13485), and regulatory submissions across TGA, MHRA, and BfArM. A founder and startup mentor, Carly blends technical rigour with entrepreneurial drive to guide Medtech startups through design, manufacturing, and market entry.
Akshay is a seasoned product designer with 6+ years of experience spanning medical, consumer, and industrial domains. A graduate of NID and current Biodesign Fellow at AIIMS Delhi, he holds multiple patents and excels at cross-disciplinary design. At Innovate Medtech, Akshay leads user-centred product design and innovation strategy.
Sheldon Pinto is a mechanical product engineer with over 7 years of experience and a Master’s in Engineering Design from the University of Manchester. He has contributed to several granted and pending patents and currently designs novel solutions for continence care. At Innovate Medtech, Sheldon leads mechanical prototyping and product engineering across a range of medical technologies.
Dr Adam Edwards leads the Translational and Discovery Science Group at the Perron Institute and is a Senior Research Fellow at Aarhus University. He also serves as Neonatal Scientific and Regulatory Advisor to Argenica Therapeutics. Adam’s research focuses on neuroprotective therapies and diagnostics for stroke and neonatal brain injury. A founding member of the International Neonatal Consortium’s HIE Task Force, he has secured over $8M in competitive grants and brings six years of global regulatory experience, including BDPP, ODD, RPDD, and SteP approvals.
Dr Peijun Gong is a biomedical imaging expert with a PhD from The University of Western Australia, specialising in optical coherence tomography (OCT) for clinical applications including burn assessment, eye disease, and cancer. As a Research Fellow at UWA and the Harry Perkins Institute, Dr Gong has led multiple projects translating OCT technologies into clinical use, in collaboration with institutions like the Lions Eye Institute and Fiona Stanley Hospital. With deep expertise in fiber optics, imaging systems, and OCT design, he plays a key role in developing real-time imaging and laser systems for advanced medical treatments.
Alberto Goenega is an accomplished chemical engineer with over 20 years of experience in thin-film technology, process scale-up, and product development across sectors including medical devices, green tech, and reverse osmosis membranes.He holds 30 global patents and is a certified Six Sigma Green Belt, known for translating R&D concepts into commercially successful, high-quality products. Alberto is an expert in roll-to-roll and batch thin-film processes, with deep knowledge of coating, drying, lamination, and interfacial mechanics.
Paul Cohen is a seasoned healthcare professional with 20+ years' experience in pathology, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals. He has led clinical trials, built quality systems, and held senior roles across startups and multinationals. Founder of Beyond the Shell, Paul supports teams with coaching and strategic guidance. He’s an ARCS Professional Member, mentor with MTP Connect’s IMNIS program, and passionate about advancing innovation in Medtech and diagnostics.
Dr Mark Vreeke is a Medtech innovator and co-inventor on over 100 US patents, with technologies used in 20B+ diagnostics and generating $20B+ in revenue. He has held leadership roles at TheraSense, West Pharma, and Edwards Lifesciences. Mark currently leads the Chemical Angel Network, is VP of R&D at myBiometry, and heads TransAtlantic Science. At Innovate Medtech, he provides strategic oversight and access to a global network of biosensor manufacturers
Dr Ron Weinberger is a Medtech executive and non-executive director with extensive experience in commercialisation, governance, and capital raising. He played a key role in scaling Nanosonics’ Trophon device and has led ventures such as EMVision, Cleanspace, and 3DMorphic. Ron has raised over $200M across multiple companies and contributed to successful ASX listings and strategic partnerships. He brings deep expertise in medical technology, R&D, and regulatory strategy.
Lincoln Black is an industrial designer with over 20 years of experience, including 15 years focused on medical device design. He combines a passion for elegant, high-precision design with deep expertise in Medtech and orthopaedic products. Founder of a design consulting business, Lincoln works with lean, agile methods to deliver exceptional value and user-centred design solutions. He has led diverse projects and teams both locally and internationally, collaborating with patients and clinicians across specialisations to bring impactful, accessible devices to market.
Dr. Valentina Tiporlini is a biomedical engineer and R&D leader with expertise in AI, neuroprosthetics, and medical optics. She developed the Lazcath OCT-laser system for cardiac ablation and has led innovation teams at BrainChip and the Curtin Institute for Data Science. Currently pursuing her MBA, advises Innovate Medtech's clients on technology translation, commercialisation, and stakeholder strategy.
