Written by Rachel Hogan
Medtech success stories are usually told after the uncertainty has been edited out. The setbacks become a footnote, the pivots look inevitable and the difficult decisions are compressed into a neat line between an idea and an outcome.
Off the Record | Real Stories of Medtech was created to tell the other part of the story.
Following the AusMedtech Conference, we brought founders, researchers, investors, students and members of the wider life sciences community together for an honest conversation about what it really takes to build in medtech. The result exceeded all our expectations.
THE STORIES BEHIND THE HEADLINES
The premise was simple: strip away the polished pitch decks, award announcements and success stories, and talk about what actually happens behind the scenes.
Hosted by Dr Michael Challenor, the panel brought together Iain McIntyre, Sam Lanyon, Dr Josephine Muir and Dr Greg Roger.
They shared the stories that rarely make it into the public version of a medtech journey: the setbacks, pivots, failures, breakthroughs and “pound the table” moments that changed what happened next.
What made the discussion work was the willingness of every panel member to be open about the difficult parts. They did not present a tidy formula for success. Instead, they shared lived experience, practical lessons and the moments when the way forward was anything but obvious.
SUCCESS IS RARELY A STRAIGHT LINE
Four ideas came through particularly strongly during the evening:
- Success in medtech is rarely a straight line.
- Failure is not the end of the journey. It is part of it.
- Every success story includes challenges, setbacks and pivots.
- You have to be brave and resilient to build a medtech company.
None of these ideas are new in isolation. What made them powerful was hearing them from people who had lived them, and hearing the specific decisions, doubts and turning points behind the lesson.
THE AUDIENCE MADE IT A CONVERSATION
The panel may have been at the front of the room, but the evening was shaped just as much by the people who attended.
The audience engaged with the discussion, asked thoughtful questions and continued the conversation over drinks, food and music. It was a reminder of how collaborative and supportive the Australian medtech ecosystem can be when people have the space to talk openly.
The feedback afterwards captured just how strongly the evening resonated. Attendees rated the event 4.9 out of 5 overall, while the panel discussion received a perfect 5 out of 5. Most importantly, 100% of attendees said they made valuable new connections.
Those numbers were wonderful to receive, but the energy in the room had already told us that something special had happened. People stayed, talked, compared experiences and connected across different parts of the ecosystem.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE NIGHT WHAT IT WAS
A huge thank you to Michael, Josephine, Greg, Iain and Sam for their honesty, generosity and willingness to share the stories that do not always make it into the pitch decks.
Thank you also to everyone who attended, joined the discussion and helped create an atmosphere where real experiences could be shared openly.
THIS MAY NOT BE THE LAST OFF THE RECORD
We created Off the Record because medtech needs more spaces where people can talk honestly about the full journey, not only the successes.
Based on the response and feedback from the evening, we have a feeling this will not be the last one.
