I recently chaired a panel discussion on the success secrets of medical device executives  at the Medical Device Commercialization Playbook 2015.

The half day seminar for Vancouver BC medical device company leaders focused on learning from experts and peers across North America.

200 attendees packed the Terminal City Club on April 2, to hear from successful serial medical device entrepreneurs including Steve Arless, Awni Ayoubi, Michael Baker, Paul Geyer and Ramgopal Rao.

They also heard from Larry Spears—who is not an entrepreneur, but the former Deputy Director FDA/CDRH Office of Compliance and FDA Investigations, and currently an industry consultant.

My panel included all of the above entrepreneurs.  We’ll be covering several of the presentation topics in future blogs.  Today I’m pleased to share Paul Geyer’s (Uncensored) Rules for Entrepreneurs.
Paul is a successful Medtech Entrepreneur and experienced Board member. Over the past 20 years he has founded and led two companies through their growth phase, in one case to a successful private exit and in the other case through growth as a public company with numerous acquisitions. Both companies are anchor medical device companies in the Vancouver area, employing more than 350 people.
Paul is currently the CEO & Chairman of the Board of LightIntegra Technology Inc., a StarFish Medical client and a spin-off from Canadian Blood Services which has developed the ThromboLux technology, used to determine platelet quality for blood transfusions. He is also Chairman of the Board of Neovasc, a cardiovascular company, and is an active Angel Investor.

Geyer’s Rules for Entrepreneurs

If you are not the right person to ‘Drive the Bus’… find the right person and hire them

Know what you know….Know what you don’t know

No Assholes

Hire for Attitude and Team-fit first and for Skills and Experience second

Bring on Board members with knowledge and experience the company needs, but you don’t have….remember Rule #3

Bootstrap as long as you can….time is money

When you think you are about 80% of the way to the goal line…you are probably only 20% of the way there

Be reasonable about your valuation…leave money on the table for all investment rounds…remember Rule #7.

Everything takes twice as long and costs twice as much as you think it will

Under-promise and Over-perform – Add 3-6 months to when you think it will be done

Know your Critical Path….Always have a Plan B

 Don’t try to make it perfect the first time….get it in front of customers as soon as you can

Listen to what your customers are saying and act upon it

Shit Happens!….Things don’t always go the way you want them to….Be Prepared

Give Back!

Geyer’s Rules for Entrepreneurs is Copyright – Paul Geyer – April 2015