Industry Voices

Startups must focus very tightly on a specific target market and value proposition to have the best chance of avoiding the doom loop of medtech innovation.

Historically, total ankle replacements have had low success rates compared to the more popular knee, hip and shoulder replacements. To put this into context, knee replacements have a success rate of nearly 96%, while ankle replacements succeed only 78% of the time, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.

CEO Nick Deeter says that 95% of children continue to receive adult orthopedic products that were never intended for them nor cleared by FDA for use in children. WishBone seeks to change the paradigm of pediatric orthopedics with its child-focused implants and sterile packaged disposable kits.

Mr. Johnson founded Zavation, a spine company, and Superior Polymers, a PEEK manufacturer. He credits the foundational business principle to his success in orthopedics.