Beyond the Bench: Navigating Commercialization and Funding in a MedTech Startup

As a researcher developing optical imaging tools for cancer diagnosis, my day-to-day usually revolves around lasers, clinical studies, and data analysis. However, the applied academic experience through the Pivot 314 Fellowship allowed me to step entirely out of the academic lab and into the hands-on world of the St. Louis medical device startup scene.

I spent my summer interning with Gateway Photonics, a WashU spin-off focused on revolutionizing Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). Right now, the medical imaging industry is transitioning toward compact, portable systems that can be brought directly to the point of care. Gateway Photonics is at the forefront of this trend, working to translate complex, bulky benchtop optics into affordable photonic chips that can expand access to Clinical OCT.

During my internship, I explored the business, regulatory, and commercialization strategies required to bring technologies to market. Building on my academic research writing experience, I learned to adapt scientific communication for major commercial funding initiatives. My core projects involved helping shape a $3.5M ARPA-H SBIR grant submission, assisting with the company’s Arch Grants finals pitch, and developing the Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC) Idea Fund and SPIE Startup Challenge applications. I also worked closely with a consultant to build preliminary quality control documentation—an essential foundation for any medical device seeking regulatory approval.

This pivot between academia and the startup world presented a unique set of challenges, primarily in time and project management. Juggling my full-time doctoral research with the high-stakes, deadline-driven demands of startup pitches and government grant submissions forced me to become highly disciplined. This dual track was incredibly rewarding, though. I refined my project management abilities and learned the distinct language of commercial fundraising—specifically, how to communicate deep technical value to investors and reviewers who are focused purely on market viability and clinical impact.

This experience clarified exactly what I want to do next. The fast-paced environment of a startup is demanding, but it is precisely where academic ideas are translated into real-world solutions. My time at Gateway Photonics has consolidated my drive to pursue a career in the translational research startup space after graduation, actively bridging the gap between engineering innovation and clinical reality. I look forward to continuing my collaboration with Gateway, and I am excited to see how their mission to transform OCT devices evolves in the future.