BML Health working together with our co-hosts Startup in Residence and Health Technology Catalyst | CTS was excited to welcome seasoned MedTech leader and trusted voice in MedTech innovation Joel Ironstone to our first Montreal MedTech 5 à 7 event of 2026 which took place on April 22nd, 2026 at the Jamaica Pavilion on Île Notre-Dame, Montreal.
In keeping with the theme of our Medtech 5 à 7 Series on how Canadian MedTech startups can overcome the challenges they face developing and commercializing medical devices Joel’s fireside chat, titled ‘Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose’, explored the state of Health Technology Development in Canada and the US. What has changed and what has not, and what that means for startups developing new medical technologies today.
We were fortunate to benefit from Joel’s knowledge and experience gained over a lengthy career developing and supporting the development of innovative MedTech solutions which have collectively generated over $1 billion in revenue and are currently in clinical use all over the world.
Marc Saab, Founder and Managing Director of BML Health moderated the discussion.
Cocktail and Presentations:
WHEN: Wednesday, April 22, 2026 from 5 to 7 PM.
WHERE: Jamaica Pavilion, 55 Chem. des Floralies, Montreal, Quebec H3C 1A9.
By invitation Only
The event is exclusive to BML Health, SeR and CTS guests that include startup founders, investors, accelerators, university research groups, Montreal life sciences community stakeholders, and the Quebec and Canadian governments.
A few insights from the discussion include:
- Unmet clinical need and clinical utility form the foundation of MedTech success. The most important question is not whether a product can be cleard or approved, it is whether it creates meaningful, differentiated clinical impact.
- Startup founders should ask “Does it work?” before asking “Can we get FDA approval?” Regulatory, reimbursement, and commercialization strategies only matter if a product demonstrates real clinical utility.
- Emerging technologies such as AI are impactful, but do not change the fundamental core principles of medical device development, or the need for reliable scientific evidence.
- Founders should challenge their core assumptions early, instead of delaying difficult truths until after years of work and investment.
- Avoid indication overload and large market promises which can create unrealistic expectations and put unnecessary pressure on startups.
- MedTech commercialization is far more complex than traditional product-market fit as it requires aligning multiple stakeholders with wildly different incentives: physicians, providers, payers, regulators, administrators, and of course, patients.
- Regulatory strategy is fundamentally a risk-benefit assessment, not a paperwork exercise. Regulators should be thought of as collaborators in the establishment and assessment of evidence, not obstacles to overcome.
And too many additional insights to list here. We invite you to view the complete discussion to gain the full insights, and please contact BML Health if you have questions or need assistance with any of the issues addressed.
More about Joel Ironstone
Joel Ironstone is a MedTech executive, entrepreneur, and strategic advisor specializing in taking medical devices from concept to commercialization. He has held senior leadership roles across product development, clinical, and regulatory functions, and is the founder of Ironstone Product Development (IPD), which was Canada’s leading MedTech advisory firm until it was acquired by Avania in 2023.
Joel has helped bring numerous innovative technologies to market across critical care, neurology, robotics, diagnostics, imaging, and digital health, leading programs from conceptual development through pivotal trials and regulatory approval. The products he has worked on have collectively generated over $1 billion in revenue.
He is a sought-after advisor and speaker, known for bridging clinical insight, regulatory strategy, and product development to accelerate successful medtech innovation.
Check out videos from some of our recent Medtech 5 à 7 events:
- US Clinical Workflow Integration for MedTech Startups – Alexandra Pelletier
- Canadian Startup Success Story – Rami Alhamad and PUSH
- How can Canada better support its own MedTech Startups – Ela Borenstein
- US Fundraising Strategies for Canadian Digital Health Startups – Dr. Amy Kruse, PhD.
About BDO
BDO has been present in the Montreal tech community for many years and provides tailored service to companies from the beginning of growth to those looking to exit or IPO. In Montreal, and specific to the Life Science industry, BDO has Richard Yeghiayan who has over 25 years of experience working with medium to large Biotech and MedTech companies in Montreal, Boston and Ottawa, whether they are venture backed or publicly listed. As well, Matt Harrison who leads the National Emerging tech practice focusing on Pre-seed to Series C companies.
BDO is a full service accounting firm that offers all the key services life science companies require as they scale including: Audit/Review, US tax, SRED CDAE tax incentives, valuation, bookkeeping and other services as needed.
bdo.ca
Contact on LinkedIn:
Richard Yeghiayan
Matt Harrison
About Desjardins Startup en Residence
The Desjardins Accelerator Startup in Residence Program invests in and provides support for startups that have a positive socio-economic impact within Canada. Startup in Residence is designed to guide early-stage, growth-driven companies to market success.
startup-residence.ca/en/
About CTS Santé
The growth accelerator for healthcare technology. Specialized in innovative healthcare technology and digital health solutions, CTS is an à la carte growth accelerator who responds to the particular challenges and needs of each startup. With CTS behind you, you’ll get strategic coaching to secure financing, effective commercialization tools that will help you succeed across Canada and internationally, and an introduction to their dynamic ecosystem of key medical and business players.
ctssante.com/en/
About BML Health
BML Health understands the impact of emerging technology in MedTech and digital health. At the intersection of medical technology, clinical research and patient-centric healthcare BML Health drives the mainstream adoption of digital technology in healthcare. Offering a full range of services to the HealthTech ecosystem BML manages the complex stakeholder interactions necessary to get MedTech solutions to market and gain adoption.
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