Paul Feuerstein, John Flucke, Travis Rodgers (VC), Marty Jablow
What a great weekend I just had! As we all know, there's really nothing better than spending time with friends... doubly so if you are working towards a common goal. Who better to work with than people you love? In this case it was Dr. Paul Feuerstein, Dr. Marty Jablow, and myself. For well over thirty years the three of us have been working together along with manufacturers to help bring tech to the dental industry. All three of us work in unison, or sometimes separately, on projects to make dentistry better. It's been a fun and incredibly fulfilling ride.About three years ago Marty had a stellar idea. A lot of innovation in dentistry comes from small startups and many of them are started by dentists. A startup is a tough gig. It's hard to take an idea, make it a reality, and then actually bring it to market. Marty has got a great grasp of the business side of things and he knows that one of the most critical things in that process is funding. So his idea was to hold an event where dental startups could meet investment groups. The result was The Dental VIP Summit held last February on the Wednesday before the start of the Chicago MidWinter Meeting. That event was really well received and Marty decided to take it 'next level'.
The result was the Dental KOL Boot Camp and Innovation Day, held that past weekend in West Palm Beach, Florida. During the Chicago event Marty, Paul, and I were approached by many of the startups to ask us if we would be willing to help them or if we could put them in contact with doctors that could. Marty realized that there is a definite need to get a new generation of dentists involved in what we do. So the concept of The KOL Boot Camp was born of that need.
Friday we spent the day explaining to the doctors in attendance strategies and ways to begin helping companies in product development, product testing, and getting information out to the industry. Don't get me wrong, there is no set 'recipe' for working in that space, but the three of us have been doing this for so long that we've definitely learned some good ways to accomplish the process.
Plus, the three of us can't keep doing this forever. It's time to prepare the next generation of doctors who are well educated and prepared to step forward.
Saturday was all about startups pitching their ideas to potential funding partners. The startups got the opportunity to get in front of the attendees and explain their product, their vision, and their needs. After each presentation the audience got to ask questions to clarify their understanding. Then Marty, Paul, and I gave constructive criticism to help them in their journey. It's a bit like 'Shark Tank', but since we're nicer and it's a more positive environment, we refer to it as "Dolphin Tank". No splashing necessary.
Marty is already planning Dental VIP Summit II for Wednesday February 18th at the International Hotel on Chicago's 'Miracle Mile'. It will be the Wednesday before the Chicago MidWinter Meeting kicks off on Thursday.
Also be on the lookout for more events like the one held in West Palm Beach this past weekend. More events are being planned in different locations, so if you'd like to be part of one, I'll keep you updated on dates and locations.
This is a super fun concept and I'm really enjoying being part of it. If you are a startup, an investor, or a doctor that wants to expand your role in the industry, jump on board and be part of the fun. We're looking forward to meeting you and working with you.
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