Vanguard Magazine

gaMe CHAnGER 40 DECEMBER 2018/JANUARY 2019 www.vanguardcanada.com See the full interview online Q What is your role in your organization today? As the founder and inventor of the tech- nology, I'm still heavily involved in the technology development and prototype designs for partners–we pride ourselves on the performance and reliability of our technology, and I like to personally en- sure that we continue to deliver on that. As the CEO, the rest of my time is fo- cused on fundraising right now. Q What was your most challenging moment? Two years into building the company, we had an amazing technology, but we were convinced that we were going to bring it to market as a standalone surgical device and then branch to other applica- tions from there. We had top surgical re- searchers who loved our technology and several publications backing us up. This gave us a lot of confidence to push ahead along that route. We spent nearly a year trying to raise funding to build our surgical device and ate through most of our cash reserves. We found out that medical devices weren't getting funded and the channels to market in the surgi- cal devices space are difficult and expen- sive to access. We pivoted the business model from building a standalone sur- gical device to integrating our ground- breaking force-sensing film technology into our partners' applications and that saved the business. Q What is the one thing that has you most fired up today? I'm really excited to develop our new ap- plications in defence. Q What is the best advice you received? If you think there is fit with a partner, find some small way to help them right now. Don't wait for the big contract or check back with them in a couple of months. Working together on some- thing, however small, will help you un- derstand each other's needs and capabili- ties and build a relationship faster than any other way. Q What is a habit that contributes to your success? Persistence has been key to pushing through developing a completely new technology and pivoting the business model to, ultimately, get the company on the road to success. Q What people or organizations do you believe best embody the innovation mindset? I like Boston Dynamics mindset of push- ing technology until it breaks and then innovating to push pass that limit. I think this is the fastest way to generate practical innovation. Q What are some of the biggest impediments to innovation in your industry sector? Because our technology is so different, new partners can have a hard time fully grasping the capabilities and potential of our technology. Typically, we build them a quick-turn, proof-of-concept prototype for their application. Once they see it, then they understand how this is game- changing for them. Q How has innovation become engrained in your organization's culture, and how is it being optimized? We are always focused on solving difficult problems for our partners. That is what we do well. This challenges the team to push the envelope on our current technol- ogy and to expand our thinking of what's possible. Q What technologies, business models, and trends will drive the biggest changes in your industry over the next two years? In defence, advanced sensing and con- trol systems are going to dramatically improve situational awareness and speed of response in the field. From continuous health and performance monitoring of aircraft, vehicles, and vessels to precision operator interfaces, haptics, and robotic control, the time to discover, assess, and respond or prevent threats will dramati- cally improve. Q What is your parting piece of advice? When you start out, do one thing re- ally well. SensOR is around today because our force-sensing film technology can do amazing things and has untouchable spec- ifications. RobeRt bRooks CEO and FOundEr SenSor Medical laboratorieS ltd.

• Cover