The MedTech Podcast

24 Nov 2025 02:37

#92 From NASA to SaMD: Building Galen Data with Chris DuPont: Risk, Resilience & Regulatory Realities

Chris DuPont, a seasoned MedTech engineer, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Galen Data, which was acquired by Matrix One in late 2024. With a background in aerospace software from NASA and a career dedicated to medical device connectivity, Chris shares a rare behind-the-scenes look at starting a cloud platform with just $600, scaling it into an FDA compliant infrastructure solution and navigating both technical and financial risk.

In this episode, we dive into the unexpected similarities between outer space and inner space, how “Twiddler Syndrome” inspired a connected care solution and why the future of SaMD relies on proactive, cybersecure, cloud native design. Chris opens up about managing through the SVB collapse, regulatory war stories from his days at Cyberonics, and what he learned about entrepreneurship that no incubator can teach. From minimal viable features to medical-grade quality systems, this episode is packed with real lessons from a founder who’s seen it all.

Timestamps

[00:01:05] From Space Station Freedom to Inner Space: NASA to MedTech

[00:02:56] Launching Galen Data with Just $600

[00:06:21] Why They Built Their Own Incubator

[00:08:36] Fundraising in a Non-VC Town (Houston)

[00:11:33] The Silicon Valley Bank Collapse and Business Risk

[00:16:25] Twiddler Syndrome and the Birth of a Connected Platform

[00:19:35] Cybersecurity and Compliance in the Cloud

[00:22:20] FDA Approval Without Reimbursement: A Regulatory War Story

[00:24:32] Why Not Every Feature Deserves to Ship

[00:29:13] “You Can’t Fake Science”: Betting on Yourself in MedTech

Connect with Chris - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-dupont-38b5ba15/