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What if you could monitor your blood glucose levels in 10 seconds, no needles, no blood, just a simple saliva test that looks like a lipstick? In this episode, Rod sits down with Luc Pierart, co-founder of LipsTech and a 30-year veteran of medical technology with over 50 patents to his name. Luc shares how his team has cracked a problem that scientists have been trying to solve since 1941, achieving 98% accuracy in a clinical trial of 180 type 2 diabetic patients using a combination of nanocarbon sensors and AI. We cover the competitive landscape, why big players like Apple and Samsung have failed at non-invasive glucose monitoring, how LipsTech is priced to reach patients in Africa and beyond, and what the regulatory road to market looks like. If you think painless, affordable glucose monitoring is still in the future, this episode will change your mind.

Timestamped Summary

[00:00] Luc opens with the headline clinical result, 98% accuracy across 180 type 2 diabetic patients, two 10-second daily tests, weekly A1C scoring and meal education feedback.

[01:39] Rod introduces the episode from Paris and frames the concept: glucose monitoring via saliva.

[03:06] Luc's background: 30+ years in product development, 50+ patents, 12 products launched, early Airpod-like tech, PK Vitality wearable CGM acquired by Withings. LipsTech born from unmet T2D need.

[05:32] IP and technology carryover, patents sold with PK Vitality; standard biochemical CGM sensor tech adapted into a novel saliva format.

[06:53] What LipsTech is in plain English, lipstick-shaped device, rub inner lips, result in 30 seconds.

[08:01] Competitive landscape: BGM finger prick (63% market share), CGM patch (€100+/month), implantables, and failed non-invasive attempts by Apple, Samsung and Google.

[11:07] Pricing: reader $49, consumable $49 for 60 reuses, roughly 4x cheaper than CGM. Reusability was the key engineering breakthrough.

[12:32] Africa distribution: strong clinician interest at SFD Lyon, blood handling concerns and CGM cost make LipsTech a natural fit for African markets.

[14:12] Fundraising: seed round targeting $2M, lab prototype to commercial product, 2027 launch target, angels over VCs, round open until end of 2025.

[17:20] Manufacturing: reader in Eastern Europe, sensor pre-series in UK then internalised to France.

[18:01] Regulatory pathway: 2027 wellness launch first, IVD Class B/Class 2 medical certification ~2 years later, FDA Q-Sub meeting planned.

[20:54] How the science works: nanocarbon sensors plus AI to overcome the ~100x lower glucose concentration in saliva vs. blood. Problem attempted since 1941, 10 patents filed.

[23:49] Future vision: multi-sensor lipstick covering glucose, cholesterol, hormones and oral cancer markers. Full home health checkup in one device within 10 years.

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What if diagnosing depression was as simple as a 15-minute brain scan, no questionnaires, no guesswork, just objective data?

That's exactly what Lucas Scherdel and his team at Connectome Health are building.

In this episode, Lucas breaks down how their TD-fNIRS technology reads brain activity non-invasively using near-infrared light, how AI turns that raw signal into stable biomarkers, and why the absence of any objective brain test for mental health conditions is one of the most under-discussed problems in medicine today.

We also get into the regulatory and investor catch-22 that slows MedTech innovationand Lucas's vision for a world where brain health checks are as routine as visiting the optician.

If you work in MedTech, digital health, neuroscience, or you're just curious about where mental healthcare is headed, this one is worth your time.

Timestamp:

00:00 – Opening hook: Lucas's vision for mainstream brain sensing

01:33 – Rod's intro and welcome

02:29 – What is Connectome Health?

02:58 – Lucas's background: biomedical sciences, Bayer, WHO

06:48 – How Lucas ended up founding Connectome

10:34 – What does "Connectome" mean?

11:00 – TD-fNIRS explained in layman's terms

12:50 – Why scalable brain measurement has been so hard

16:14 – What does the hardware actually look like?

17:38 – Brain-computer interfaces and the future of prosthetics

19:08 – Challenges: regulatory, manufacturing, scaling

19:37 – Connectome as a software company (platform dependency risk)

22:24 – The inference application layer

23:20 – Business model explained: B2B research tools → future B2C

24:48 – Regulatory landscape and reception from the scientific community

25:17 – Imperial College London healthy population study

26:16 – The investor-regulator catch-22 in MedTech

27:44 – First product: functional brain performance testing

29:34 – Where is mental health tracking headed in 10–15 years?

31:57 – Wrap-up and how to find Lucas (connectome.health / LinkedIn)

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What if you never had to drive to physio again? Dr. Ashok Gupta is making that a reality - using AI to measure your joints to the tenth of a degree, from your phone.

00:00 Intro & accessibility hook
00:18 Welcome & guest introduction
01:47 Origin story - the "why not PT?" moment
02:44 The 10 - 20% touch insight that made telehealth PT possible
03:39 Early struggles, pivots & the COVID tailwind
06:06 What devices do patients need?
07:23 How computer vision AI measures movement in sessions
09:19 Tracking patient progress over time with objective data
10:43 Patient compliance & the "home as clinic" effect
13:56 Will AI replace clinicians? The TheraNow thesis
16:47 The omnichannel care model (clinic + virtual)
19:38 Regulatory compliance & Joint Commission accreditation
22:52 Real licensed therapists, not bots - 350+ clinician network
26:08 International expansion plans
28:04 The future of virtual physical therapy
30:57 Where to find Ashok & wrap-up

Company Website:
https://www.theranow.com

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