Building a Deep Tech Company As a CEO, Not a Scientist | Maria Leiloglou, Enacuity

Dr. Maria Leiloglou spent years researching imaging technology for surgery before co-founding Enacuity - a software-only hyperspectral imaging solution that allows clinicians to see critical information about tissue oxygenation and blood perfusion with standard cameras. But building a company meant making a choice: stay close to the science, or fully commit to leading the business. In this episode of the GS MedTech Podcast, Maria shares how she approached the transition, why speed beats rigor in a startup, and how a technology developed across two universities is now on a path to regulatory clearance in the UK, EU, and US. 🔗 Discover Enacuity: https://www.enacuity.com/ 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Odb9xk... ▬▬▬▬▬ Timestamps ▬▬▬▬▬ 00:00 - Intro 00:57 - The Journey from Academia to Entrepreneurship 08:06 - Understanding The Surgical Limitations 13:27 - Hyperspectral Imaging Technology 20:53 - Working with Board and Advisors 23:03 - Transition to Startup CEO 28:24 - Funding for Software Technologies 38:46 - Reimbursement and Regulatory Pathways ▬▬▬▬ Guided Solutions ▬▬▬▬ Guided Solutions is the global executive search partner for the MedTech industry, with a strong presence across the USA, UK, Germany, Switzerland, and Bulgaria. Since 2000, we’ve helped companies at every stage - from pre-regulatory startups to growth-stage enterprises and PE/VC-backed portfolios - build leadership teams that drive commercial success, regulatory approvals, and scalable growth. With over 210 years of combined industry experience, we specialise in placing executives across technical, commercial, and C-suite roles, delivering insight-led, full-service recruitment that ensures the right talent is in the right role at the right time. Others seek - we find. ▬▬▬▬ Get in touch ▬▬▬▬▬▬ 💼 Want to discuss your hiring? 🎤 Interested in being a guest on our podcast? Reach out 👉 http://gsmedtech.com/ #MedTech #MedicalDevice #ExecutiveLeadership #Podcast