Chief Financial Officer Sebastian Gomez manages the financial operations of MedTech Actuator in Australia and Singapore. He brings strategy and business development acumen to mentoring and supporting founders across our programs – building their expertise in valuation, negotiation, forecasting and more.
With an MBA from Monash University and postgraduate qualifications in corporate finance and strategy, and project management, Sebastian has held positions in mergers and acquisitions, strategy, and business development. His international experience spans projects across the Americas and Asia Pacific in sectors including mining, services, and real estate.
“What really inspires me in my work with the MedTech Actuator is using my finance and strategy background to potentiate projects and initiatives that one day will change the future of healthcare,” says Sebastian.
Sebastian is excited about the growth on the horizon for MedTech Actuator programs and startups alike.
“I am driven to expand our programs internationally and to provide our startups with more opportunities to grow and become successful businesses.”
Sebastian has seen that MedTech, BioTech and HealthTech are challenging areas to work in for entrepreneurs, with no quick or easy results.
“However, through the MedTech Actuator’s endeavours to provide the right support, funding and dedication, we have seen huge progress and encouraging outcomes in a very short period of time.”
Meet our team
More on how the MedTech Actuator team is supporting Asia Pacific’s next wave of health innovators – meet:
Award-winning Melbourne-based startup Nutromics is revolutionising precision medicine and recently bolstered funding to $10M total.
The Nutromics smart wearable patch puts personalised, real-time molecular information within easy reach of clinicians, leading to better patient outcomes and a reduced cost burden on healthcare systems.
The Nutromics biosensor technology is integrated into a small, unobtrusive smart patch worn by the patient. The wearable continuously monitors the patient’s molecular information. This information is wirelessly transmitted to a flexible software application that easily integrates with consumer health software and hospital platforms.
A patch for every patient.
Nutromics’ market vision is a ‘patch for every patient’, with benefits including:
tracking molecular vital signs – enabling timely and informed triaging and clinical decisions
therapeutic drug monitoring – enabling accurate dosing of life-saving medication
remote patient monitoring – enabling recovery at home whilst receiving hospital-level monitoring and advice.
Traction is growing fast. Nutromics has developed an initial market of therapeutic drug monitoring for the antibiotic vancomycin, dosed to over 6 million patients in the US every year.
It is challenging for clinicians to pinpoint the precise vancomycin dose required for individual patients, with 60% of doses outside the therapeutic range.
Consequently, 10-20% of patients receive a toxic dose. This can result in Acute Kidney Injury – akin to a heart attack for your kidneys.
Beyond a high frequency of toxic doses, underdosing vancomycin can lead to other complications. This includes longer recovery times; illness complications from ineffective antibiotic treatment; and development of antimicrobial resistance.
But the Nutromics smart patch is set to put accurate dosing in easy reach with personalised, real-time molecular information.
Tracing Nutromics’ success trajectory.
Nutromics Head of Product Robert Crowder delivers a workshop.
2017
Nutromics was established in 2017 by Hitesh Mehta and Peter Vranes. The co-founders first developed the idea for their technology in the MedTech Actuator – Asia Pacific’s MedTech accelerator.
Nutromics Co-Founders Peter Vranes and Hitesh Mehta deliver a pitch.
The MedTech Actuator’s specialised acceleration model surrounds startups with the ecosystem support they need to bring their MedTech, HealthTech or BioTech innovation to the patients and clinicians who need it most.
Through MedTech Actuator’s intensive mentorship, industry collaboration, up to AUD$200K initial capital injection and capital raising support, founders can achieve in 12 months what can typically take 3 years or more.
Nutromics Co-Founders Hitesh Mehta and Peter Vranes say that the MedTech Actuator has been integral to the company’s growth.
“It was in the MedTech Actuator that Peter and I fleshed out the idea for Nutromics and we received funding to explore opportunities,” says Hitesh.
Peter agrees, saying that the MedTech Actuator ecosystem has built the company’s profile immensely.
“Being a part of the MedTech Actuator has strengthened our strategy and boosted our achievements – and CEO Dr Buzz Palmer still offers his time, advice, and network to support us,” says Peter.
Do you have a MedTech, HealthTech or BioTech prototype or proof-of-concept to improve or save lives? Get ready to take your innovation further, faster in 2022 with our new MedTech Actuator cohort – apply now.
