I flew solo to Shanghai. First time in Asia. No contacts, just a mission.
Last week I attended CMEF and ICMD, the biggest medical trade fair in the world. 5000 exhibitors, 200.000+ visitors, everything from early-stage startups to big players like Philips, all showing their latest innovations.
I was sent by ISATEC Chile ,a startup building AI-powered software to modernize healthcare. My goal: find more portable and less invasive monitoring devices for remote care, without losing clinical accuracy.
Mission accomplished. We identified 3 strong solutions: two portable options for ABPM and ECG Holter monitoring, plus a 2-in-1 device combining both. Smaller, wearable, equally accurate, and capable of streaming live data in real time. Less invasive for the patient, more actionable for the doctor.
I also saw mind blowing innovations like a portable ultrasound, a portable backbone scanner and even a drone you control with your mind.🧠
Here are my 3 takeaways from this trip:
1. There is no better place to find partners than a trade fair: The dynamic setting makes connecting easy, even across languages. People genuinely want to share ideas and get feedback. You don’t need to be an expert to have a real conversation.
2. China is moving faster than I thought:
I previously visited Medica in Dusseldorf but the energy in Shanghai felt different. Chinese companies are matching and in some areas outperforming western competitors, with CE and FDA certifications, at a fraction of the price. This is not a coincidence. For decades China has been shifting from cheap copies to quality and innovation and you can see it. The hustle is real.
One thing I noticed: Chinese suppliers want to close fast and build. European and American suppliers want to first understand your whole story. Neither is wrong, but the contrast is clear.
3. Standing still is falling behind:
The most crowded stands at CMEF were the ones with innovative new products, lines out the door, staff overwhelmed. The empty ones had products you could find anywhere else. Keep innovating.
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This trip reminded me why I believe in what ISATEC Chile is doing. Challenging a healthcare system in Chile that is slow and concentrated around too few doctors, and making it better, by using technology and digitalization.
Grateful for the opportunity. Already thinking about what comes next. 🚀
Healthtech MedTech CMEF2026 Innovation MedicalDevices Chile Isatec Shanghai Startup RemotePatientMonitoring
