Built by Surgeons, Built for the Real World: How EndoShunt Is Rethinking Trauma Care

What happens when a clinical frustration becomes a medtech company? For EndoShunt co-founders Milad Behbahaninia, MD, a trauma surgeon, and Tyler Zanon, a medtech product development leader, the answer is a company focused on giving trauma surgeons something they desperately need: time.

EndoShunt was born from a problem Milad and fellow trauma surgeon Jeremy Levin repeatedly encountered in the trauma bay. Some injuries occur in areas of the body that are extremely difficult to access quickly. By the time surgeons can reach the source of bleeding, the patient may not have enough time to survive. EndoShunt is designed to temporarily control blood flow and preserve vital organs, giving surgeons the time they need to reach and repair the underlying injury.

Start With the Problem, Not the Technology

One of the most compelling takeaways from the conversation is that EndoShunt did not begin with a desire to create a groundbreaking piece of technology. It began with frustration. Milad described the company's origins simply: “It was born out of frustration.” The goal was not to completely change trauma care, but to solve a very specific problem within a system surgeons already understand. That philosophy has shaped the device itself. Rather than asking clinicians to completely change how they practice, EndoShunt is designed to build on existing trauma techniques and workflows. As Tyler explained, the guiding principle has been to “change the outcome and try to change nothing else.”

Innovation Doesn't Always Mean Reinventing the Wheel

Trauma care has advanced significantly over the years, but the founders see an opportunity to bring minimally invasive, endovascular approaches into a field where open surgical intervention has traditionally been necessary. Milad describes EndoShunt as a solution “built by surgeons for surgeons.” It builds upon familiar principles and skills while extending what trauma teams can accomplish.

That is an important lesson for innovators: sometimes the most meaningful innovation isn't the invention of something entirely new. It is recognizing that a concept, technology, or approach that works elsewhere could solve a longstanding problem in a different clinical environment. As host Duane Mancini discussed during the episode, some of the strongest medtech opportunities can come from improving on existing solutions rather than trying to create something completely unprecedented.

Build the Team Around What You Don't Know

EndoShunt's founding team also offers a valuable lesson in building complementary expertise. The original team had deep clinical knowledge, engineering capabilities, and firsthand experience with the problem. But they recognized what they didn't have: the business, fundraising, and commercialization experience necessary to move the concept forward. Milad put it candidly: “We didn't know what we were doing in that space.” That realization ultimately led the team to bring Tyler into the company. His experience in product development and his ability to navigate fundraising and commercialization complemented the founders' clinical expertise. Rather than trying to become experts in everything, the team built around their strengths and acknowledged their gaps.

From a 14 French Catheter to an Oversubscribed Seed Round

Since Zanon joined EndoShunt in 2023, the company has progressed from its first preclinical model to a significantly more mature device and development program. The catheter evolved from 14 French to a seven French final design intended to fit within existing clinical workflows. The company has completed 15 preclinical models, developed a growing network of clinical and industry advisors, secured more than $1.2 million in non-dilutive capital and, at the time of the recording, was closing an oversubscribed seed round.

But perhaps the more interesting story is how the company got there. The founders emphasized the importance of building relationships over time, surrounding themselves with people who understand medtech commercialization, and being intentional about which introductions and opportunities make sense at each stage. For Tyler, that meant learning that fundraising is not simply about finding capital. It is about building trust and developing a network that can help the company reach its next milestone.

Why This Matters

EndoShunt's story illustrates a broader truth about MedTech innovation: solving the right problem with the right team can be just as important as developing the technology itself. The company isn't asking trauma surgeons to abandon everything they know. It is working to give them more time and more options within a system they already understand. It also demonstrates why founders don't need to know everything. Recognizing where expertise is missing—and having the humility to bring in someone who can fill that gap—can fundamentally change a company's trajectory.

What to Watch

EndoShunt is now moving toward the next stage of development, with additional R&D planned and an FDA submission targeted for 2027. But the company's story is worth watching beyond the regulatory milestone. As Tyler noted, “Clearance is just your ticket to play in the sandbox.” For EndoShunt, the larger goal is ultimately clinical adoption: getting the technology into the hands of trauma surgeons and generating the evidence needed to demonstrate its impact. The journey from clinical frustration to commercial medtech product is rarely straightforward. EndoShunt's story offers a compelling look at what can happen when clinical insight, complementary expertise, disciplined innovation, and the right network come together around a problem worth solving.

To hear more about EndoShunt, listen to the full Project Medtech Podcast episode featuring Milad Behbahaninia and Tyler Zanon here: https://www.projectmedtech.com/projectmedtechpodcast/episode/68b0a26a/episode-281-tyler-zanon-milad-behbahaninia-of-endoshunt-from-frustration-to-innovation-revolutionizing-trauma-surgery