How to iterate towards the right product?| Quentin Francois (Robeaute)

The Deep Tech Product Podcast

In the ever-evolving landscape of deep tech, the journey from groundbreaking research to a viable product can be a daunting endeavor. Quentin Francois, VP of Product and first employee at Robeaute, a pioneering surgical technology company, shares his invaluable insights on navigating the intricate path of iterations from your technology to your product in early-stages of deep tech product development.

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We cover the following topics:

• The ambitious goal of Robeaute: Revolutionizing neurosurgery with micro-robotic intervention at the cellular level.

• Bridging the gap from groundbreaking technology to a viable product by aligning with market needs and user workflows.

• Building a network of visionary end-users (surgeons) from the outset to gain invaluable insights and foster collaborative product refinement.

• Embracing the iterative nature of deep tech product development, uncovering "unknown unknowns" through continuous user engagement.

• Proactively engaging with regulatory bodies like the FDA to understand and navigate the regulatory landscape.

• Key lessons on motivating stakeholders without an MVP and painting a vision of the end solution.

• Establishing a design philosophy right at the start to maintain a cohesive vision across the team and providing that bridge from the vision to the roadmap and plan.

Key Takeaways:

The Visionary Pursuit: Redefining Neurosurgery

Robeaute's ambitious goal is to revolutionize neurosurgery by developing a micro-robotic system capable of intervening at the cellular level within the brain. This groundbreaking technology aims to overcome the limitations of current surgical approaches, which rely on one-dimensional needles and lack the ability to perform multi-point interventions with minimal invasiveness.Francois explains, "The ultimate ambition is to create a micro machine that is able to intervene at the level of some cells and even perhaps at the level of the unique cell." This remarkable feat of engineering involves downsizing an entire robotic system, complete with engines, sensors, and actuators, into a device no larger than a grain of rice.

Bridging the Gap: From Technology to Product

Francois highlights the importance of aligning the technology with a specific market need and signals, a process that requires extensive engagement with end-users and a deep understanding of their problems and workflows."The product development started by studying the markets, the users, what are their problems, and the concrete question went: do we start with brain tumors that are killing people today in less than two years, or do we go directly to Alzheimer's, Parkinson's?" This iterative process of defining the initial target application is crucial in guiding the entire company and team towards the development of a minimum viable product (MVP).

Cultivating a Network of Visionary Customers

One of the key lessons Francois shares is the importance of building a strong network of end-users from the outset. In the deep tech and medtech spaces, users are highly specialized, making it challenging to access and engage with them effectively."We started from the very beginning to create a network of tens of surgeons and then discussing with them, what are their problems, how they envisage the future, and stuff like that." This early engagement not only provides invaluable insights but also fosters a collaborative relationship, enabling the iterative refinement of the product based on user feedback.

Iterative Refinement: Embracing the Unknown Unknowns

Francois emphasizes the importance of embracing the iterative nature of deep tech product development, particularly in the early stages when the technology's full potential and applications are not yet fully understood. By engaging with end-users and stakeholders from the outset, even with partial prototypes or mockups, Robeaute was able to uncover and address the "unknown unknowns" that emerged along the way."At the beginning, it was hard to find the right direction to have a discussion with them, but after several attempts, you start to have feedback." This iterative process allowed Robeaute to focus on key aspects of the platform, such as user interface design and surgical workflow integration, which initially may not have been apparent.

Regulatory Collaboration: Embracing the Regulatory Landscape

In the highly regulated medtech industry, Francois highlights the value of engaging with regulatory bodies early in the development process. By bringing prototypes to the FDA and other regulatory agencies, Robeaute gained invaluable insights into the regulatory landscape and potential challenges, enabling them to refine their approach proactively."The last iteration that we did on that is a discussion with the regulatory bodies. We brought the prototype to the FDA in the US, and it allowed us to see how they react and what are their feelings about what we are creating."1As Robeaute continues to push the boundaries of neurosurgical technology, Francois's insights serve as a valuable roadmap for deep tech innovators navigating the intricate path from groundbreaking research to transformative products that redefine entire industries.

Resources:

Book recommendation : Inspired by Marty Cagan (https://amzn.eu/d/5krHPmu)

Brought to you by:

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Time stamps :

(00:00) Teaser

(00:43) Podcast Intro

(01:18) Quentin's Intro

(02:42) The customer problem for Robeaute (

05:28) Role of product management at Robeaute

(08:17) How to do iterate your product/tech idea with customers ?

(14:26) How to get product feedback without having an MVP?

(14:46) Why start with a core design philosophy?

(21:16) The iterative process and learnings

(24:13) Navigating challenges from the regulatory bodies?

(20:57) Post acquisitions actions and strategy

(26:09) Internal and external acceleration of strategy post acquisition

(27:33) what does near term success looks like?

(31:45) Advice to your past self?

(33:35) Book recommendation and deep tech trend

(38:00) How to reach out to Quentin and Robeaute

(38:50) Outro and links to join the deep tech product community