Episode Description
In this conversation, we talk about:
From village life to entrepreneurship Jan reflects on growing up far away from the startup world, his early exposure to entrepreneurship through music and DJing, and how his path eventually led him into entrepreneurship, research and health innovation.
Why the problem matters more than the first idea Skinuvita did not start as a perfectly defined product. It started with a clear problem: patients with psoriasis or atopic dermatitis often need phototherapy several times per week, but regular visits to a clinic are difficult for people with jobs, families, limited mobility, or rural living situations.
Bringing phototherapy into the home Jan explains how Skinuvita combines dermatologist supervision, digital therapy planning, a patient app, remote monitoring, and controlled home-use therapy devices to make treatment more accessible.
Building the first team The episode explores how Jan found co-founders and early team members by simply talking about the problem, overcoming the fear of rejection, and attracting people who wanted to work on something meaningful.
Startup uncertainty and the 80/20 principle Jan shares why early-stage teams cannot do everything perfectly at once, how Skinuvita balanced speed and quality, and where technical foundations must be solid from the beginning.
Clinical trials and real-world patient impact We discuss why clinical data was essential, how the trial helped demonstrate safety and patient benefit, and why data such as adherence, quality of life, and treatment timing became highly valuable for reimbursement and market access.
Regulatory hurdles under MDR Jan gives an honest look at the waiting times, bureaucracy, notified body challenges, and emotional pressure involved in obtaining certification as a medical device startup.
From CE mark to reimbursement After certification, Skinuvita moved into market access, contracts with public health insurers, and the challenge of scaling adoption in a fragmented reimbursement landscape.
The emotional side of patient-centered innovation One of the most powerful moments in the episode is Jan’s story of personally delivering therapy devices to patients and seeing the human impact of years of development work.
The future of dermatology and digital care The conversation closes with Jan’s view on digital-before-ambulatory-before-stationary care, AI as a tool rather than a buzzword, and Skinuvita’s ambition to support patients across a broader dermatology journey.