As a medtech startup, few things matter more than truly understanding what your customers want and need. When we applied to and ultimately won the 2023 AHF Shark Tank, the recognition itself was meaningful, but what stood out even more were the conversations that happened throughout the conference. Trade shows in recent years have struggled with declining attendance and, frankly, a loss of purpose. AHF is the exact opposite. Surgeons show up, they’re engaged, and they’re there for the right reasons: to learn, to teach, and to openly share what’s working and what isn’t. The culture is refreshingly collaborative, driven by people who genuinely care about improving outcomes. As an entrepreneur, it was invaluable to get candid, first-hand feedback from the very surgeons we hope to serve. Those insights are already shaping how we think about our product and the impact it can have on both surgeons and patients. AHF provided not just a platform, but a community, one that any medtech innovator would be fortunate to be part of.