When you speak to Asha Parekh, founder of Frontline Medical Technologies, you hear clarity, determination, and an infectious enthusiasm for meaningful innovation. Broadcasting from Caesar’s Palace, we finally caught up after months of scheduling hurdles - and what followed was a gold-standard conversation exploring identity, education, entrepreneurship, and representation in MedTech.
Foundations of Freedom and Cultural Contrast
Asha grew up in Ottawa, Canada, with British-Indian parents who encouraged independence and critical reflection from an early age. Unlike many of her peers, she was given the freedom to shape her own path. “They always allowed us to explore on our own, which I appreciate,” she reflected. This freedom stood in contrast to more traditional family members, some of whom had limited access to education and autonomy.
Her formative years were shaped by this cultural duality - a blend of progressive British-Indian values and Canadian openness. It was a childhood that instilled self-awareness and a passion for exploring the ‘why’ behind every decision.
From Physics to PhDs - Shaping a Scientific Mind
Initially drawn to the sciences, Asha’s educational journey gained clarity when she discovered physics. This newfound passion led her to engineering, and eventually, a PhD - a path she acknowledges shaped not just her technical expertise, but her mindset. “Engineering is really heavy on teamwork, applied problem solving, innovation – it’s influenced everything I’ve done since,” she said.
Although the value of a PhD is often debated, for Asha, it was transformative. Beyond the research, she highlighted skills in project management, collaboration, and resilience. “It’s the journey – the ability to start something from scratch and see it through – that really matters.”
The Leap into Entrepreneurship
After completing her PhD, Asha pursued a non-traditional postdoctoral fellowship in medical innovation. It was here that she met her future co-founder. “We had one of those moments where we looked at each other and went: holy ****, this could work.”
That “this” was the beginnings of Frontline Medical Technologies and the COBRA-OS, a life-saving device designed to temporarily control internal bleeding in trauma scenarios. From battlefield injuries to emergency rooms, the device offers a minimally invasive alternative to clamping the aorta, buying critical time to save lives.
Transitioning from academia into MedTech entrepreneurship is not without risk - raising funds, navigating regulation, and proving efficacy before making a single sale. But Asha and her co-founder managed to secure funding, pass regulatory approvals, and bring the device to market across North America, Europe, the UK, and Australia.
Representation in MedTech
Despite her success, Asha is keenly aware of the representation gap in her sector. “There’s still a dominance of white males in both engineering and business sides of MedTech,” she said. The implications are serious: lack of diversity in leadership can lead to clinical trials that overlook underrepresented groups, skewing data and deepening inequities.
She advocates for early and sustained engagement across all groups, starting in schools and continuing through career development. “People can’t aspire to what they can’t see,” she emphasised. Role models, access to industry insights, and inclusive recruitment practices are all crucial steps.
Advice for the Future
To young professionals, her advice is clear: “Do what you love. You won’t always be motivated, but if you believe in what you’re doing, you’ll push through the hard bits.” She also encourages curiosity over perfection: “Don’t be afraid of what you don’t know – you’ll figure it out.”
To senior professionals struggling with change, she’s empathetic but direct: “Start with understanding. Embrace small steps. You don’t need to go from zero to 100 overnight.”
Asha Parekh’s story is a testament to what happens when passion meets purpose, and when inclusive innovation is led by those who’ve seen the system from all sides. As she continues to scale Frontline’s impact globally, her presence alone is helping others reimagine what’s possible in MedTech.