In this edition of our MedTech Spotlight Series, we speak with Jonathan Coe, CEO of Acoustic Wave Cell Therapy, about the development of a novel platform designed to activate the body’s own regenerative capabilities. Using low-energy, unfocused micro-acoustic pulses, the technology aims to stimulate tissue-resident stem cells and drive healing across a range of conditions, beginning with stress urinary incontinence and women’s pelvic health.
With a career spanning early-stage innovation, surgical robotics, and leadership roles across global MedTech companies, Jonathan brings a perspective shaped by both technical depth and entrepreneurial experience. In this conversation, he shares the thinking behind the company’s approach, the influences that shaped his leadership journey, and his views on where AI can meaningfully impact the future of MedTech.
Tell us about your company what you’re building and why it matters?
We’re developing an acoustic wave cell therapy platform that uses low-energy, unfocused micro-acoustic pulses to activate tissue-resident stem cells and stimulate regenerative responses across multiple tissue types. The technology was advanced by our founder, Dr. Tom Lue, whose work helped establish the scientific basis for PDE5 inhibitors, co-invented the sacral nerve stimulation approach behind Medtronic’s InterStim system, and developed the gold-standard preclinical model for female stress urinary incontinence. Our first clinical focus is stress urinary incontinence and women’s pelvic health, with additional potential applications across ophthalmology, liver regeneration, hair loss, chronic kidney disease, and islet cell deficiencies.
What led you to pursue a career in MedTech?
I got started through undergraduate research at MIT’s Mechatronics Lab, where I worked on a robotic stroke rehabilitation system and became interested in applying engineering to medicine. I then joined a surgical robotics start-up developing one of the first flexible robotic systems for general surgery, which sparked my interest in early-stage MedTech innovation. After graduate work in BioMEMS, I went on to roles at Johnson & Johnson and Covidien, and have remained in MedTech ever since, drawn by the combination of technical depth, clinical impact, and entrepreneurship.
Who has been the biggest influence on your leadership journey?
Without question, Ferolyn Powell, CEO of Evalve, the creator of Mitraclip.
She played a pivotal role in my transition from engineer and inventor to CEO. Earlier in my career, I preferred identifying unmet needs, building early solutions, and recruiting professional leadership to scale companies. But during a Series A raise, she encouraged me to step into the CEO role myself and committed to mentoring me through it. She taught me what leadership at that level actually means: communication, board engagement, community building, and organisational alignment not just fundraising. I still rely on lessons from those formative conversations today.
How do you see AI shaping the future of MedTech?
The biggest near-term impact of AI in MedTech will be improving efficiency across engineering, quality, and regulatory workflows.
A strong example is what Surbhi Sarna is doing with Collate, helping shift hours of repetitive documentation into AI-assisted processes, where the human role becomes more focused on review and decision-making rather than manual execution. That said, adoption in clinical care will take longer. One of the biggest challenges is responsibility; who is accountable when AI directly influences patient decisions? There’s also a training-loop and talent development concern, since today’s leaders learned the fundamentals of our complex business segment by doing this work early in our careers. Organisations will need to ensure the next generation still develops and nurtures that same judgment.
You’ve had a career that includes multiple startups and exits. What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Exits are celebrated, but they can also mark an end of amazing experience building together. One of the experiences I’m most proud of was leading Prescient Surgical. Even though the company ultimately closed, it was a team of high performers who learned and built together for a lasting impact. During difficult transitions including COVID, we worked hard to support each other’s careers, and today many of those team members have gone on to leadership roles across the industry. What stands out most to me isn’t just the technology, it’s the shared mission and culture we created. That’s something I continue to value deeply in every organisation I’m part of.
Outside of MedTech, what keeps you busy?
I spend a lot of time with my kids and coach Little League. I’m also a big baseball fan and enjoy going to SF Giants games. To stay active, I mountain bike and ski when life allows-my “golf course” is any mountain, anywhere.