Startup to Scale: Navigating the Journey from Pre-Seed to IPO

This keynote session brings together two standout digital health companies at different stages of growth—Hinge Health and Cariloop—for a candid discussion about what it takes to build, scale, and create lasting market impact.

Moderated by Jennifer Krusius, Partner at ABS Capital, the conversation will also offer the unique perspective of a later-stage growth investor. As the lead investor in Cariloop's Series C financing, Jennifer brings firsthand insight into what growth-stage investors evaluate, how investment expectations evolve, and what differentiates companies that successfully scale from those that stall.

Joining Jennifer are Aaryn Pure, Chief Commercial Officer of Hinge Health, who will share lessons from the company's journey to IPO, and Michael Walsh, Chief Executive Officer of Cariloop, who will reflect on building and scaling the company from Seed through Series C.

Together, the panel will explore the defining moments, strategic decisions, and inflection points that shaped each company's growth. Jennifer will connect the operator experiences with an investor's perspective, highlighting how founders can position their businesses for successful fundraising, build productive investor relationships, and prepare for the operational and organizational demands that accompany each stage of growth.

From achieving product-market fit and early commercial traction to scaling teams, raising capital, and preparing for significant growth milestones, this session will provide practical insights for founders, executives, and investors alike.

Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how expectations change as companies mature, what later-stage investors are looking for in today's market, and how to strategically position their organizations for long-term success in digital health.