Chris Danek

Medtech Leader | PhD | MBA | 5x Clinically and Commercially Successful MedDevice Breakthroughs with Returns to Investors and Common Shareholders. Founder @ Bessel | Speaker & Educator | Helping teams build faster, scale smarter, and fund with clarity

Chris Danek is a builder, strategist, and mentor in the world of medtech innovation. With a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Stanford and a career that spans decades in engineering, executive leadership, and founder roles, Chris has helped shape some of the most impactful medical technologies of the past two decades. He led the development of the first FDA-approved interventional treatment for asthma, co-founded AtheroMed (developer of the Phoenix Atherectomy System, later acquired by Philips), and has guided dozens of medtech startups through critical phases of product development, fundraising, and go-to-market readiness.

As the CEO of Bessel and creator of proprietary Bessel frameworks for startups and development teams, Chris teaches how to innovate with speed, integrity, and clarity. He specializes in aligning cross-functional teams, building high-impact product strategies, and helping early-stage companies avoid costly missteps by focusing on what matters most.

Chris developed the Bessel Origin program that combines real-world project-based learning with expert team mentorship. This program has achieved success for dozens of teams in industry, the classroom, and advanced research settings. Bessel's train-the-mentor program helps companies identify, develop, and retain emerging leaders.