Ep. 223: Alex (@aebridgeman) is joined by Rick Torres (@rick-torres).My guest on this episode is Rick Torres, CEO and co-founder of Applikate Technologies, a digital pathology hardware and software business with a device that can examine tissue many multiples faster than traditional physical slide processes can today. I find this company fascinating given the life science and data element of the business and loved diving into the science behind pathology and how Applikate is making it so much more efficient.Rick and I talk about the digitization of pathology, where efficiencies are gained through their platform, the process for FDA approval, and what Rick’s learned building and leading teams as CEO.

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Links:ApplikateRick on LinkedIn

Topics:(00:00:00) - Intro(00:03:52) - What is Applikate?(00:13:41) - Labor dynamics for histology(00:16:37) - Do you need to be a histotechnologist to use the machine?(00:22:33) - What are the key benefits of this faster process?(00:27:16) - Where are you storing tissue data and what is it used for?(00:33:16) - What are the steps for gaining FDA approval?(00:44:17) - How does this timeline affect recruiting?(00:47:00) - What have you learned about managing and growing teams?(00:50:47) - What advice has stuck with you most?(00:52:11) - What skill are you working on improving?(00:54:14) - What brings you energy?(00:55:56) - Leadership philosophies