Anytime I get the chance to return to UC San Diego, I say yes.

I spent nearly ten years on that campus... through my undergraduate degree and two post-docs. Those years shaped how I think, how I question, and ultimately how I build. So being invited to speak on the startups panel at the 2026 BMES Medical Innovation Conference felt like coming full circle.

The students did an incredible job organizing the event, but my favorite part was the networking session afterward. The questions were thoughtful, ambitious, and honest. And I found myself repeating something I deeply believe:

If you have a great idea, go do it.

The worst-case scenario? You learn a lot. You meet smart people. You refine your thinking. None of that is wasted.

I see a common fear among young founders and aspiring innovators: the anxiety of choosing the “wrong” path. But in reality, there isn’t a wrong path if you’re following your genuine interests and leaning into your strengths. Progress rarely looks linear. Careers don’t either.

Start with what genuinely fascinates you.
Add what you’re naturally good at.
Then talk to everyone you can about your idea.

Those conversations will sharpen the idea. They’ll reveal blind spots. They’ll attract supporters, mentors, collaborators (sometimes even co-founders). Innovation doesn’t happen in isolation.

Every company, every breakthrough, every piece of technology begins with a story. A question someone couldn’t stop thinking about. A problem that felt personal.

So the real question is:

What’s your story?And what’s stopping you from starting?