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Too often we define the Medtech sector by the number of dollars raised, IPOs helped or companies sold. But the focus neglects the very foundation of the sector - the People. Join the Medtech Talk Podcast each week to hear from entrepreneurs, investors and executives who spend their days developing the tools that make sick people well and health care more efficient.

How Do You Build a Start-Up into a $600 Million Exit? We Ask Matt Likens, Former CEO of Ulthera

July 7, 2016

The board at Ulthera, an aesthetics device company, faced an attractive dilemma. Take the company public? Or accept a lucrative buyout? Hear from the CEO how the company’s culture and approach led to that favorable outcome.

Matthew Likens

President and CEO

Ulthera, Division of Merz Pharma GmbH

After graduating from Kent State University, Matt spent time with J&J, Baxter International(23 years) and one failed start-up before achieving success as CEO of Ulthera, Inc., a medical device start-up company located in Mesa, AZ. Ulthera filed to go public in January, 2014, before being acquired by Merz Pharma, out of Frankfurt Germany in July, 2014, for $600M, representing 6.6X trailing twelve months sales. Benefiting from exposure to many positive business practices at J&J and Baxter and adjusting to the entrepreneurial environment of the failed start-up, enabled Matt to adopt “best practices” as the second Ulthera employee in July, 2006. With a “Servant Leader” management philosophy, he was able to establish a BHAG(Big, Hairy Audacious Goal), seven Operating Principles and a broader Purpose for the organization while attracting a top-notch management team.His two-year retention with Merz ends on June 30th, 2016.