Tiger BufordYour Orthopedic Industry Expert (free today)

Funding expectations of many Founders/CEOs are not realistic

7 Jun 2025 · 1 min

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0:58

In this brief segment from a YouTube interview, Tiger Buford observes that many startup founders are still operating with a 2019 mindset despite a dramatic shift in the macro‑economic environment. Capital has become more expensive and scarce, leading to a significant reset in company valuations. Founders are now relying on smaller funding sources such as family and friends, grants, or “nibbling” capital rather than securing large rounds. The co‑speaker adds that the current macro environment is hitting the healthcare sector—particularly orthopedics—harder than most other industries, creating additional uncertainty for health‑tech founders.

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I think a lot of founders I talk to are, they still think it's 2019. The world's changed dramatically and the money's expensive now and money's tight. And the, these, uh, the valuations, we will eventually mean correct back to the middle again. But right now valuations are way lower than, than they were before. And it's hard to get money and they're getting like, you know, their family and friends and. A little bit of grant here or there that people are just nibbling on things instead of having big rounds, it seems like.
Yeah, I think that this whole macro environment is affecting healthcare more than other industries. There's a little bit less uncertainty what's going on, what direction our economy is going in. I think that is, um, really being felt in, in orthopedics and healthcare. More than a lot of other industries.