The Tiger Dashboard – Feb 2026
Sharing the best monthly DASHBOARD in the ortho industry to the lucky Subscribers – no-ads, no bias, just my thoughts […]
Orthopedics Odd Couple: A Global Giant Meets a Specialized Startup That Can’t Break Even
This announced partnership confuses me – Smith+Nephew signs distribution agreement with SI-BONE. I am still trying to wrap my head
Why your “eureka” product idea will fail and iteration is your real superpower
After years of pattern recognition of the great ortho winners, I’ve realized that there are two distinct paths to the
Sticky Business: The High-Stakes Race to Perfect Bone Adhesion
For decades, we’ve been trying to find a way to make things stick in the body. But let’s be honest:
Vendor Credentialing is Broken. It’s Time to Fix this Orthopedic “Cash Grab.”
Recently, I saw Omar Khateeb over at The State of MedTech echoing many of the same frustrations we have discussed
Seagulls, Groupthink, and Contrarian Wins in Orthopedics
Why This Article is Worth Reading This article explores the pitfalls of herd mentality in the orthopedic industry through a
$15,000 of inventory savings versus 15° degrees of extra hip stability.
Why Read? Let me be crystal clear. The purpose of this article is to “right a clinical wrong“.We must: 1/
Globus and Arthrex are eating the US ortho market.
The U.S. orthopedic market—a powerhouse representing nearly half of global revenue—is no longer just a playground for the “Big Four.”
Why you need a Nemesis
The Power of Rivalry in Driving Innovation The most impactful innovations in orthopedics often emerge not from isolation, but from
Which one are you on LinkedIn? 14 choices.
I have been sharing content on LinkedIn since 2007 when I decided to become a super-connector in ortho. Since then
The Top 8 Orthopedic companies by revenue as of Feb 2026
I am a small company guy, but cannot ignore the Big Orthos as part of my job, so sharing an
A few thoughts on non-competes in Orthopedics
Disclaimer: I am not an attorney. This is not legal advice. These are just observations Ortho talent moves faster than
JPM 2026: Why “Boring” is the New Breakthrough in Orthopedics
JPM 2026: From “Recovery” to “Execution” The “growth at all costs” era is officially dead. The vibe at the 44th
PSA – Get free tax money for your ortho startup. This is real.
Immediate R&D Tax Breaks are Back A major change in tax law (the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”) is a
New startup to watch that has developed faster, safer, smarter fracture reductions.
Faster, Safer, Smarter Reductions We all know that getting a perfect fracture reduction is the most critical—and often the most
Why Ortho CEOs Don’t Need to Know It All
If you’ve been following my journey in the orthopedic industry— from startup hustles to big medtech deals — you’ll know
A Spine Journal just documented what we all know – Spine surgery is being devalued.
It’s documented now. Over the past two decades, spine surgeons have faced systematic devaluation of their work, leading to financial
How Iteration Drives Orthopedics Innovation
“I’ve realized that the key to being successful is not how good your ideas are, it’s how good you are
“Your nearest exit may be behind you”
A small dose of greed can be a good thing for orthopedic company leaders… but excessive greed can be problematic.
Israeli startup tackles the high cost of customs by leveraging AI tools.
We all know that custom implants are better for patients than off-the-shelf implants for those special cases of cancer, post-trauma
First look at the Arthrex acquisition of Corin
Arthrex, the Naples-based giant known for its sports med dominance, is making a bold leap into total joints by acquiring
Epigenetics: The Silent Future of Orthopedic Treatments
Why Read? Get a glimpse of the future of orthopedics, that’s not AI, not imaging, not robotics, and not metal.
7 benefits of working at a startup
I’ve been knee-deep in the ortho startup world for decades—working in three of them, chatting with founders on my blog
The End of the “Mystery Pain” Era: Why ExplantLab is the Most Anticipated US Orthopedic Launch
Tiger’s Take We are moving away from the era of “one size fits all” orthopedics. We’ve mastered the metal and
This UK Start will put an end to the “Mystery Pain” era in total joints
Why read In our industry, the landscape is dominated by mechanical innovations, but some of the biggest breakthroughs are non-
Company > Product
In the quest for orthopedic innovation, many startups chase the illusion of the quick win—building a product. Few grasp the
Making sense of the Tecomet+Orchid merger
Tiger’s Take In my view, the Tecomet-Orchid merger is the definitive signal that the “supply chain as a service” model
Historical lesson: Ray Elliott’s Open Letter that shook Boardrooms and reversed an acquisition.
In orthopedic M&A, one audacious open letter stands as a masterclass in disruption. Back in 2003, Smith & Nephew had
S+N acquires Integrity Orthopaedics for $450M ($225M upfront payment plus up to $225M in earn-outs over five year)
Tiger’s Take This acquisition may trigger more fundings and more M&A in the Sports Med space. About a year ago,
5 reasons you might be “accidentally” Hiring a “B” Player into your company.
Your team defines your company—it’s that straightforward.We all know this deep down: It’s not the tech, the office space, the
How to Make More Money if you are in Orthopedic Sales.
Many many ortho sales pros are frustrated in 2026. This is a rant that I wrote last night, but some
Your 1-2-3 playbook for building a monopoly in orthopedics.
Why Read ? Monopolies are the holy grail if you can create one and maintain it for years. I saw
The Lobster Effect: How to Turn Stagnation into Your Next Big Career Move
We are all learning and growing in our careers. But what happens when your growth slows down? You may not
Building a Durable Competitive Moat: Your 7 Point Checklist
What can we learn from Big Ortho about moats? I’ve seen countless startups rise and fall, and let me tell
How a Hot New Startup is Fixing Supply Chains from the Basement Up.
In our ortho industry, we spend an incredible amount of time obsessing over implant geometry, surface coatings, and robotic precision.
13 Proven Ways to Drive Your Small Ortho Company to Profitability
Market conditions in Ortho are tighter than a locked pedicle screw these days—extended sales processes, rising costs, regulatory hurdles, and
The Tiger Dashboard – Jan 2026
Your monthly ortho industry DASHBOARD – no-ads, no bias, just my insider thoughts with exclusive predictions, trends, recent deals, funding
Dear CEO, what are you optimizing for? Pick 2.
Why Read? Orthopedic CEOs have a tough job. Challenges come at them from all directions. They are contending with lengthened
Don’t underestimate local Sales expertise
I’ve seen just about every sales model under the sun. From the $50K box openers at Arthrex to independent distributors
New startup can ZAP bacterial biofilms off metallic joints post-up.
Often there is a silent killer lurking beneath the skin, turning orthopedic implants into ticking time bombs of infection—resistant to
A detailed look at the positive Medline IPO and the opened door.
The Medline IPO is a strong signal. Maybe we will see more Ortho PE IPOs in 2026. I would watch
How EU MDR Regulations Are Robbing Patients of Proven Orthopedic Implants
In a poignant LinkedIn post that has resonated across the orthopedic community, Robert Clayton, President of the British Orthopaedic Foot
How “Customer Capture” happened in Ortho
Why Read Over time in orthopedics, we have all seen the focus shift away from clinical innovation and patient outcomes
Who is Reinhold Schmieding?
NOTE: This article will tell you who Reinhold is based on his early work. It was written in 2011 and
How to Get Rich in Orthopedics (without getting lucky) in 9 Strategies.
Our industry has created fortunes for those who navigate it with precision. From trailblazing entrepreneurs like Dane Miller or Maurice
The Risk Curve: How Orthos Lose Their Innovation Edge as They Grow.
The appetite for risk in orthopedic medical device companies evolves dramatically with their size—reflecting changes in resources, priorities, and stakeholder
The short history of rebranding in Ortho
Over the years I have watched many orthopedic companies rename themselves, or rebrand themselves or pivot. Most of the time
Revolutionizing Rotator Cuff Repairs with Adjustable Anchors and AI-Powered Scaffolds
I am watching the soft tissue repair revolution heating up fast. Rotator cuff tears alone affect millions, with re-tear rates
IP for Sale – Innovative Polyaxial Screw Locking Platform – Two Granted US Patents
If you are not an OrthoStreams subscriber, you can read the full details here – https://lnkd.in/g7dS_B4K Tiger Buford and Andrea Davis are brokering
Robots in ortho surgery – a contrarian view.
My perspective is completely different from the BoneZone piece this week, Robots Are Setting the New Standard of Surgical Care,