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Tech Topics In This Article: Atlanta startups, medical device
What started as Jonathan Schwartz’s graduate school thesis project at Georgia Tech is now a medical device technology startup ready to help tackle knee pain.
OrthoPreserve, a startup building in Atlanta and member of Portal Innovations, is working on a meniscus implant to help patients relieve knee pain after an injury. Its meniscus replacement device, called Defender, is designed to bridge a gap “for patients with meniscus dysfunction who are not yet clinically ready for a knee replacement,” according to the company’s website.
OrthoPreserve just reached an important milestone for any early-stage medical device startup, receiving FDA breakthrough device designation and TAP enrollment, a program designed to spur more rapid development of high-quality, safe, effective, and innovative medical devices.
The startup, which became a member of Portal Innovations in Atlanta late last year, is gearing up for human clinical trials next year.
Following the FDA and TAP enrollment announcement, Schwartz shared some insights with Hypepotamus on the origin of OrthoPreserve and what’s next for the early-stage startup. Get to know Schwartz and the OrthoPerserve team more through this Q&A:
QUESTION: Tell us about the origin of OrthoPreserve. How did you know you had something innovative to bring to market to address knee pain?
I originally invented the meniscus implant as my graduate school thesis project at Georgia Tech. I had always been interested in orthopedics (my entire family had knee issues growing up), so my goal for graduate school was to create a device that addressed an unmet clinical need in the space. I worked with my advisor, Dr. David Ku, to decide on creating a meniscus implant due to the poor outcomes of current treatments and the lack of an FDA-approved meniscus replacement device. After graduating, I passed the project along to another student to continue development while I went to work in the biotech industry. About 4 years later I was telling a long-time friend, Max Guillot, about the implant because he had just started working as an orthopedic PA. He brought the idea to the surgeon he worked for, Dr. Cyrus Kump, and they both recognized the significant need there was in their practice for this type of device. From there, we all came together to form OrthoPreserve in an attempt to commercialize the implant.
QUESTION: How long did the TAP enrollment process take? What does that mean for patients moving forward?
We received Breakthrough Device Designation in December 2024 after applying with our promising preclinical data, and were told about the TAP program by the FDA in a meeting after acceptance into BDD (TAP is only available to BDD devices, and started accepting orthopedic devices Jan 1, 2025). We were then accepted into TAP in mid Janurary. TAP’s primary goal is to expedite patient access to innovative medical devices by providing early, frequent, and strategic communications with the FDA and by facilitating engagement with other key parties (MedTech industry leaders, payers/insurance coverage policy makers, physician groups and specialty medical societies).
QUESTION: How did you first get connected with Portal? How has being a member company impacted your business?
I got connected to Portal through networking events in Atlanta while I was in BioSpark Labs next door to the new Portal building. I first met Suna Lumeh, then Ashley Cornelison, and moved into Portal in November 2024. Being a member has provided opportunities for me to expand my network within the local startup community and gain access to resources.
QUESTION: How big is your current team?
We have 3 co-founders (mentioned above) and an advisory team with regulatory, clinical, and commercialization expertise to help guide us through approval and market adoption.
QUESTION: Following the FDA designation, what’s next for you and the team?
Our goal is to work with the FDA to streamline our remaining preclinical research so that we can begin clinical trials in humans by 2026.
Building MedTech in Atlanta
In 2025, Atlanta has firmly established itself as a rising powerhouse in the MedTech industry. Anchored by institutions such as Emory University and Georgia Tech, the city has become a hub for medical devices and health technology companies. Recent funding news in the industry includes Moonlight Therapeutics and Synaptrix ($10 million Series A for pain management). On top of recent funding news, energy around the entrepreneurial ecosystem is also expanding. The Atlanta Healthcare Entrepreneur Meetup, now boasting over 3,500 members, reflects the city’s collaborative spirit and commitment to fostering innovation in healthcare.
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Photos provided by OrthoPreserve