If you met Ian Strug early in his career, you might not have predicted he’d become a repeat healthcare founder. He describes himself as “historically very risk-averse,” someone who genuinely enjoyed management consulting and expected to stay on the partner track. But as his career evolved from Epic, to Deloitte, to a boutique firm, he kept moving closer to the intersection of technology, operations, and opportunity.
The shift toward entrepreneurship began almost unintentionally. A close friend at Intuitive Surgical had been workshopping a startup idea with him after hours. Ian was intrigued but assumed he’d remain a consultant. Then his friend applied to Techstars. They were accepted, and within 48 hours in the program, Ian knew this was the environment where he belonged.
That company became Virgo, an AI-enabled GI and endoscopy platform built long before “AI in healthcare” became an industry default. Their strategy was a classic picks-and-shovels play: collect and structure high-quality video data so future AI models could actually learn from something useful. Ian loved the early phase – scrappy hardware experiments, customer discovery, and the rush of zero-to-one problem-solving.
Then came the stress tests. COVID shut down elective procedures, and salaries were frozen. Later, the SVB collapse threatened payroll over a single weekend. Virgo survived, but Ian emerged drained. His role had evolved into a CRO mandate of dashboards, quotas, and commercial management, not the hands-on building he loved. His mental health suffered, and stepping away became the healthiest step forward.
What followed was a deliberate reset. Ian took on consulting work with companies he admired, rebuilt his foundation, and welcomed his daughter. One project stood out: a company focused on operating room efficiency. The problem was real, the ROI measurable, and the operational pain deeply felt.
So when Redesign Health and Mayo Clinic approached him with the opportunity to build a venture in that space, he listened. Their concept (now Corvvis) helps health systems identify appropriate surgical candidates and streamline the path from referral to OR. For hospitals, the value is simple: completing more appropriate surgeries means healthier patients, better throughput, and tangible revenue impact. If the technology works, the results are obvious.
This time, Ian set different terms. Corvvis launched with a $4M seed round, enough capital to hire exceptional talent and avoid the scarcity mindset that defined his first venture. The company maintains diversified banking after the SVB scare. And Ian is candid with his team: equity should be treated as upside, not a retirement strategy.
Most importantly, he’s building in a way that aligns with the life he wants now. One centered on family, mental health, and doing work that energizes him.
Ian’s journey is a reminder that entrepreneurship isn’t always a dramatic leap. More often, it’s a sequence of thoughtful decisions guided by resilience, curiosity, and the courage to start again when the role no longer fits.
If you’re approaching a major career transition, navigating a liquidity event, or simply rethinking your long-term financial plan, our team at Vivaldi Capital Management can help you chart a clear, personalized path forward.
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