Tom Kraus
Managing Director, Health Care & Medical Technology Industry
Locale: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Biography: Tom has nearly 20 years of experience as a consultant, entrepreneur, marketer, and business development leader. He has worked internally and externally in organizations ranging in size from Fortune 500 to early-stage startups and in industries including consumer products, financial services, government services, life sciences, manufacturing, retail, and online marketing. Most of his career has been spent in the medical device arena where he has served in various roles both in the corporate world and as an industry consultant.
Prior to joining Strategyn, Tom ran an independent medical device consulting practice where he advised clients in the areas of marketing, business development, and business strategy. Tom cut his teeth in the medical device industry by working in therapy marketing, product marketing, and business development positions within the Neurological division at Medtronic. While there he gained experience launching new products and therapies in Medtronic’s Pain Management business. He also served as program manager for a combination drug / device development project that included the first ever investigational new drug application in Medtronic Neurological’s history.
Tom has experience working with a broad range of medical products including medical supplies, implantable devices, capital equipment, and pharmaceuticals. His medical device background spans products found within PMA and 510(k) regulatory environments, a broad range of reimbursement systems, and a wide variety of therapeutic and clinical settings -- including cardiothoracic, neurosurgical, ortho spine, pain management, vascular, and wound care.
Outside the medical technology industry Tom has experience both as the co-founder of a web marketing startup in the outdoor recreation industry and as consultant in the areas of business strategy, organizational learning, and information technology. He began his career working for Andersen Consulting (now the Accenture organization), where he served as a consultant to clients in the U.S. and Southeast Asia.
Tom holds a B.A. with majors in management information systems and philosophy from the University of Notre Dame and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania with concentrations in strategic management and entrepreneurial management.
Personal: My wife and I have three preschool-aged children. As one of 57 grandchildren on my mother’s side of the family, I'm never too far from some relative -- no matter where my travels may take me.
Interesting Factoid: Before starting a family, I traveled extensively throughout the world, visiting approximately 40 countries (the most recent new one in my passport being the island nation of Malta) and all seven continents.
Spare Time: As the father of three young children, I only have a vague memory of the concept of spare time. Back in the day, I used to enjoy playing sports, camping, fishing, theater, music, and adventure travel. Now I'm content if I find the time to read an interesting article or a good book.
Quote: “The unexamined life is not worth living.” – Socrates