# Josh DeFonzo

> Josh DeFonzo is the co-founder and CEO of Mendaera, a San Mateo medical-technology company building handheld robotics for ultrasound-guided procedures. His career has moved through commercial and operating roles at Invuity, EndoGastric Solutions, CareDx and Auris Health, a presidency at Johnson & Johnson's Robotics & Digital Solutions business, and a turn as CEO of Lux Health Tech Acquisition Corp. Mendaera, founded with systems engineer Jason Wilson in 2020, has raised $97 million, received FDA clearance for its Focalist system in July 2025 and began a limited U.S. launch after the first reported Focalist procedures that September.

- **Role:** Co-founder and CEO at Mendaera, Inc.
- **Organizations:** Mendaera, Inc., Lux Health Tech Acquisition Corp., Johnson & Johnson, Auris Health, CareDx, EndoGastric Solutions, Invuity, Medtronic, San Carlos Little League, Parade Ventures
- **Education:** B.A. in Economics, University of California, Berkeley
- **Known for:** Co-founded Mendaera and led the company through $97 million in disclosed Series A and Series B financing., Led Mendaera to FDA 510(k) clearance for its guidance system in July 2025., Helped take Focalist from concept to the first reported procedures and a limited U.S. launch in 2025.

## Career timeline

- **2003** — Began working in healthcare technology after earning a B.A. in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley; his early career included Medtronic.
- **2007-2009** — Worked as a sales manager at surgical-visualization startup Invuity.
- **2009-2014** — Held product, marketing, sales and leadership roles at EndoGastric Solutions, ultimately serving as vice president of sales and marketing.
- **2014-2015** — Joined CareDx as senior director of integrated care and became chief commercial officer in April 2015.
- **2015-2019** — Led product strategy and operations at Auris Health, later serving as chief operating officer; Johnson & Johnson acquired Auris in 2019.
- **2019-2020** — Served as president of Johnson & Johnson Robotics & Digital Solutions.
- **2020** — Co-founded Mendaera with systems engineer Jason Wilson and became CEO.
- **2020-2022** — Served as CEO and a director of Lux Health Tech Acquisition Corp., bringing an investor-side perspective to his operating career.
- **2023** — Mendaera announced a $24 million Series A and a commercial agreement with Butterfly Network.
- **2024** — Mendaera acquired Avail Medsystems' telepresence technology and closed a $73 million Series B led by Threshold Ventures.
- **2025** — The FDA cleared Mendaera's guidance system in July; Mendaera reported the first Focalist procedures in September and began a limited U.S. launch.
- **2026** — Mendaera prepared for broader commercialization and expanded Focalist demonstrations across medical-specialty meetings.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Mendaera and led the company through $97 million in disclosed Series A and Series B financing.
- Led Mendaera to FDA 510(k) clearance for its guidance system in July 2025.
- Helped take Focalist from concept to the first reported procedures and a limited U.S. launch in 2025.
- Led product strategy and operations at Auris Health before its 2019 acquisition by Johnson & Johnson.
- Served as president of Johnson & Johnson Robotics & Digital Solutions.
- Served as CEO and a director of the publicly listed Lux Health Tech Acquisition Corp.
- Built a career commercializing medical devices, diagnostics and biologics across multiple startups and established companies.

## Latest updates

- **2026-08** — Mendaera announced a peer-reviewed study reporting 98% technical success for Focalist across three medical specialties.
- **2026-06** — Mendaera demonstrated Focalist for transplant biopsy at the American Transplant Congress.
- **2026-04** — Bessemer Venture Partners included Mendaera on its list of 50 physical-AI startups.
- **2026-03** — DeFonzo was scheduled to speak at LSI USA 2026 and at the Health x Intelligence Forum.
- **2025-09** — Mendaera reported the first procedures using Focalist and began a limited U.S. launch in urology.
- **2025-07** — The FDA granted 510(k) clearance to the Mendaera Guidance System.
- **2025-01** — Mendaera appointed former Auris colleague Eric Davidson as its first chief commercial officer.
- **2024-09** — Mendaera closed a $73 million Series B led by Threshold Ventures.

## Links

- Website: https://www.mendaera.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshdefonzo
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/JoshDeFonzo

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/josh-defonzo
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-18