Medical Device Expert Spotlight – Furhad Azhar

Medical Device Expert Spotlight

At Test Labs, our people are at the heart of what we do, and we’re proud to introduce one of our key team members in this edition of Expert Spotlight – Furhad Azhar, our Business Development Executive. Furhad contributes to our company’s growth and success.

We invite you to learn more about Furhad.

What does your role as a Business Development Executive at Test Labs involve on a day-to-day basis?

As a Business Development Executive, I spend a lot of time speaking with MedTech companies at different stages, understanding where they are in their product journey, and what’s driving their current decisions. That might be a startup trying to work out what testing they actually need, or a more established manufacturer dealing with a regulatory change or preparing for market expansion. I often am the ambassador for Test Labs when reaching out in the market and doing so ensures that I am aware of its changes.

How does your position give you a unique view across the MedTech sector?

I speak to many companies across different product types, sizes, and markets, and I get a view of the sector from the businesses involved themselves. I hear firsthand how regulations are affecting them, where companies are getting stuck, and how priorities may differ between startups and larger manufacturers. Using that knowledge, I help companies find the right path through Test Labs to address their specific regulatory and testing challenges.

What types of MedTech companies do you speak to most frequently?

Most commonly, I speak with small to midsized MedTech companies. Many are startups or scale-ups working towards their first regulatory approval, while others are established businesses updating existing products with new standards or entering new markets.

What challenges are raised most often in early conversations?

Many companies aren’t sure exactly what testing they need and when they need it. The companies often underestimate the crucial part we play in getting products to the market. This then affects timelines, as testing becomes a critical step when they are least prepared for it. Budget constraints are a factor, especially for early stage companies trying to balance regulatory requirements with limited resources.

What misconceptions about testing or compliance do you encounter regularly?

A common misconception is that testing is a simple tick box exercise, or something that can be done right at the end of development. In reality, it is not only the testing itself which is important, but the understanding that each client knows why the testing is needed. Companies making these decisions early often save a lot of time and cost later.

What tends to trigger companies to reach out to Test Labs in the first place?

Usually, it’s a moment where compliance becomes unavoidable. This might be preparing for regulatory submission, responding to feedback from a notified body, entering a new market, or dealing with a change in standards or regulations.

Being a Business Development Executive has also allowed me to establish relationships with companies in the market, bettering their understanding of our service offer and importance to the MedTech industry, ultimately leading to clients coming back to us when testing becomes a need.

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