The Hardware/Software Blend: Visionary Innovations in Health Tech with Eyebot's Jack Moldave

In this episode of "How Many CTOs Does It Take?" podcast, hosts Scott Porad and Brad Hefta-Gaub interview Jack Moldave of Eyebot, a company he co-founded nearly six years ago to make getting glasses as easy as buying shoes by enabling on-demand vision tests and prescriptions in retail settings. Jack explains Eyebot's kiosk experience in Walmart Vision Centers, including intake questions, visual acuity testing, touch-free refraction and glasses scanning, and remote review by licensed optometrists/ophthalmologists with prescriptions returned in under 15 minutes. He discusses navigating FDA regulation as a Class I medical device using risk assessment (FMEA), a quality management system, and traceability, and shares why venture capital helped fund regulated hardware R&D. The conversation also covers Eyebot's doctor portal and network, limits versus comprehensive eye exams, potential future screening as a Class II device, and the challenges and culture required to merge hardware and software development with over-the-air updates and manufacturing partners.

00:00 Podcast Cold Open 00:51 Eyebot Mission 02:04 Founders and Origin 04:43 Access Stories 07:19 FDA Basics 10:30 FMEA Risk Analysis 13:17 Quality Systems 15:43 Funding Realities 16:53 Walmart Kiosk Flow 20:29 Touch Free Design 23:50 Remote Doctor Network 26:57 When to Refer Out 27:48 Minotaur Care Model 28:48 Doctor Shortage Solution 33:38 Hardware Software Moat 35:05 Formlabs Playbook 38:46 Leasing and Upgrades 40:11 First Launch with Walmart 48:35 Suppliers and Scaling 49:52 Culture and Closing 51:53 Outro and Credits Resources:

How Many CTOs Pod: https://howmanyctospod.com Scott Porad: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottporad/  Brad Hefta-Gaub: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradheftagaub/  Jack Moldave: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackmoldave/ Eyebot: https://www.eyebot.co/  #TechPodcast #EngineeringPodcast #DevTalks #PodcastForDevs #HowManyCTOs #Podcast #CTOs #CTOPodcast #ChiefTechnologyOfficer #Technology #Engineering #SoftwareDevelopment #SoftwareEngineering #TechLeadership #EngineeringLeadership #EngineeringCulture #TechDebates #AI #AIAssistedCoding #AIAssistedProgramming #AIProgramming #AICoding #VisionCare #Innovation #MedicalDevice #Eyebot #EngineeringExcellence #HardwareDevelopment #SoftwareIntegration #DigitalHealth #FutureOfHealth #RegulatoryChallenges #EngineerSpeak #TechSolutions #MedTech #HealthcareInnovation #VisionCareAccess #MedDevice #SoftwareHardwareBlend