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Networking is at the heart of every MedTech World event. While the conference programme brings together global leaders, investors, startups, and healthcare innovators, many of the most valuable connections are made between sessions, over coffee, during networking receptions, or cultural tours. These informal conversations often become the starting point for investments and collaborations that continue long after the event concludes.
For Chris Japp, Managing Partner at Tramway Ventures, that is exactly what happened during MedTech World Europe 2025 | Malta.
A chance conversation while walking from the hotel to dinner introduced him to Jacob BenArie, Founder of OnePass Medical, a medical device company with a mission of saving lives by transforming biopsies. What began as an informal discussion about the company’s technology evolved into months of conversations, multiple visits from Jacob to Albuquerque, and extensive due diligence.
Tramway Ventures has signed a term sheet to invest in OnePass Medical. The financing is expected to close following the company’s legal entity transition from Israel to New Mexico, USA.
Reflecting on the experience, Chris shared:
“At last year’s MedTech Malta meeting, one evening when I was walking from the hotel to dinner, I happened to chat with the CEO of OnePass Medical, Jacob BenArie, and became very interested in their company and technology. Many months and many conversations later, including several visits by Jacob from Haifa to Albuquerque, we decided to invest in the company. We now have a signed term sheet and expect to close the financing in the next couple of months.
I think the reason this even occurred is what I would call the “special vibe” of the MedTech World meetings. Somehow it is possible to have very meaningful conversations and develop interesting new relationships, something that just doesn’t seem to happen at some of the other conferences that I regularly attend.”
For Jacob, the encounter was equally unexpected. What started as a casual conversation about Malta quickly turned into a discussion about OnePass Medical’s technology and clinical value proposition.
“When we first met, I had no idea who I was speaking with. We simply started chatting about how beautiful Malta is before the conversation naturally shifted to OnePass Medical. As I began explaining our technology and its clinical value proposition, Chris stopped me and said he knew exactly what I was talking about. He then shared that he had previously served as the Global CEO of Pentax Medical and that the segment in which OnePass operates had been one of Pentax’s most profitable business areas during his tenure.
That unexpected conversation became the catalyst for a series of meetings during and after the MedTech World event. If everything continues to progress as planned, it will culminate in a significant investment and further strengthen OnePass’s position as a U.S.-based company with a global innovation footprint.”
Today, OnePass Medical is a Delaware corporation with U.S. operations in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and an expanding operational footprint in New Mexico. The company combines U.S. manufacturing and commercialization capabilities with a proven innovation and development team in Israel, demonstrating how a chance conversation at MedTech World evolved into a strategic partnership with the potential to accelerate our global growth.
The story reflects what MedTech World aims to create: an environment where founders, investors, and industry leaders have the time and space to build genuine relationships that continue long after the event ends.
Chris, whose firm was recognised as Early-Stage VC Firm of the Year at the MedTech World Awards during the Florida flagship event in May, will return to the stage at MedTech World Asia 2026 | Hong Kong. He will join the panel “East vs. West: Funding Dynamics Compared,” where investors and industry leaders will explore how funding trends across Asia differ from those in the US and Europe, discussing investor risk appetite, deal structures, due diligence expectations, and the cultural factors influencing investment decisions.
Meanwhile, Jacob BenArie is one of the final ten participants selected to pitch on stage during the Hong Kong summit. Their participation provides another opportunity for founders and investors to reconnect, build on existing relationships, and form new ones.
Stories like this demonstrate that meaningful conversations can become long-term partnerships and, sometimes, even the next investment.
Whether you are looking for your next investment, seeking funding, or hoping to build meaningful partnerships, MedTech World events are designed to bring the right people together.
Join us at one of our upcoming events and experience it for yourself:
For any questions, reach out to [email protected]. We look forward to welcoming you to the MedTech World community.
