Coffee with a Founder Podcast: Mike Kijewsk, Medcrypti

26- May-2026

In this episode Coffee with a Founder, Beck Bamberger sits down with Mike Kijewski, CEO and co-founder of Medcrypt, to unpack one of healthcare’s biggest blind spots: cybersecurity. From ransomware attacks disrupting hospital systems to the growing risks tied to connected medical devices, Mike shares what it takes to protect life-saving technology in an increasingly connected world.

The conversation digs into the realities of building a mission-driven company at the intersection of healthcare, trust, and innovation, and why the stakes couldn’t be higher. Mike also opens up about the founder journey itself: navigating uncertainty, staying grounded when outcomes shift, and building the kind of resilience that lasts longer than any headline or funding round.

Grab your coffee and join us for an honest conversation about building with purpose, securing critical systems, and playing the long game when it comes to meaningful impact.

show notes:

00:00 - Background and evolution of startup

00:00 - Starting in healthcare cybersecurity

04:55 - Winning an internal competition

08:11 - The impact of computer viruses

10:05 - Discussing economic incentives in healthcare

14:12 - The challenges of starting a startup

17:14 - Building success through trust

20:37 - Learning from successful mentors

25:21 - Wrapping up the episode

Read More About The Episode:

0:00: Starting in healthcare cybersecurity

The conversation explores what initially drew Mike Kijewski into healthcare cybersecurity, including the growing realization that hospitals and medical systems were becoming increasingly vulnerable to cyber threats and operational failures.

4:55: Winning an internal competition

Mike Kijewski reflects on an internal innovation competition that helped validate the early idea behind the company, showing how identifying overlooked healthcare cybersecurity problems eventually evolved into something much larger than a single project.

8:11: The impact of computer viruses

The discussion focuses on how ransomware and cyberattacks transformed healthcare systems, exposing how medical devices, hospital networks, and critical infrastructure could suddenly become inaccessible during moments patients rely on them most.

10:05: Discussing economic incentives in healthcare

Mike Kijewski explains the difficult financial realities hospitals face when addressing cybersecurity vulnerabilities, highlighting how many healthcare systems understand the risks but often lack the economic flexibility to invest in costly solutions.

14:12: The challenges of starting a startup

The conversation shifts toward entrepreneurship and uncertainty, with Mike Kijewski reflecting on how startup outcomes are often outside a founder’s control and why purpose-driven work matters more than chasing financial success alone.

17:14: Building success through trust

Mike Kijewski discusses the importance of building teams rooted in honesty, trust, and direct feedback, emphasizing how strong relationships and open communication become essential to long-term company success.

20:37: Learning from successful mentors

The discussion reflects on curiosity, humility, and lifelong learning, with Mike Kijewski sharing why staying open-minded and learning from experienced mentors continues to shape his growth as both a founder and leader.

25:21: Wrapping up the episode

The episode closes with reflections on leadership, healthcare innovation, mission-driven entrepreneurship, and the broader responsibility of building technology that meaningfully improves patient outcomes and healthcare infrastructure.