Openwater Appoints New CEO as Demand for Portable Imaging and Therapy Devices Grows
Openwater, the open-source medtech company known for providing portable diagnostic and therapeutic devices at a fraction of traditional costs, has announced the appointment of Aaron Timm as Chief Executive Officer. Timm, a former executive at Vivalink with over 20 years of experience in clinical leadership, brings the strategic vision and operational expertise necessary to lead Openwater through its next phase of global expansion. Mary Lou Jepsen, the company’s founder, will continue to serve as Chairperson of the Board, focusing on advancing Openwater’s mission to make hospital-grade care accessible to all.
Openwater, a pioneering medical technology company focused on making hospital-grade care universally accessible, has announced the appointment of Aaron Timm as Chief Executive Officer. Known for combining sound and light-based therapies with open-source principles, Openwater has made significant strides in advancing portable diagnostic and therapeutic devices, which are now being adopted globally. With a surge in pre-order interest for its Open-Motion™ 3.0 imaging unit and Open-LIFU™ 2.0 therapeutic devices, the company is moving from research partnerships to large-scale commercialization. Timm’s leadership will help Openwater meet this growing demand while maintaining its commitment to open-source, collaborative innovation.
Timm brings more than two decades of executive experience across medical imaging, remote monitoring, and digital health. His previous role at Vivalink saw him spearheading commercial strategies that drove the global adoption of wearable clinical solutions. Timm’s experience also includes guiding Synarc, an imaging firm, through mergers and acquisitions while managing multi-country clinical trials. His expertise in regulatory compliance, patent law, and scaling supply chains is expected to be instrumental in Openwater’s efforts to distribute its devices to researchers, hospitals, and clinicians worldwide.
Reflecting on his new role, Timm said, “Throughout my career, I’ve helped integrate advanced technology into clinical workflows without pushing costs beyond patients’ reach. Openwater’s open-source foundations and focus on non-invasive therapy align perfectly with what the global healthcare market needs: high-quality, practical solutions that everyone can access. My priority is scaling our operations while ensuring affordable, game-changing care remains at the core of our mission.”
As Openwater’s founder and Chairperson, Mary Lou Jepsen will remain heavily involved in the company’s product vision, strategic partnerships, and the continued expansion of its platform. Openwater’s platform integrates consumer electronics manufacturing with medical-grade precision, enabling the company to create devices that bridge the gap between affordability and high-quality healthcare.
Jepsen commented, “Improving healthcare for everyone is what inspired me to start Openwater. By expanding our leadership team, we can reach people faster and in more places, whether they’re battling cancer, stroke, or neurodegenerative diseases. I will remain fully engaged in driving our overarching mission: to make hospital-level care attainable at a fraction of traditional costs.”
Openwater’s move into commercialization is further supported by its recent establishment of an office in Taiwan, aimed at coordinating manufacturing as the company transitions from research and development to broader distribution. Timm will oversee this global expansion, ensuring that Openwater’s portable, open-source devices can address gaps in areas such as imaging, neuromodulation, and targeted ultrasound treatments. The company’s momentum is bolstered by ongoing collaborations with leading research universities and clinical centers worldwide, ensuring that their technology continues to evolve and reach a wider audience.
The company’s early trials have demonstrated impressive results, including non-invasive treatments for certain types of cancer at the cellular level, the modulation of neuronal activity to treat severe depression, and imaging capabilities on par with hospital-grade machines. By leveraging open-source development combined with consumer-level semiconductor production, Openwater is able to streamline regulatory approval processes and significantly reduce the costs of its devices.
With Timm at the helm, Openwater is well-positioned to scale its operations and continue its mission of making high-quality medical technologies available to people everywhere, regardless of location or income. The company’s innovative approach, which blends cutting-edge technology with cost-effective manufacturing practices, sets it apart in a rapidly growing MedTech industry.
About Openwater
Openwater was founded by Dr. Mary Lou Jepsen with the mission to make hospital-grade medical care universally accessible. The company utilizes open-source development and consumer electronics manufacturing to create non-invasive medical devices that are both affordable and effective. With backing from high-profile investors like Khosla Ventures, Plum Alley, BOLD Capital Partners, Vitalik Buterin, Esther Dyson, and Peter Gabriel, Openwater collaborates with top institutions around the world to research, validate, and distribute its technologies. The company’s goal is to expand access to healthcare by delivering solutions that are both innovative and accessible, improving the lives of patients across borders and income levels.
