At LSI USA ’26, the panel “If You Don’t Create Your Brand, Your Market (or Competitors) Will” explored a critical but often underprioritized part of company building: medtech branding. For early-stage innovators, brand is not simply a logo, color palette, or polished pitch deck. It is the foundation for how a company defines its purpose, positions its technology, earns credibility, and creates consistency with customers, investors, employees, and strategic partners. Moderated by Rachel Knutton, CEO of Alluvia Studio, the discussion featured Amanda DePalma, SVP of Ultrasound Global Marketing at Siemens Healthineers, and Terri Burke, Senior Partner at Intuitive Ventures. Together, they made a clear case for why brand development should begin long before a company is ready for commercial launch.