🎙️ How to Build a More Memorable Health Tech Brand

In this interview with David McCarthy of Makers, Marlena Sarunac of The Company Advice talks through the marketing mistakes she sees early-stage health tech brands make most often and why those mistakes can quietly hold back growth.

“Marketing is a system, not a band-aid.”

A big theme throughout the conversation is that many founders treat marketing like something they can layer on later. Once the product is built, once the site is live, once they need leads. Marlena makes the case that this is one of the biggest misunderstandings early-stage teams have. Marketing isn't a quick fix. It is not a band-aid. It's a system that helps the market understand who you are, what you do and why it matters.

She also gets into the problem of weak positioning. A lot of startups know their product well, but struggle to explain their value in a way that feels clear, specific, and memorable. Instead, they fall back on familiar language, broad claims, or messaging that sounds polished but interchangeable. In health tech especially, where trust matters and buyers are often skeptical, that kind of vagueness makes it harder to stand out.

Another point Marlena touches on is memorability. Brands do not need to be loud for the sake of it, but they do need to be remembered. That means speaking more like a human and less like a press release. It means having a real point of view. And it means understanding that strong marketing is not just about promotion. It is about building trust and giving people a reason to care.

The conversation also highlights why early-stage founders often underestimate the amount of foundation that marketing needs. Positioning, messaging, and brand clarity take work. They aren't extras. They are part of building a company people can understand and choose.

Overall, this interview is a useful look at why so much early-stage marketing falls flat and what founders should focus on instead if they want to build a stronger, more credible brand.

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👉 Read the full interview to hear Marlena’s perspective on health tech marketing, startup positioning, and what it really takes to build a brand people remember.

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