- Lew Bennett-
This isn't a blog about the Thomas Friedman's best seller, this could be the story about a company that is delusional. Our readers must admit that it is "unique" that an octogenarian running a "me too" company is quoted as saying that CS is providing "unique spinal solutions to the market." Unique? The definition of unique is "having no like or equal, unparalleled or incomparable." Have any of our readers looked at the CS website? Not a very unique product portfolio. Lew, this company isn't Sofamor Danek thirty years ago and honestly your grasp on the English lexicon leaves much to be desired. Custom Spine is another one of those "me too" companies that we always write about. One analyst described it as " not much smoke and a lot of mirrors."
Why would a potential distributor want to work for a company that self-anointed itself "a pioneering leader in the spine market creating the next generation of surgeon friendly implants and instruments that provide superior performance." Donnie Deutsch were are you when someone needs a real marketeer? Word on the street was that they terminated their second largest distributor and replaced them with scrub techs at a bargain basement price, and reduced their largest distributors commissions by 10% in order to increase their operating income.
Another "me too" pedicle screw, a cervical plate that only has 5 degrees of superior/inferior angulation and more PEEK products, sounds like something truly unique and pioneering is going on at this company, it all likelihood, it is Lew himself. TSB wants to know what our readers think?
Do you have a previous relationship with Mr. Bennett?
ReplyDeleteWhat is this What's My Line?
ReplyDeleteI believe that Custom Spine's pedicle screw is unique, but not in a clinically relevant manner...so, so what? A few years ago, it meant something. No longer. Bottom line is the company has good engineering, is under capitalized, and has an old geezer running the show. Mahmoud, the founder, is a talented and creative engineer, and a great guy. He can and should LEAD this company into excellence. Mahmoud needs to run this company, change the focus to something that IS clinically relevant, and create true value.
ReplyDeleteI was presented their screw a few years ago. Mahmoud is in fact a gentleman. His business partner (self pronounced co-founder) was a bit slimy. Always felt like he was about to say, " Nothing up my sleeve...." I hope they, CS, has enough momentum to push forward with surgeons NOT on "developmental agreements".
ReplyDeleteNothing wrong about being old, wer are all becoming that. I have worked with L.B. and he is there for his contacts and financial resources..not his acumen in today's spine market.
ReplyDeleteNothing unique about the line
Even a gentleman is pathological
ReplyDeleteWhat contacts? There's a new generation of investors out there. No one cares about what Lew did one hundred years ago. Besides, isn't this company back by surgeon investors? this company has been trying to raise money for how many years? Talented? Talent is in the eye of the beholder.
ReplyDeleteQuestion for our commentators, how did you segue from TSB's commentary on Lew to a promotional piece on Mahmoud? Could this be someone affiliated with the company? TSB always finds it interesting as to what people are reading when they start to divert from what the article was about.
ReplyDeleteManmoud "was" an egomaniac who made a million dollar business decision without having a contracts to support it. A freshman error? Maybe a great project manager/engineer, but by no means a fundable CEO or president.
ReplyDeleteThis blog is very entertaining...please keep it up.
This company has plodded along with 80+% sales makeup from investor surgeons. Although not a unique model it does keep the lights on. What's more, CS has gone to every large company looking for a non-exclusive license arrangement on their screw, huh...really? Needless to say, no-one bit. I remember sitting in the meeting wondering why...just why do we need to non-exclusively license your screw, of which, has not been tested in the courts for mass distribution/sale.
ReplyDeleteLet's face it, no one cares because they're not big enough.
Good luck!
Uhhhm, anyone check to see if Lew's prescriptions are dialed in. Sure, he's a nice guy, but unique products and a sign of a commitment to growth?
ReplyDeleteMaybe anonymous II is Mahmoud's wife.
Ok, but no commpany is as dirty as Spine360 though. This comany seems to attract the sleeziest people.
ReplyDeleteWhy all the personal attacks on Lew Bennett? He's just a guy in the arena as Teddy Roosevelt would say. - Walter Eisner
ReplyDeleteSometimes a man has to know his limitations. You know the old expression, the same people you stepped on on your way up, are the same people you eventually meet on your way down.
ReplyDeleteGet your facts straight... The CS cervical plate has 20 degree cones of angulation and if they get their turning TLIF more exposure it beats the competition in almost way. They have a nice IP portfolio that's free of Michaelson or any of the big companies and good people, but CS is undercapitalized and undermanned. How do you know so much about them? Did you work there? How about some disclosure for the sake of your credibility? Otherwise you're just a joker with a lot of free time, seemingly more connected to the investment side of the biz, stirring up the pot.
ReplyDeleteJust reporting what was heard on the street. This is your opportunity to set the record straight on their former distributors and in cutting commissions.
ReplyDeleteJust reporting my foot MM,
ReplyDeleteFacts;
1- You have time to sit on your rear writing some 500 word trash every other day, so you are obviously unemployed
2- Out of 100 spine companies you focus on CSI and Lew Bennett, when exactly did they fire you? I bet right before you started this blog
3- You seem to know way too much about this company to have just have heard things on the street.
Here is some advice MM, get a job (if you can) , live a good life, and that alone will make you happy.
make you happy
WOW! He's an angry elf....
ReplyDeleteNever have worked for CSI, but will tell you your ex-employees do not have anything good to say about you. What can I tell you if the shoe fits ........... PS: At least you should identify yourself to lend to your credibility.
ReplyDeleteEx employees in this market for some reason never have anything good to say...thus the reason they're ex employees. Especially sales management types. People should note, most people have anti-defamation clauses in their contracts, should you be ousted...it's your tail on the line.
ReplyDeleteAs a note, your IP is not free if it has not been tested in the courts. This is a silly novice thought that if you have a patent you somehow have assets. Any patent attorney will tell you that a patent is a liability until you convert the patent to market. In which case you are burdened with defending it.
ReplyDeleteAnti-defamation clause, what are you from some third world country?
ReplyDeleteTurning TLIF? Do you mean insert and rotate, just wait until you try to market that baby, we'll be waiting
ReplyDeleteIs that a hydraulic TLIF now there's innovation
ReplyDeleteLew (or Lew wanna be)...would you stop responding...please. You don't have to work for one of these "marketing", money machines to know their playbook. It's a small world...remember??? We all know how you small start up surgeon owned companies work. You put crap in people so you can make lots of money. You are filthy little Nazis, and you know it. These are people, not widgets.
ReplyDeleteMM-I don't care if you're employed, unemployed, over-employed. Keep pissing these dirty little bastards off by exposing them. You DO know what you're talking about. Thank you for turning on the lights.
The Evil Empire
Bunch of jealous whiny bitches
ReplyDelete