Being an Engineer

S6E26 Katie Karmelek | How You Can Accelerate Med Device Development with Chamfr

Jun 27, 2025 · 48 min · Season 6 · Episode 26 · 34.7 MB
0:00-48:07

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In this episode of the Being an Engineer podcast, host Aaron Moncur interviews Katie Karmelek, a mechanical engineer and co-founder of Chamfr. Katie shares her journey from engineering to entrepreneurship, discussing her passion for medical device innovation and how Chamfr is revolutionizing component sourcing for medical device engineers.

Main Topics:

  • Katie's engineering background and family influences
  • The founding of Chamfr and its mission to accelerate medical device development
  • Challenges of creating an online marketplace for medical components
  • Personal experiences that highlight the importance of medical device innovation
  • Advice for young engineers and entrepreneurs

About the guest: Katie Karmelek is a mechanical engineer and entrepreneur with nearly 20 years of experience in the medical device industry. She is the co-founder of Chamfr, an online marketplace that simplifies sourcing components and tools for medical device development by connecting engineers with qualified suppliers.

Before launching Chamfr in 2017, Katie held roles in product development and business management at companies like Olympus, Vention Medical, and TDC Medical. She also founded Karmelek Engineering, Inc., applying her technical expertise to further innovation in the field.

Katie holds both a Bachelor's and Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Northeastern University. She is committed to mentoring young engineers and frequently shares insights on materials and design trends through the Chamfr blog.

Links:

Katie Karmelek LinkedIn

Chamfr - Website


 

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