The Hatch Podcast
At the intersection of innovation, creativity, and community — The Hatch Podcast shares stories from founders, scientists, and artists shaping the future of Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Produced at Hatch Fairhope, it’s where bold ideas take flight.
The Founders Series dives into the journeys of startup founders building the future of business, technology, and innovation across the Gulf South.
The Music Accelerator combines professional music industry guidance with spiritual mentorship, creating a unique environment where artists can grow both creatively and personally. Hosted by music industry veteran Chris Estes, this series features conversations with artists and insiders who’ve spent years shaping the sounds and stories of modern music.
The Bioscience Innovation Series explores breakthroughs in healthcare, agriculture, and environmental science — with founders and researchers driving life-changing discoveries in labs across the region.
Around the Table features conversations with Alabama’s most forward-thinking companies and creators, from startups re-imagining industry to leaders building stronger communities.
And throughout the year, The Hatch Podcast Network introduces new limited series spotlighting the people and ideas transforming the Gulf Coast economy — one story at a time.
Find out more at hatchfairhope.com
Contact: team@hatchfairhope.com
The Hatch Podcast
From Mechanic to Medical Innovator: Chris Harber, CEO of Simparo Surgical | Bioscience Innovation
What if a simpler, faster way to treat thumb arthritis could get millions of people back to living pain-free — and it all started with a former auto mechanic on the Gulf Coast?
In this episode of The Hatch Podcast: Bioscience Innovation, Chris Harber shares his unlikely journey from working under car hoods to founding Simparo Surgical in Fairhope, Alabama. Partnering with hand surgeon Dr. Jeanne L. DelSignore, Chris turned a persistent surgical challenge into an elegantly simple device that’s transforming thumb CMC reconstruction — cutting procedure times from 90 minutes to under 20, making outcomes more reproducible, and helping patients regain function in as little as six weeks.
You’ll hear how the breakthrough Falcon Suture Clutch technology was born, why Chris chose to build his company right here on the Gulf Coast, and what it really takes to scale a med-tech startup while keeping patient stories at the heart of everything.
“This procedure is essentially… putting an anchor in the base of your index, an anchor in the base of your thumb, and we’re basically zip-tying it… we’ve taken that procedure down to, in some instances, less than 20 minutes.”
— Chris Harber, CEO & Co-Founder of Simparo Surgical
💡 In This Episode
• From auto mechanic to orthopedic product leader — the serendipitous path that led to Simparo Surgical
• The decades-old thumb arthritis problem that finally has an elegantly simple solution
• How the Falcon Suture Clutch enables intraoperative tensioning and more anatomic repair
• Why reproducible, bone-based fixation beats traditional soft-tissue techniques
• Bringing a med-tech company home to Fairhope and proving innovation thrives on the Gulf Coast
• Rapid clinical adoption, patient success stories, and the responsibility of building implantable devices
• Future applications across extremities — from elbow and wrist to foot and ankle
• Building Alabama’s bioscience ecosystem: talent, manufacturing, and quality of life
🔗 Learn more about Simparo Surgical
→ https://www.simparosurgical.com
About The Hatch Podcast
At the intersection of innovation, creativity, and community — The Hatch Podcast shares stories from founders, scientists, and artists shaping the future of Alabama’s Gulf Coast.
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🔗 Learn more: hatchfairhope.com
📩 Contact: team@hatchfairhope.com
Produced by Tim Scott for The Hatch Podcast Network.