Founder Story | Dr. Po-Lin Hsu: Three Keywords Behind a Decade of Entrepreneurship

At the Jiangsu Medical Device Technology Industrial Park in Suzhou New District, there is a "heart maker" who has spent the past decade advancing innovation in the challenging field of high-end medical devices.

Through years of challenges and persistence, she has developed a strong inner resilience that continues to drive her forward.

She is Dr. Po-Lin Hsu, Founder of magAssist (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. (magAssist).

Dr. Po-Lin Hsu: Three Keywords Behind a Decade of Entrepreneurship

"I am a scientist. I develop tools for physicians to fight against death and save lives. Saving lives is my lifelong pursuit."

Under Dr. Po-Lin Hsu's leadership, magAssist successfully developed China's first fully magnetically levitated extracorporeal ventricular assist device. The product received approval for market launch in April 2024, addressing an important clinical need in China.

Born in 1983 in Tainan, Taiwan, Dr. Po-Lin Hsu grew up witnessing her parents' entrepreneurial journey between Taiwan and mainland China. Inspired by her father's entrepreneurial experience, she developed a strong connection with mainland China and a commitment to creating meaningful impact through innovation.

During her doctoral studies at the University of Cambridge and RWTH Aachen University, she focused on artificial hearts and artificial organs. In 2013, she joined Soochow University as a distinguished professor, and in 2017, she founded magAssist through the university's industry–academia–research entrepreneurship support program.

Looking back on her entrepreneurial journey, Dr. Po-Lin Hsu describes it as "an extreme experience of life." Developing advanced medical devices requires long-term commitment, continuous technological breakthroughs, and the ability to overcome uncertainty.

She summarizes her decade of entrepreneurship through three keywords: Original Aspiration, Persistence, and Responsibility.

Original Aspiration

Artificial hearts are considered one of the most challenging areas in cardiovascular medical devices due to their high technical barriers.

"When we started, it was difficult to find investors who understood the value of our project and believed we could succeed. At Suzhou International Elite Entrepreneurship Week, I met people who recognized our vision and later became our angel investors."

Even when the medical device sector attracted significant investment attention, Dr. Po-Lin Hsu remained committed to selecting partners who shared the company's long-term vision and values.

For her, partnerships are not only about capital, but about building lasting collaboration with those who understand the industry and support technological innovation.

Persistence

As competition in the medical device industry intensified and market conditions became more challenging, magAssist also experienced periods of uncertainty and financing pressure.

During difficult times, Dr. Po-Lin Hsu remained focused on the company's original mission: developing medical technologies to save lives.

Today, MoyoAssist® fully magnetically levitated extracorporeal ventricular assist device has been deployed in more than 50 tertiary hospitals across China, supporting hundreds of critically ill patients.

"Looking back, I feel fortunate. We started this company at the right time, in the right place, and with the right people."

She also highlights the support from local government and Suzhou's well-established biomedical ecosystem as important factors in magAssist's development.

Responsibility

Under Dr. Po-Lin Hsu's leadership, magAssist has continued to advance life-support technologies.

In addition to the successful development of its fully magnetically levitated extracorporeal ventricular assist device, the company's NyokAssist® percutaneous ventricular assist device has received innovation recognition in both China and the United States.

The company's next-generation portable ECMO system was also deployed during the Hangzhou Asian Games, demonstrating the application of advanced life-support technologies in emergency scenarios.

In 2025, magAssist was officially recognized as a National High-Tech Enterprise.

For Dr. Po-Lin Hsu, the ultimate value of technological innovation lies not only in commercial success, but also in creating meaningful social impact.

"Medical innovation is not only a scientific challenge, but also a responsibility to society. At critical moments, technology can bring meaningful change to people's lives."