Hi, I'm Reon Smits — Technical Founder & CTO, HealthTech & DeepTech ventures
Based in Eindhoven, Netherlands · Available remotely
About
I am a founder and technology leader with over ten years of experience building complex products and ventures from concept to market.
My background sits at the intersection of AI, software, hardware, and regulated innovation. Over the past decade, I have helped build companies where technology was not just an enabler, but the core of the business. That has meant far more than making technical decisions or leading engineering teams. It has meant shaping products, building organisations, navigating regulation, securing strategic partnerships, and turning ambitious ideas into businesses that deliver real value.
What excites me most is solving genuinely difficult problems. I am at my best in environments where technology is complex, expectations are high, and execution truly matters. Whether that means designing embedded electronics, defining cloud architectures, building AI systems, or bringing regulated healthcare products to market, I enjoy creating things that move from concept to something people genuinely rely on.
Throughout my career, I have worked across the full technology stack, from custom hardware and embedded firmware to cloud platforms, machine learning, and modern LLM-based architectures. I have led engineering teams of up to 35 people and helped bring clinically validated products into real-world healthcare environments across Europe. My full work experience and selected projects are below.
What makes my background somewhat unusual is that I have always operated beyond pure technology leadership. As a founder, I have been deeply involved in building the companies around the products, helping define strategy, commercial direction, regulatory pathways, hiring, and long-term product vision. I understand both the technical complexity of building hard technology and the business reality of getting it successfully into the market.
While most of my experience is in healthcare and regulated environments, I am broadly excited by ambitious technology ventures where execution matters. AI infrastructure, robotics, simulation, deep tech, and high-impact product development all strongly appeal to me.
Work Experience
Advisory & Investments
Skills
Things I've built
A selection of ventures and products I've co-founded, led, or contributed to, spanning medical devices, care robotics, AI platforms, and simulation training.
MDR-certified wearable system for real-time stress detection in people with intellectual disabilities and dementia. HUME uses electrodermal activity sensors and AI/ML to deliver early stress notifications to care professionals, enabling timely and personalised interventions. Co-developed with 15+ academic publications and the first of its kind to receive MDR certification in Europe.
LLM-based AI care assistant developed at Mentech to support care professionals with intelligent, context-aware guidance. Built on private AI infrastructure with a focus on data privacy, regulatory compliance (NEN 7510, ISO 42001), and domain-specific customisation for healthcare environments.
Mixed Reality simulation training platform for healthcare professionals, focused on ABCDE and SBAR methodology. TrueSim delivers realistic, immersive patient simulations through AR to improve clinical decision-making and emergency response skills. Contributing as angel investor and development advisor.
AI-powered SaaS platform designed to support consultants and professionals through intelligent workflow automation and a personalised digital workspace. Built on private LLM infrastructure with a strong focus on data privacy, context-awareness, and domain-specific customisation.
Social care robot designed to increase the wellbeing of residents in care environments and reduce the workload of healthcare professionals. Developed in collaboration with healthcare institutions as a response to the growing staff shortage. Contributed as interim CTO, responsible for product architecture spanning robotics, computer vision, speech recognition, and cloud connectivity.
Automated laboratory robot for thrombin generation analysis, developed at Tegema for a client in the haemostasis diagnostics market. The system automates the Calibrated Automated Thrombogram (CAT) assay, a diagnostic method for measuring the coagulation capacity of blood plasma. Developed as a certified medical device for diagnostic applications.
Demonstration system built at Tegema to showcase a novel gearbox concept based on a new mechanical operating principle. The demonstrator was designed to physically and interactively demonstrate the unique properties and advantages of the technology to potential customers and partners.
Selected fractional CTO and advisory engagements across early-stage and growth-stage companies in AI, HealthTech and DeepTech. Scope has included technical due diligence for investors, architecture reviews, interim engineering leadership, and AI feasibility and strategy.
Get in Touch
If you need experienced technical leadership, venture building support or strategic technical thinking, I would love to hear what you are working on.