ChatGPT, a large-scale natural language model, demonstrates remarkable fluency in understanding and generating text, capable of conducting natural, professional, and insightful conversations. Many innovators are now experimenting with ways to integrate ChatGPT into daily workflows — and in the startup world, using AI tools to replace traditional manual processes can save tremendous time and human resources.

This article is published in two parts:

Part I discusses how ChatGPT can be applied to medical startup product development.

Part II will focus on how ChatGPT can help startups succeed in fundraising.

Joseph Shen, Vice President, Investment and Clinical Strategy, BE Health Ventures

Market Research and Analysis

At the early stages of product development, teams must understand their target markets and analyze existing players to define their product positioning and strategy. ChatGPT can quickly summarize technological trends, market dynamics, and demand insights from publicly available literature, and even identify potential competitors.

These analyses allow biotech startups to gain a clear market overview with minimal manpower, identify opportunities, and avoid unnecessary investment in low-potential areas.

Effectively leveraging AI to reduce operational overhead will be a key capability for next-generation startups.

Drafting Product Specifications

Product specifications are critical documents that define performance, appearance, and target users. Based on team inputs, ChatGPT can help structure and write product specifications — outlining requirements, system architecture, development plans, and version management strategies.

In my own trials, ChatGPT was able to generate a complete and relevant product proposal based solely on a use-case description. This allows medical startups to better control development timelines, align direction, and ensure their product meets both market needs and user expectations.

Providing Technical Support and Insights

Biotech startups often face challenges spanning medicine, biology, engineering, and data analytics. ChatGPT can assist in these technical domains — from providing historical context and technology roadmaps to design suggestions, data interpretation, and emerging trend summaries.

This capability helps teams stay informed of the latest research and industry trends, enabling innovation and differentiation in a fast-evolving landscape.

Building Product Verification Plans

Verification and validation are essential to ensuring product quality and performance. ChatGPT can help startups create structured verification plans, covering preclinical and clinical testing, quality system design, and data analysis methodologies.

In practice, when provided with prior product specifications, ChatGPT generated a comprehensive validation roadmap, including test standards and study designs. This enables faster product refinement, reduced manpower cost, and improved product safety and effectiveness.

Project Management and Resource Coordination

Developing a medical product requires synchronized effort across research, market, and testing teams. ChatGPT can assist in project planning, timeline tracking, task allocation, and problem-solving.

In one example, I defined a five-member cross-functional team and a development schedule; ChatGPT then delivered a complete project management plan with logical and feasible assignments. This can significantly enhance management efficiency and ensure projects are completed on time and within resource constraints.

Responsible Use of AI

While the efficiency benefits are substantial, startups should recognize that ChatGPT is a language model, not a decision-maker. Its information should be reviewed by subject-matter experts for accuracy and reliability. Moreover, as of the time of this writing, ChatGPT’s data coverage extends only up to 2021, and its capabilities are still evolving.

🌱 Summary

As an intelligent conversational model, ChatGPT can provide multifaceted support to biotech startups — including market research, product documentation, technical consulting, testing plans, and project management — empowering teams to accelerate innovation, enhance product quality, and achieve both business and social impact.

AI-human collaboration is no longer the future — it’s the present. The ability to strategically apply AI tools like ChatGPT will define the next generation of successful biotech startups.

For more information, please contact: joseph.shen@behealthventures.com