PillCamA missile engineer took a dare. It took 20 years.
Founder story · posted 10 Oct 2026 · under a minute
Who's whoGavriel Iddan · Given Imaging · bought by Covidien in 2013
The story
What I say in the video, word for word.
An Israeli missile engineer took a dare from his neighbor. It became an $860 million company. His neighbor, a gut doctor, couldn't see inside the small intestine.
"And if you're so smart, he told me, find a solution. I told him, well, it's going to take a few weeks' time." It took 20 years.
A camera that small ran out of battery in minutes, and the trip through the gut takes hours. Four million patients have swallowed one since, the company says.
Not bad for a few weeks' work.Sources
- Covidien buys Given Imaging for $860m · Globes
- PillCam’s inventor regrets sale · Times of Israel
- PillCam SB3 @HOME clearance · Medtronic