Visionary Ventures

Visionary Ventures, established in 2016 and based in Newport Beach, California, is a venture capital firm specializing in the ophthalmology sector within life sciences. The company invests in promising medical device and pharmaceutical startups, providing growth capital, clinical expertise, and commercialization know-how to help these companies succeed. They focus on early-stage investments, typically ranging from $500K to $5M per round, with a target total investment of $5M to $15M. Visionary Ventures seeks to be a lead investor and strategic partner, offering a strong network of key opinion leader doctors. The firm's fund performance places it in the top decile of U.S. venture funds.

Lori-Ann Christie Ph.D

Principal

Garrett Hamontree

Principal

Ehsan Sadri MD

General Partner and Investment Committee Member

Jeffry Weinhuff

General Partner, Managing Partner and Investment Committee Member

22 past transactions

Orasis Pharmaceuticals

Series D in 2024
Founded in 2015, Orasis Pharmaceuticals specializes in developing corrective eye drops for treating presbyopia. Its lead product, CSF-1, improves near visual acuity by pupil modulation, eliminating the need for reading glasses.

Pelage Pharma

Series A in 2024
Pelage Pharma delivers a clinically tested treatment for both men and women battling the emotional pain or social stigma of hair loss. Its non-invasive, topical small molecule drug platform activates hair follicle stem cells and stimulates robust hair growth.

ONL Therapeutics

Series C in 2023
ONL Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, that develops small‑molecule peptide therapeutics to protect photoreceptors and preserve vision. Its pipeline focuses on targeting the FAS apoptotic pathway to prevent photoreceptor loss in retinal diseases such as retinal detachment, aiming to improve surgical outcomes and reduce vision loss. Founded in 2006, the company seeks to bring novel treatments for serious, vision‑threatening retinal conditions.

Re-Vana Therapeutics

Series A in 2022
Re-Vana Therapeutics specializes in ocular pharmaceuticals and drug delivery systems. It develops biodegradable platforms to treat chronic eye diseases like age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and retina infections. Key products include OcuLief for AMD and DR treatment, and EyeLief for glaucoma and retina disease management.

Iantrek

Series B in 2022
Iantrek, founded in 2019 and headquartered in White Plains, New York, specializes in developing innovative technology for minimally invasive glaucoma surgery. The company focuses on creating advanced micro-interventional surgical tools that allow ophthalmic surgeons to perform eye surgeries with smaller incisions and reduced recovery times.

Aurion Biotechnologies

Venture Round in 2022
Aurion Biotechnologies is a clinical-stage biotech company focused on developing advanced therapies for ocular diseases, particularly those leading to blindness. Based in Seattle, Boston, and Tokyo, the company aims to transform the lives of millions by restoring vision through innovative cell therapies. Its lead candidate targets corneal edema and is one of the first clinically validated cell therapies in corneal care. The process involves culturing healthy cells from a donor cornea using a proprietary method, allowing cells from a single donor to potentially treat over 100 recipient eyes. Clinical trials in Japan have shown that patients experience significant and lasting improvements in corneal health indicators, including visual acuity and corneal thickness.

Sydnexis

Series B in 2021
Sydnexis is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing a proprietary treatment for pediatric progressive myopia, which represents a significant unmet medical need globally. The company specializes in manufacturing a topical eyedrop formulation aimed at slowing the progression of myopia in children. By providing an innovative solution, Sydnexis enables healthcare professionals and institutions to effectively manage and reduce the incidence of myopia-related eye disorders in the pediatric population.

Orasis Pharmaceuticals

Series C in 2020
Founded in 2015, Orasis Pharmaceuticals specializes in developing corrective eye drops for treating presbyopia. Its lead product, CSF-1, improves near visual acuity by pupil modulation, eliminating the need for reading glasses.

TearClear

Series B in 2020
TearClear Corp. is an ophthalmic pharmaceutical company focused on developing preservative-free therapeutic drops aimed at treating glaucoma and various anti-inflammatory conditions, including dry eye disease and allergic conjunctivitis. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, the company specializes in creating a platform of drugs that enhances medication delivery while ensuring patient safety and compliance by preventing preservatives from reaching the ocular surface. TearClear's innovative approach not only transforms established ophthalmic medications into safer therapies but also lays the groundwork for future developments across multiple treatment programs.

Re-Vana Therapeutics

Seed Round in 2020
Re-Vana Therapeutics specializes in ocular pharmaceuticals and drug delivery systems. It develops biodegradable platforms to treat chronic eye diseases like age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and retina infections. Key products include OcuLief for AMD and DR treatment, and EyeLief for glaucoma and retina disease management.

Tarsus Pharmaceuticals

Series B in 2020
Tarsus Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapies for ophthalmic conditions, with a pipeline that includes first-in-class candidates aimed at Demodex blepharitis and other eye diseases. Its lead program, TP-03, targets blepharitis caused by Demodex mites and is advancing through Phase IIb/III trials, alongside efforts to address meibomian gland disease. The company is also developing TP-04 for rosacea and TP-05 for Lyme prophylaxis and community malaria reduction, indicating a broader dermatology and infectious-disease focus. Tarsus pursues development across opportunities with unmet medical need, aiming to bring novel therapeutics to patients with limited treatment options. The company was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Irvine, California.

Surface Pharmaceuticals

Series A in 2018
Surface Pharmaceuticals is an owner and operator of a pharmaceutical company intended to provide ophthalmology products. The company's medicines use topical formulations with the patented Klarity delivery vehicle, designed to protect and rehabilitate the ocular surface, enabling patients with dry eye disease to recover on time and properly.

Orasis Pharmaceuticals

Series B in 2018
Founded in 2015, Orasis Pharmaceuticals specializes in developing corrective eye drops for treating presbyopia. Its lead product, CSF-1, improves near visual acuity by pupil modulation, eliminating the need for reading glasses.

Tear Film Innovations

Series B in 2018
Tear Film Innovations is a medical device company that develops in-office treatments for evaporative dry eye and related conditions, including meibomian gland dysfunction and blepharitis. Its iLux Dry Eye Treatment System is a handheld device that allows eye care professionals to evaluate and treat dry eye patients quickly by identifying blocked meibomian glands and delivering targeted heat and compression to unblock them. BlephaRx addresses the symptoms and root causes of evaporative dry eye. Founded in 2014 and based in San Diego, the company aims to streamline dry-eye management by enabling fast, chairside assessment and treatment in a single visit.

Equinox

Series B in 2018
Equinox is a medical technology company founded in 2014 and headquartered in Newport Beach, California. The company focuses on revolutionizing the treatment of glaucoma and other progressive eye diseases through its innovative technology. Equinox has developed an adjustable, non-surgical, and non-pharmacological system that leverages the natural laws of physics to balance pressures in and around the eye. This approach allows healthcare professionals to gain a deeper understanding of glaucoma by exploring the underlying physics of eye pressure, ultimately aiming to improve patient outcomes in the management of optic nerve diseases.

Tear Film Innovations

Series A in 2017
Tear Film Innovations is a medical device company that develops in-office treatments for evaporative dry eye and related conditions, including meibomian gland dysfunction and blepharitis. Its iLux Dry Eye Treatment System is a handheld device that allows eye care professionals to evaluate and treat dry eye patients quickly by identifying blocked meibomian glands and delivering targeted heat and compression to unblock them. BlephaRx addresses the symptoms and root causes of evaporative dry eye. Founded in 2014 and based in San Diego, the company aims to streamline dry-eye management by enabling fast, chairside assessment and treatment in a single visit.

IanTech

Series C in 2017
IanTech is a medical device company based in Reno, Nevada, specializing in advanced micro-interventional technology for cataract surgery. The company has developed a pen-like device that utilizes nitinol micro-filament technology to perform energy-free endocapsular lens fragmentation. This innovative approach allows surgeons to efficiently manage challenging cataract cases through a minimally invasive clear cornea incision, ultimately improving surgical outcomes. IanTech aims to enhance surgical techniques and reduce the incidence of cataract-related blindness worldwide, addressing a significant global health issue. By focusing on smart and adaptable solutions, IanTech is committed to advancing cataract surgery and expanding access to effective treatments.

TearClear

Series A in 2017
TearClear Corp. is an ophthalmic pharmaceutical company focused on developing preservative-free therapeutic drops aimed at treating glaucoma and various anti-inflammatory conditions, including dry eye disease and allergic conjunctivitis. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, the company specializes in creating a platform of drugs that enhances medication delivery while ensuring patient safety and compliance by preventing preservatives from reaching the ocular surface. TearClear's innovative approach not only transforms established ophthalmic medications into safer therapies but also lays the groundwork for future developments across multiple treatment programs.

RxSight

Series H in 2017
RxSight, Inc. is a medical technology company based in Aliso Viejo, California, focused on enhancing vision for patients after cataract surgery. It has developed the RxSight Light Adjustable Lens system, which includes the Light Adjustable Lens (LAL), a Light Delivery Device (LDD), and associated accessories. This innovative technology is the first of its kind to allow healthcare professionals to customize and optimize visual acuity post-surgery, enabling precise reshaping of the lens to meet individual patient needs. Additionally, the LAL features ActivShield technology, providing built-in UV protection. Established in 1997 and originally named Calhoun Vision, Inc., the company rebranded to RxSight, Inc. in 2017.

CorneaGen

Series A in 2016
CorneaGen is a mission-driven company focused on innovating cornea care to eliminate corneal blindness globally. It develops advanced medical devices, biologics, and therapeutics aimed at improving the treatment and care provided by corneal surgeons. CorneaGen offers a comprehensive range of services, including the delivery of high-quality tissue, surgeon education, and advocacy for patient access and reimbursement policies. By equipping eye surgeons with innovative tools and resources, CorneaGen strives to restore sight for individuals suffering from corneal conditions, thereby transforming the landscape of corneal surgery and enhancing patient outcomes.

Zepto

Series B in 2016
Mynosys Cellular Devices is a global ophthalmic technology company dedicated to providing surgeons with innovative solutions that enable procedural excellence

IanTech

Series B in 2016
IanTech is a medical device company based in Reno, Nevada, specializing in advanced micro-interventional technology for cataract surgery. The company has developed a pen-like device that utilizes nitinol micro-filament technology to perform energy-free endocapsular lens fragmentation. This innovative approach allows surgeons to efficiently manage challenging cataract cases through a minimally invasive clear cornea incision, ultimately improving surgical outcomes. IanTech aims to enhance surgical techniques and reduce the incidence of cataract-related blindness worldwide, addressing a significant global health issue. By focusing on smart and adaptable solutions, IanTech is committed to advancing cataract surgery and expanding access to effective treatments.
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