Visionary Ventures

Visionary Ventures is a venture capital firm focused on investing in emerging ophthalmology companies that specialize in medical devices and pharmaceuticals. Established in 2016 and based in Newport Beach, California, the firm aims to support innovative ophthalmic technologies by providing clinical expertise, commercialization strategies, and essential growth capital. Visionary Ventures seeks to partner with visionary entrepreneurs and teams possessing strong intellectual property to address unmet needs in the ophthalmology market. The firm typically invests between $500,000 and $5 million in financing rounds ranging from $5 million to $15 million, often acting as the lead investor. With a strong emphasis on collaboration with key opinion leaders in the medical field, Visionary Ventures strives to create market-leading businesses and has demonstrated strong fund performance, placing it in the top decile of U.S. venture funds.

Lori-Ann Christie Ph.D

Principal

Garrett Hamontree

Principal

Richard L. Lindstrom

Founder, General Partner and Member of Investment Committee

Ehsan Sadri

General Partner and Investment Committee Member

Toby Tyson

Member of Investment Committee and General Partner

Jeffry Weinhuff

Managing Partner

17 past transactions

Aurion Biotech

Venture Round in 2022
Based in Seattle, Boston and Tokyo, Aurion Biotech is a clinical-stage biotech company. Our mission is to cure leading forms of blindness and transform the lives of millions of patients, by developing a platform of advanced therapies to treat ocular diseases. Our first candidate is for the treatment of corneal edema, and one of the first clinically validated cell therapies for corneal care. Healthy cells from a donor cornea are cultured in a novel, multi-step, proprietary and patented process. Cells from a single donor can be used to treat more than 100 recipient eyes. In clinical trials in Japan, patients have experienced significant and durable improvements in key measures of corneal health: visual acuity, corneal endothelial cell density and corneal thickness.

Sydnexis

Series B in 2021
Sydnexis specializes in developing a proprietary treatment for pediatric progressive myopia, addressing a significant global medical need. The company manufactures a topical eyedrop formulation aimed at treating this condition in children, allowing healthcare professionals to effectively manage and reduce the progression of myopia. Through its innovative approach, Sydnexis seeks to enhance eye care for pediatric patients and mitigate the prevalence of eye disorders in this demographic.

Orasis Pharmaceuticals

Series C in 2020
Orasis Pharmaceuticals Ltd is focused on developing innovative treatments for presbyopia, a common age-related vision condition. Founded in 2015 and based in Herzliya, Israel, the company has developed CSF-1, a corrective eye drop designed to improve near visual acuity through pupil modulation. This product aims to enhance the quality of life for individuals with presbyopia by alleviating the need for reading glasses. CSF-1 repurposes existing, well-studied molecules to ensure its effectiveness while prioritizing safety, comfort, and ease of use for patients. By providing a noninvasive treatment option, Orasis Pharmaceuticals offers a promising solution for those struggling with the symptoms of presbyopia.

TearClear

Series B in 2020
TearClear Corp. is an ophthalmic pharmaceutical company based in Boston, Massachusetts, founded in 2015. The company specializes in developing preservative-free therapeutic eye drops for conditions such as glaucoma, dry eye disease, and allergic conjunctivitis. TearClear's innovative platform focuses on improving medication delivery by capturing preservatives before they reach the ocular surface, thereby enhancing patient safety and compliance. The company aims to transform established ophthalmic medications into effective therapies and is actively working on multiple drug candidates to address various eye-related conditions.

Re-Vana Therapeutics

Seed Round in 2020
Re-Vana Therapeutics Ltd is a company based in Belfast, United Kingdom, specializing in ocular pharmaceuticals and drug delivery systems. Founded in 2016, it focuses on developing biodegradable drug delivery platforms to treat chronic eye diseases, including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and uveitis. The company offers two main products: OcuLief, which provides long-term release of therapeutics for age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, and EyeLief, designed for glaucoma and retinal diseases. These platforms utilize FDA-approved polymers, enabling the delivery of various therapeutic molecules over periods ranging from one week to a year. Re-Vana's approach aims to enhance patient compliance through reduced treatment frequency and pain, while also minimizing side effects and healthcare costs.

Tarsus Pharmaceuticals

Series B in 2020
Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Irvine, California, specializing in the development and commercialization of innovative therapeutic candidates for ophthalmic conditions and other diseases with high unmet needs. The company's lead product candidate, TP-03, is currently undergoing Phase IIb/III trials for the treatment of blepharitis caused by Demodex mite infestations, as well as meibomian gland disease. In addition to TP-03, Tarsus is advancing other candidates such as TP-04 for the treatment of rosacea and TP-05 aimed at Lyme disease prophylaxis and malaria reduction. With a focus on addressing significant market opportunities, Tarsus Pharmaceuticals is committed to providing first-in-class therapies where treatment options are currently limited.

Surface Pharmaceuticals

Series A in 2018
Surface Pharmaceuticals is a owner and operator of a pharmaceutical company intended to provide ophthalmology products. The company's medicines uses 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
Orasis Pharmaceuticals Ltd is focused on developing innovative treatments for presbyopia, a common age-related vision condition. Founded in 2015 and based in Herzliya, Israel, the company has developed CSF-1, a corrective eye drop designed to improve near visual acuity through pupil modulation. This product aims to enhance the quality of life for individuals with presbyopia by alleviating the need for reading glasses. CSF-1 repurposes existing, well-studied molecules to ensure its effectiveness while prioritizing safety, comfort, and ease of use for patients. By providing a noninvasive treatment option, Orasis Pharmaceuticals offers a promising solution for those struggling with the symptoms of presbyopia.

Tear Film Innovations

Series B in 2018
Tear Film Innovations (tearfilm.com) has developed the iLux® Dry Eye Treatment System, a breakthrough medical device for treating evaporative dry eye. Evaporative dry eye is the most prevalent form of dry eye and affects more than 330M people worldwide. The FDA-cleared, handheld iLux device enables an eye care professional to evaluate and treat dry eye patients in less than ten minutes.

Equinox

Series B in 2018
Equinox is a medical technology company focused on revolutionizing the treatment of glaucoma and other progressive eye diseases. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Newport Beach, California, Equinox has developed an innovative adjustable, non-surgical, and non-pharmacological system that leverages the natural laws of physics to balance pressures in and around the eye. This technology enhances doctors' understanding of glaucoma by providing insights into the dynamics 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 (tearfilm.com) has developed the iLux® Dry Eye Treatment System, a breakthrough medical device for treating evaporative dry eye. Evaporative dry eye is the most prevalent form of dry eye and affects more than 330M people worldwide. The FDA-cleared, handheld iLux device enables an eye care professional to evaluate and treat dry eye patients in less than ten minutes.

IanTech

Series C in 2017
Iantech has developed advanced micro-­interventional technology for cataract surgery. After 50 years of conventional phacoemulsification, Iantech introduces a micro-­interventional technique designed to deliver energy-­free endocapsular lens fragmentation, giving surgeons control, efficiency and new opportunities to improve their surgical technique. At Iantech, They are working to invent new surgical approaches which can reduce the global footprint of cataract blindness. Using smart, efficient and adaptable micro-­interventional technology, Their team is building a new surgical platform to catalyze global outreach efforts as we fight the 25M blindness epidemic in the world

TearClear

Series A in 2017
TearClear Corp. is an ophthalmic pharmaceutical company based in Boston, Massachusetts, founded in 2015. The company specializes in developing preservative-free therapeutic eye drops for conditions such as glaucoma, dry eye disease, and allergic conjunctivitis. TearClear's innovative platform focuses on improving medication delivery by capturing preservatives before they reach the ocular surface, thereby enhancing patient safety and compliance. The company aims to transform established ophthalmic medications into effective therapies and is actively working on multiple drug candidates to address various eye-related conditions.

RxSight

Series H in 2017
RxSight is a medical device company that offers an intraocular lens and cataract surgery solutions. Using a proprietary light treatment that produces precise modifications in lens curvature, RxSight’s Light Adjustable Lens (RxLAL) enables doctors and patients to predictably optimize vision after cataract surgery through an office-based IOL enhancement. The company’s mission is to revolutionize the premium cataract surgery experience by allowing surgeons to partner with their patients to achieve optimized results for every unique eye. It was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California, United States.

CorneaGen

Series A in 2016
CorneaGen is dedicated to advancing cornea care through the development of innovative medical devices, biologics, and therapeutic interventions aimed at eliminating corneal blindness. The company focuses on transforming the practices of corneal surgeons by providing a comprehensive range of services, including high-quality tissue delivery, surgeon education, and advocacy for patient access and reimbursement. By equipping eye surgeons with the latest tools and resources, CorneaGen enhances their ability to restore sight and improve patient outcomes for those affected by corneal conditions.

IanTech

Series B in 2016
Iantech has developed advanced micro-­interventional technology for cataract surgery. After 50 years of conventional phacoemulsification, Iantech introduces a micro-­interventional technique designed to deliver energy-­free endocapsular lens fragmentation, giving surgeons control, efficiency and new opportunities to improve their surgical technique. At Iantech, They are working to invent new surgical approaches which can reduce the global footprint of cataract blindness. Using smart, efficient and adaptable micro-­interventional technology, Their team is building a new surgical platform to catalyze global outreach efforts as we fight the 25M blindness epidemic in the world

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
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