Apeliotus Vision Science

Apeliotus is commercializing a novel diagnostic for early detection of a blinding eye disease called age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

  • Stage Full Product Ready
  • Industry Medical Devices and Equipment
  • Location Hershey, PA, USA
  • Currency USD
  • Employees 4

Company Summary

AMD is the leading cause of adult blindness in developed countries. It affects over 30 million people worldwide, including one in six over age 65 and one in three over age 75. Despite the tremendous value of early detection, there is currently no good means for diagnosis before significant vision loss has already occurred. Our AdaptDx diagnostic can detect and track AMD from its earliest stages allowing early intervention.

Team

  • John Edwards
    CEO

    Mr. Edwards has managed three prior startups. Before launching Apeliotus, he was co-founder and CEO of Photonic Sensor, an optical chip in vitro diagnostic company. He has raised over $15 million of venture capital and grant funding, and negotiated numerous license agreements with companies such as Abbott Labs and Roche Diagnostics. He holds SB and SM degrees in physics from MIT and an MBA from University of Chicago.

  • Greg Jackson, PhD
    CSO

    Dr. Jackson is the principal inventor of the company's proprietary technology and Director of Clinical Research for Ophthalmology at Penn State College of Medicine. He has specialized in psychophysical testing such as dark adaptation for the past ten years, publishing a dozen articles on this topic. He earned a BS in psychology from Clarion and a PhD in behavioral neuroscience from University of Alabama at Birmingham.

  • Jim Pietropaolo
    VP Marketing & Sales

    Mr. Pietropaolo is a medical device industry veteran with twenty-five years in marketing, sales and business development. In particular, he was VP of Sales for Lunar Corporation leading up to its successful acquisition by GE Medical Systems, growing sales of their bone densitometer from $12 million to $40 million. Prior to that he worked for Johnson & Johnson and Aloka. He has a BS in civil engineering from Northeastern and an MBA from Iona.

  • Bill Grace
    VP Engineering

    Mr. Grace has designed and developed a wide variety of successful commercial products, ranging from a fluorescence-based clinical blood analyzer to a flight simulator power system. He has worked for both large and small companies, including having been co-founder and President of Eversys, a specialty computer manufacturer. He holds a BS in mechanical engineering from MIT and an MS in computer science from University of California at Berkeley.

  • Ted Newill
    Outside Director

    Mr. Newill has worked in the medical device industry for thirty years, including the last sixteen in ophthalmics. In particular, he was VP of Marketing and Sales for Reichert, VP of Sales for Heidelberg Engineering and President of Talia US, all leading ophthalmic device manufacturers. He has a BS from Miami (OH) and an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management.

  • Tom Glover
    Outside Director

    Mr. Glover has worked in the medical device industry for twenty-six years. His experience includes executive positions with established companies such as Johnson & Johnson, where he was Executive VP of J&J Professional, and CEO positions with medical device startups such as Vasomedical and Vasca. He has a BA from Pace University and an MBA from Iona.

  • Joan Miller, MD
    Clinical Advisor

    Dr. Miller is Chair of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School and Chief of Ophthalmology at the Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary. In addition she is a member of the Board of Directors of Alcon Laboratories. Educated at MIT and Harvard Medical School, Dr. Miller is one of the foremost authorities in the world on AMD, including key roles in the development of Visudyne and Lucentis.

  • Steve Martin
    Business Advisor

    Mr. Martin founded CIBA Vision Optics in 1980 and CIBA Vision Ophthalmics in 1990, growing sales of the combined companies to over $1.2 billion with more than 6000 employees. He was President of CIBA Vision Corporation USA until 1998 and a venture opportunity liaison for Novartis until his retirement in 2001. He is a graduate of Wake Forest University.

Advisors

  • Stites & Harbison
    Lawyer
    Unconfirmed
    Bennett Thrasher
    Accountant
    Unconfirmed

Previous Investors

  • Founders - $200,000
    Unconfirmed
    Life Sciences Greenhouse - $500,000
    Unconfirmed
    Ben Franklin - $400,000
    Unconfirmed

Starting a startup?

Join the world's largest startup network for guidance, tools, and fundraising opportunities.

Get Started for Free