Episode #102: Liane Clamen, CEO & founder, Adaptilens

This is episode 102 with Liane Clamen, the president and CEO of Adaptilens.  Liane launched a new company, raised capital, and formed the business that is expected to change the outcomes for patients who require cataracts surgery.  Its still early in the development of the “medical device” and the process that will change this market.  Liane will share some great stories about:

• What triggered her to start a company around this idea,
• The challenges and opportunities in medical device startups,
• How to get from Concept to Market,
• The value of culture and people in the early formation stages along with some of the key considerations to ensure you move nimbly, swiftly and purposefully,
• What role and value the board and the role of its members to the company,
• Her perspectives on what makes a CEO successful, and
• Key Considerations for others who are considering the same path.

Imagine having cataract surgery and having to choose whether after the surgery, you'll be able to see distance or close up as your optimal eye range.  That's what happens today. Adapt a lens is in the development of a new product that will help us be able to throw away our glasses after cataract surgery and be able to. Have a lens that acts just like the current lens that we're born with.

Liane Said:

So about two years ago, I founded Adapta lens and we are developing an accommodating intraocular lens to be implanted during cataract surgery.  And our lens is soft and flexible, just like the young, healthy lens. It will allow the to focus again, and it will allow patients to see clearly without needing eye glasses.  So you can throw away your glasses, David, once we get this developed.

So today she'll be talking about how she's:

• brought the team together,
• developing their product during COVID
• leveraging the value of her board to accelerate the development of her product, and
• How she thinks about business as a very technical background, CEO and founder.

"So I think in order to become an entrepreneur, one must be comfortable with the concept of risk. It's risky to start a new business and do something that nobody's done before. And again, the people I've surrounded myself with are also up for the challenge..." Liane mentioned.

And she offered Advice to other CEO Founders:

Three Pieces of Advice to Owners Founders"So I was just teaching a professional development week class at Harvard medical school. I had to give these youngsters some advice. And I think as you can imagine, my first piece of advice is:

1. Surround yourself with really great people. people that are brilliant and creative, but people that you like to work with, because you'll be spending a lot of time with your team.
2. And the second piece of advice really is I had this idea a long time ago, but it wasn't until the Patent and trademark office issued our patent that I felt we could go out and do some fundraising and then the fundraising process takes a lot of time with a lot of rejections along the way. So patience and persistence are also really key.
3. Remain passionate. when you're gut tells you that you've got a great idea that can really help a lot of people keep that passion and persistence and keep going for it.

Let's get right into it and start episode 102 with Liane Clamen of Adaptilens. Favorite Business Book:

 " rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Simone Sinek