TearClear Appoints Key Team Members

We’re pleased to share these developments announced by TearClear with you.

In May, Dr. Amir Sjojaei was appointed as TearClear’s Chief Development Officer. His career has focused on the clinical development, registration and commercialization of bio-pharmaceuticals and biologics in multiple therapeutic areas. You can read the press release here, or find an archived PDF here.

In April, Robert J. Dempsey was appointed as Chief Executive Officer. Dempsey, who has more than two decades of experience in the ophthalmic pharmaceutical industry, is expected to accelerate TearClear’s business and commercial strategy, including advancing the robust pipeline and leading the company’s efforts in bringing innovative products to market. You can read the press release here, or find an archived PDF here.

We welcome you to listen to this OIS Podcast (Ophthalmology Innovation Summit), where Dr. Ehsan Sadri speaks with Bob Dempsey about his experience taking Xiidra (Zy-dra) to market for Shire led him to the driver’s seat for one of the most promising new drug-delivery companies.

Shared by Tyler Stowater, board member of TearClear Corp.

Virun Reports Elevated Supplement Demand

VIRUN received US Small Business Administration funding and has a positive story to share about their experience to-date in the current health crisis. Bluestem is mentioned in this story published April 23, 2020 on Nutrition Insight, “A new wave of enthusiasts”: Demand spike in US supplement sector creates new opportunities amid COVID-19”, by Anni Schleicher. A PDF archive copy of the story is available here.

-Shared by Tyler Stowater, board member of Virun, Inc.  

New Class of Contacts In Development

Enjoy this video where Robin Sears, CEO of Lentechs, discusses early clinical results for the APIOC Lens; a new class of soft contact lenses for presbyopia (farsightedness caused by loss of elasticity of the lens of the eye, occurring typically in middle and old age). This is a recording of his presentation from the Innovative Showcase at OIS@SECO 2020 in Atlanta, GA (Ophthalmology Innovation Summit).

-Shared by Tyler Stowater, board member of Lentechs LLC.


Virtual Incision's CTO Caught Doing Good

Bluestem is proud to give a shout out to Shane Farritor, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Virtual Incision Corporation. Dr. Farritor’s talent for making things happen is highlighted in a story published April 2, by Deann Gayman titled “Nebraska U Makers Step Up to Equip Healers” featured on UNL’s Nebraska Today site.

Dr. Farritor was part of a team that is producing face shields for the medical personnel treating COVID-19 patients.

For an archive print of the story, click here.

-Shared by Steve Kirby, board member of Virtual Incision Corporation.

SYNQ3 Aids Nationwide Restaurants With Takeout-Ordering Amidst COVID-19 Outbreak

SYNQ3 Restaurant Solutions, with the help of CenturyLink, is currently processing 100,000-plus calls daily, a 200 percent increase as restaurants have moved to takeout-only services, and they are hiring furloughed workers

Colorado Springs, Colorado--(Newsfile Corp. - April 1, 2020) - As more local and state governments mandate restaurants move to carryout and delivery only, some restaurants are helping customers by enabling essential takeout technology. According to SYNQ3 Restaurant Solutions, a tech company that provides takeout-ordering automation and human-hybrid solutions, all of its restaurant partners are experiencing significant spikes in off-premise business.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak started impacting U.S. restaurants, SYNQ3 has seen a 200-percent increase in restaurant calls, CEO Steve Bigari said. The company is currently processing more than 100,000 calls daily. "We're grateful for the opportunity to help our restaurant partners continue to provide food for their customers during this unprecedented and challenging time," he said.

SYNQ3 services more than 30 nationwide brands representing thousands of locations. Keeping up with the network and system demands has not been a small task, Bigari said. He noted that SYNQ3's partners at CenturyLink have played a critical role in helping them manage the surge in business. CenturyLink provides an enterprise-grade voice and data network for SYNQ3 that allows for dynamic routing and load-balancing to handle the large influx of calls.

To assist SYNQ3 in meeting its customer demands, CenturyLink took immediate and quick action to provide additional capacity for voice and data network services to help process the increased phone orders for its restaurant clients throughout the U.S. Importantly, the efforts also help SYNQ3 customers maintain the quality of their existing service as the number of users increase. CenturyLink has been working with partners and clients across the globe to upgrade and enhance network capabilities during this unprecedented event.

"CenturyLink is a technology company experienced in retail communications and our expertise helps simplify complex systems for businesses," said Monica Walton, CenturyLink vice president and general manager for Colorado. "CenturyLink has been able to immediately increase network capacity and voice services to help SYNQ3 deliver on their efforts to keep their customers connected throughout the United States. We are delivering capabilities to keep businesses operating and we are proud to partner with SYNQ3 in their work to keep the essential takeout and delivery business connected."

A large percentage of SYNQ3's workforce are telecommuters, so keeping the system up and running is critical. CenturyLink's global broadband network has proven to be essential in providing the connectivity necessary for SYNQ3's workforce. Employees have been able to continue working from home despite the COVID-19 outbreak.

By teaming up people with technology, SYNQ3's solutions provide seamless, simple ordering. SYNQ3's full-service automation offers an advanced artificial intelligence, backed by humans that greets guests and secures their orders. To ensure the highest-quality experience and to ensure guests always have the option to interact with the AI or not, SYNQ3 employs hundreds of ordering specialists to manage quality control, assist automation and take orders.

With the current increase in takeout business, the company needs additional help. In an effort to support the industry and the people who make the business possible, SYNQ3 started hiring furloughed restaurant employees. "The only way to successfully make it through this crisis is together," Bigari said.

SYNQ3 Public Relations Director, Mackenzie Spillane
(719) 648-4291, Mackenzie.spillane@wickedthink.com

CenturyLink Media Contact, Kerry Zimmer​
(509) 720-4441, kerry.zimmer@centurylink.com

-Shared by Tyler Stowater, board member of SYNQ3 Restaurant Solutions.

Virtual Incision Announces $20 Million Financing to Advance First-of-its-Kind Surgical Mini-Robot

Virtual Incision Corporation Files FDA IDE Submission for Confirmatory Clinical Study of MIRA Surgical Robotic Platform for Colectomy Procedures. The company’s press release can be viewed on their website or as a PDF file available here.

Additionally, follow this link for a story that includes a video of the MIRA (“miniaturized in vivo robitc assistant”) published by TechCrunch, “Virtual Incision Corporation raises $20 million for its abdominal surgery robot”, by Brian Heater on January 8, 2020.

The buzz created by the announcement is reflected by the number of stories published about Virtual Incision’s press release. Click here if you’d like a comprehensive list of the media generated.

-Shared by Steve Kirby, board member of Virtual Incision Corporation, Inc.

Virun Launches CBD Oral Formulation

Nutrition Insight published this article, “Micellized CBD compounds: Nuriv launches patented oral formulations” on November 22, 2019. The article is about Virun’s launch of Nuriv custom formulations which contain the popular compound CBD using Viurn’s Mizellization technology. In the article Philip Bromley, Vurn’s CEO & Founder, is quoted as saying, “In my nearly 20 years in the dietary supplement industry, I have never seen as much interest in an ingredient as CBD.” In the article Philip gives advice to consumers how to ensure a quality CBD product. An archived PDF of the story is available here.

-Shared by Tyler Stowater, board member of Virun, Inc.  

Startup Sioux Falls features Bluestem

Startup Sioux Falls is a community organization that connects small business owners and entrepreneurs to one another and to the startup ecosystem in the Sioux Falls, South Dakota metro. Bluestem is featured in an article published on their website on October 24, 2019 by Andrea Ven Essen, “Organization Focus: Bluestem Capital”.

Alternately, download a PDF version of the article here.

Alcon’s iLUX MGD Treatment System Wins Top Honor in 2019 Medical Design Excellence Awards (MDEA)

The iLUX MGD Treatment System is being recognized as an important technology advancement in treating dry eye and is winning awards. You can read the full story here.

A PDF archive of the story is available here.

-Shared by Tyler Stowater, former board member of Tear Film Innovations, Inc. (acquired by Alcon).

TearClear Appoints Chief Scientific and Innovation Officer

Bluestem is excited to see the addition of Dr. Srini Venkatesh, PhD, as Chief Scientific and Innovation Officer to the already strong team at TearClear.. Read the full story here

TearClear Corp. is an early-stage, disruptive eye health company focused on developing preservative-free topical ophthalmic drugs delivered from existing preserved, multi-dose systems. The company is developing a unique pharmaceutical platform to target chronic eye disease drugs where preservatives are commonly used to assure sterility in multi-dose bottles. TearClear aims to address the global market of ophthalmologic drugs for glaucoma, dry eye, allergic conjunctivitis and other indications

-Shared by Tyler Stowater, board member of TearClear Corp.

Ambient Clinical Analytics - Medical platform for early diagnosis launched in Beijing

Chinese health information technology company Meehealth joined hands with US-based company Ambient Clinical Analytics to launch a medical platform in Beijing on Wednesday, which can be used for the early recognition and treatment of acute illness and injury.

You can read the full story by Zheng Yiran, published 3/27/2109 on ChinaDaily.com.

-Ambient Clinical Analytics -Shared by Tyler Stowater, board member of Ambient Clinical Analytics

Ambient Clinical Analytics’ Sepsis DART™ iOS available on the App Store for both iPhone and iPad

Ambient Clinical Analytics announces today that its AWARE Sepsis DART™ software is now available to view as an iOS app on the App Store for both iPhone and iPad. AWARE Sepsis DART™ software is an FDA Class II cleared product for point of care use and was built by clinicians for clinicians. The solution uses customer-defined sepsis detection and support rules to indicate that sepsis may be present or developing. 

You can read the full story here about Ambient’s technology.

-Shared by Tyler Stowater, board member of Ambient Clinical Analytics

Neurolens Available in 38 States

Inspired by a breakthrough discovery linking optometry and neurology, neurolenses® are the first and only prescription lenses that add a contoured prism to bring the eyes into alignment. Contoured prism has been shown in studies to relieve the headaches, neck/shoulder pain and eyestrain that many patients experience when using digital devices, reading or doing detail work. Of the patients prescribed neurolenses, 93% found symptom relief. neurolens is headquartered in Costa Mesa, Calif.

Read how the invention of a customizable prism lens addresses misalignment at all distance.

-Shared by Steve Kirby, board member of eyeBrain Medical Inc. 

Long Awaited Headache Relief Found

Dr. Whitney Hauser, an Optometrist, attended Vision Expo West, a large optometry industry event where she found neurolenses. She decided her son, a chronic headache sufferer since the age of three, should try the lenses. You can watch this story about how neurolenses have been life-changing for her son who is now a teenager.

Note: Dr. Hauser does not work for neurolens and is not a paid consultant for the company. neurolenses are a product of eyeBrain Medical, Inc.

-Shared by Steve Kirby, board member of eyeBrain Medical Inc. 

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