IbisVision, the Glasgow-based company leading the development of remote ophthalmic technology, raised £4.5 million ($5.6 million) in growth funding as it seeks to open offices across the US and sell its ground-breaking remote eye test platform into the world’s richest healthcare markets.
The money will be used to double its workforce and open an office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The company is poised to ramp up sales in the US, where it’s estimated there are around 110 million eye tests annually, after receiving Food and Drug Administration (FDA) listing in March. The company is also looking to tap into the eyecare market of the 448 million citizens across the European Union. IbisVision is already in discussions with a significant number of well-known eyecare brands to develop partnerships for its breakthrough platform.
IbisVision’s refractive technology means optometrists can run standard eye tests over the Internet and enable entire optical prescriptions to be conducted remotely. Remote technology is one of the fastest-growing health sectors as people look to fit appointments into busy schedules and attend appointments with specialists who may not necessarily be nearby. The Covid pandemic has also made patients comfortable with undergoing consultations and tests over visual links.
The funding round is led by keynote investor, Miami-based Compiler VC, led by Adam Wolman. Compiler is one of the US’s leading optical sector experts, having developed and sold the For Eyes retail optician business, which has 150 locations across the US. IbisVision will be the centrepiece of a new investment fund that Compiler is establishing. The investment in IbisVision is also supported by growth capital specialists Deepbridge and by Scottish Enterprise, through Scottish Growth Investments. All three investors are existing financial supporters of IbisVision.
Reacting to the news CEO Mark Roger said “The commitment of our investor base shows they believe strongly in our story — that eyecare will be at the vanguard of remote healthcare, and IbisVision has the technology to make this a reality. Our mission is simple – to make eyecare readily available for anyone on the planet and that distance and time will never be an impediment to getting to an eye appointment.”
Adam Wolman commented: “Not only are we delighted to build on our investment relationship with IbisVision, we’re also very excited about their plans to expand and set up base in our home market in the US. We know the potential that this technology can bring to optometrists around the country and our expertise in the eyecare industry means that we can help IbisVision with its growth plans. But our ambitions for IbisVision extend well beyond the US and we believe the company’s technology could become the global standard for remote eyecare examinations.
Ben Carter, head of Life Sciences at Deepbridge said: “The continued progress of IbisVision shows the UK HealthTech industry can compete at the highest level. We are pleased to continue supporting this pioneering business whose technology has the potential to benefit patients globally.”
About IbisVision
IbisVision’s purpose is to offer innovative eye technology that revolutionizes the customer journey, increases efficiency, and makes eye care more widely accessible. Providing multiple tests on a single cloud-based platform gives universal accessibility with a software as a service (SaaS) delivery model dramatically reducing capital expenditure. The IbisVision platform allows optical professionals to remotely examine eyes using a variety of tests including online refraction, visual acuity, visual fields and colour. This allows for eye care professionals to interact with and support their patients while they assess vision remotely all without any need for direct contact between the professional and patient. The company has worked with eyecare companies both at home and around the world. Its technology is used in healthcare kiosks across India, while the company has worked closely with the NHS to make eye appointments and aftercare more efficient and with the SBRI to help those who’ve suffered strokes.
